FIRST OFF . . .

Warning, teens: Music videos may be hazardous to your health. So says the American Academy of Pediatrics, which warned Sunday that the rock vignettes contain altogether too much “sexism, violence, substance abuse, suicide and sexual behavior.” The statement decried videos’ often intentional symbolic murkiness, saying: “Teen-agers who may not hear or understand rock lyrics cannot avoid the often disturbing images that characterize a growing number of videos.” The doctors included the high incidence of sexually suggestive material (contained in 75% of all videos, according to the academy’s figures) and violence (in 56% of all videos) as potential sources of health trouble. The pediatricians urged parents to exercise control over teens’ video viewing, to be sure they watch shows appropriate to the maturity of the children. They also urge parents to discuss the videos with their children.