The popularity of tattooing has increased dramatically, especially with teenagers. Tattooing has been a fad for centuries and teenagers are now starting to take on this so called form of art. Though teenagers feel that getting a tattoo is the in thing to do, it is in fact along term problem. The increasing of tattooing done by teenagers is because of rebellion, peer pressure, and social status.

Rebellion is one of the many reasons why teenagers get tattoos. The children of today want to use piercing and tattoos as a form of expression and independence. The problem with this is that parents do not feel the same way, and so teenagers go out and get a tattoo in a ways just to show their parents that they can do as they please, and that they are not the bosses of them.

The problem with this is that later on in life the child that got the tattoo will grow up and have children of their own, who will also want to get a tattoo or other means of expression done on their body. The teenager who is now a parent will most likely tell them no, but just like they did when they were younger, their children will also still probably go out and get a tattoo. How is the parent going to explain that it is not the right time for it, if they themselves got one also at that age?

Another reason teenagers get tattoos is because of peer pressure. We have to remember teenagers are sheep and like sheep they follow the crowd. The in crowd such as the popular kids in school, musicians, and actors spread their fad very easily amongst teenagers, because they feel that they will have to get a tattoo just to fit in, so they will not feel left out and abandoned. The main problem with this is that getting a tattoo now will not always be the in thing with other people. Soon enough going to college and then graduating will mean getting new friends, and who is to say that they too will also like tattoos? Just because that one group you were in liked tattoos does not mean the rest of the world will also.

Finally, social status in gangs plays a role in the increase of teenage tattooing. Teenagers who are in gangs are getting tattoos to show their ranking in their growing society. One example of this would be gangs. Teenagers in gangs, such as the, GD gang or also known as the Gangsters Disciples, get tattoos to show their ranking in the gang. Tattoos such as the teardrop underneath the eye are to show that they have shot and/or killed someone. The more teardrops underneath the eyes, and the more things that they do for their gang, the more tattoos they get on their bodies. For them tattoos are like badges of honor. The main problem with this is that they get all of these tattoos just to prove their loyalty to their gang. What if later on in life they want to quit and get a real job in society? The tattoos on their arms and face will not go over very well with the employers. The chances of them getting professional business careers are slim to none, depending on the type of career or job.

So for the most part the main reasons teenagers are getting tattoos are because of rebellion, peer pressure, and social status, but teenagers are not thinking of the consequences. Tattoos are permanent and we have to remember that. For some reason or another, if later on in life the teenager does not want their tattoo or tattoos it is going to be real difficult and expensive to get rid of them.