If parents would concern themselves with their kids lives, it would nullify at least part of the pop culture influence.
And even the parents shouldn't take a full share of the blame.
I believe that the underlying factor in all this is money and greed.
- Entertainers continually push the envelope to make themselves the most popular (which in turn leads to money). If you've seen the Southpark episode about the 'Curse Words', recall the talk around the TV network board table. That should give you a general idea of what I mean.
- The cost of living grows at a faster rate than raises (for whatever reason...maybe a couple has their a new baby, which increases their cost of living). As a result, both parents end up working, leaving the kids to sitters or (for older kids) coming home to an empty house where they are not given the TLC they need.
- Those people that have too much money turn out jaded and not understanding the real world, i.e. look at Hollywood. They've lost perspective.