The effects of media are often the scapegoat for a lot of society's problems and teen smoking is no exception. Many people
believe that the media is solely to blame for the rise in teen smokers in the U.S. However, there are more determinant factors at work here. This paper explores the causes of teen smoking and provides arguments against the current media effects theories circulating at the moment. It shows that the media is only a vehicle for the tobacco companies to use in promoting their brands to the general public. It shows too that the major influences that determine whether an adolescent will start smoking involve the quality of their relationship with their parents, their peer group dynamic, and the state of their emotional health. The author surmises that only in addressing the problems that may exist in these areas can society properly address the problem of teen smoking.