A Small Memory from the 90s
In the mid-1990s, my grandmother and I were watching Oliyum Oliyum on television. A song from Ullathai Allitha — “Azhagiya Laila” — was playing.
My grandmother innocently asked:
“How is the heroine’s dress not falling?”
All of us burst into laughter, including my younger sister.
Even today, I remember that moment fondly.
Back then, many homes still had a certain innocence. Exposure was limited. Most children learned about the world through family, school, books, and nearby friendships.
But even during those days, parents had to stay careful about influences around their children.
The First Time I Felt “Something Is Not Right”
In our area, ball cricket was very common. Random teams would challenge one another in local grounds. Winner takes the ball — simple childhood excitement.
That is how I met a senior student once.
He used to narrate stories and discuss topics I had never heard before. Even at that young age, something inside me felt uncomfortable. Slowly, I realized:
Not every friendship adds value to life.
That realization stayed with me for years.
Growing Up with Responsibility
My upbringing was deeply rooted in responsibility.
From childhood, I used to save small amounts of money thinking about my sisters’ future. Even simple things mattered emotionally to me. If there were four rotis, I would mentally calculate how to save something for the family.
My parents and grandparents raised me with a strong sense of accountability.
Instead of taking the traditional 12th-standard route, I joined a polytechnic because I wanted to start earning earlier and support my family.
During those years, I became very protective about the environment around my sisters. I rarely brought classmates home because I was cautious about influences and conversations.
An Incident I Still Remember
During my second year, an incident happened that I still remember with discomfort.
One classmate showed a sensitive photograph of a popular actress. Today, in 2026, media exposure and fashion trends are very different. But during those days, such things felt shocking and uncomfortable for many teenagers raised in conservative homes.
That same evening, while walking toward the bus stop, I met the guardian of another classmate near a bakery where students usually gathered. He casually mentioned that he had heard I had seen the picture.
I felt deeply embarrassed.
Looking back now, I realize something important:
Teenagers are often exposed to things long before they emotionally understand them.
Many children are curious, confused, pressured by peers, or simply unprepared.
Silence Does Not Protect Children
During those days, schools conducted awareness sessions about health and AIDS education. Ironically, I used to avoid attending them because I misunderstood those sessions as “bad” discussions.
Years later, films like OMG 2 helped many families understand why age-appropriate guidance and education are necessary for teenagers.
One important realization stayed with me:
Silence does not protect children. Guidance does.
If parents do not explain sensitive topics properly, children often learn from social media, random internet content, or unhealthy peer groups.
College Life Opened My Eyes Further
As I grew older, I noticed classmates experimenting with alcohol and other unhealthy habits.
Later, during engineering college, I met students from different regions, cultures, and backgrounds. Diversity itself was never the issue. But I did observe how lack of self-discipline, unmanaged freedom, and peer pressure affected some students.
Some consumed alcohol regularly.
Some behaved irresponsibly in public places.
Some were addicted to adult content.
I also saw how intoxication could completely alter a person’s behavior and judgment.
Those experiences made me reflect deeply:
How much do parents really know about their child’s emotional world, friend circles, online exposure, and struggles?
The Challenges Today Are Much Bigger
Today’s children are growing up in a very different environment.
They are surrounded by:
- addictive short-form videos
- easy access to adult content
- online peer pressure
- substance exposure
- algorithm-driven distractions
- constant screen dependency
Many movies and web series portray drinking as casual entertainment. Social media platforms sometimes push inappropriate content unexpectedly — even during normal browsing sessions.
This is not about fear.
It is about awareness.
Films like Vikram and Nammavar portrayed the destructive impact of drugs and social deterioration long before these conversations became mainstream.
Parenting Today Requires More Presence
Children today do not just need education.
They need:
- emotional coaching
- healthy boundaries
- open conversations
- positive role models
- guidance without fear
A child who cannot ask questions safely at home may search for answers elsewhere.
That is why parents must move beyond only being providers or disciplinarians. They must become emotionally available guides.
A few things matter enormously today:
- healthy screen-time boundaries
- knowing a child’s friend circle
- observing behavioral changes early
- creating trust-based communication
- demonstrating discipline through personal example
Children learn more from what parents practice than what parents preach.
A Thought That Stayed with Me
This article is not written to judge an entire generation.
Every generation faces its own temptations and challenges. Many young people today are sincerely trying to build responsible lives despite enormous distractions.
But awareness is necessary.
Ironically, many boys who once behaved immaturely during college years are now fathers raising daughters themselves. Parenthood changes perspective. Protecting dignity, safety, and values suddenly becomes deeply personal.
Perhaps that itself is the reminder:
The world may become louder, faster, and more distracting — but the importance of character, self-discipline, and responsible parenting only becomes greater with time.
