Have I become numb? Am I so focused on my kids' online lives that I've forgotten about basic influences in traditional media? The thought crossed my mind as my 15-year-old son and I watched the special '80s-themed episode of Gossip Girl. He's used to my weekly comments about all of the show's drinking and sex. But there, in the middle of one of the oh-so-retro scenes, were lines of cocaine. That I wasn't ready for. At 8:30 p.m.

And just as I was figuring out what to say about the drugs, a character talked about not wanting to give "BJs," which was followed in quick succession by previews for the following week's episode that included footage of a scantily clad Blair Waldorf begging for love. I'm not a prude, but, um, whoa.

The fact is that traditional media remains a powerful super-peer, and kids look to shows like Gossip Girl to figure out what is and isn't socially acceptable. I've used the show to teach relevant lessons. But maybe I've been duped by my own numbness. Because I don't think a teen should see narcotics and drinking and adult-grade sexuality as something that high school students do as par for the course. I don't believe in censorship, but where's the sanity?