If parents are engaged in a battle for the hearts and minds of their kids, Miley Cyrus and “Grand Theft Auto IV” made it much harder to win the war. The past 10 days brought the release of sexy photos of the 15-year-old “Hannah Montana” superstar, as well as the launch of the latest incarnation of the violent, popular video game.

The Cyrus photos and “GTA IV” are just the latest controversies involving sexualized images and violence in the media. You need look no further than the Pioneer School District — where young girls sent naked photos of themselves to boys by cell phone — to understand the effect of oversexualization of young people, some experts say. And that behavior is by no means isolated to Pioneer.

“This is a battle for the hearts, minds, souls and innocence of our children,” said Jonathan Winnie, a claims adjuster for an insurance company who lives in Clarence and has three children. “As a parent, I view this as a battle I fight every day, sometimes hourly.”

It’s the newest front in the struggle between popular culture and parents, and many parents are feeling overwhelmed and on the defensive. Kids and teens these days have a seemingly limitless number of outlets for entertainment. Parents and some experts argue that this exposure to sexualized or violent images on television, movies, the Internet and video games can drive changes in kids’ attitudes and behavior.

“There’s no doubt that having the media portray sexual images of girls and women can lead to an unhealthy sexual self-image in teens and girls. It basically objectifies women,” said Timothy M. Osberg, a Niagara University psychology professor with a clinical practice.

Critics are looking to broadcasters, video-game makers and the government to take more responsibility for this content. However, others say this concern is overblown and young people are media-savvy enough to see these images without letting it harm them. Research gives ammunition to both sides, but it’s a debate heating up at home and online.

“I think it is harmful for them. I think it changes who they are. What they’re fed is what comes out,” said Karen Aiello of North Tonawanda, who has two grown children.

TV dominates our media intake, and parents and nonparents alike worry about the raunchiness and violence on TV, whether it’s a racy reality show or a sitcom such as “Two and a Half Men.” Many parents and grandparents said it’s hard to find a show that they can safely watch with their children, even when they consult the TV ratings guides.

Parents don’t just have to worry about TV and movies, either. The Internet provides access to millions of pictures, videos and audio clips of every possible variety. If kids missed something on TV, they can watch the video on YouTube or another site. And video games offer hours of entertainment for kids and teens, with subjects ranging from sports to fantasy worlds to gangland America.

“Even the most diligent parent in today’s society cannot protect their children from harmful and offensive messages. It’s everywhere,” said Tim Winter, president of the Parents Television Council.

Sometimes, the vast media marketplace brings parents and children more information than they really want to know about the stars of the teen and tween set.

Take Jamie Lynn Spears, previously known as the star of Nickelodeon’s family-friendly “Zoey 101” and as the Spears sister least likely to raise eyebrows with her off-camera behavior. Last December, the news came that the 16-year-old Spears was pregnant. Just a few months before that, naked photos of Vanessa Hudgens, a lead character on the popular Disney franchise “High School Musical,” bubbled up on the Internet. And then came the suggestive Miley Cyrus photos, which are generating a lot of reaction in the blogosphere. Local residents have their own thoughts.

Elaine Driscoll works as director of religious education at a suburban Catholic parish. Her own children are grown, but many of the parents at the school looked to “Hannah Montana” as a “quote-unquote ‘clean’ ” TV program, she said. “I think those parents feel betrayed. I think they feel frustrated,” said the Depew resident.

As popular as “Hannah Montana” is with young girls, the “Grand Theft Auto” videogame franchise is just as popular with their older brothers. The series is known for the detail of its graphics, the free rein it gives players within the game — and its vivid violence. The game is rated Mature, for players 17 and older. Players can steal a car, shoot a cop and hire a prostitute and kill her after the encounter to get their money back. The new game is getting raves from fans of the series. Jed Tomczak, a 20-year-old Erie Community College student, bought it the first day it went on sale and thinks it’s one of the best video games he has played. He appreciates the small touches in the game, like how your car reacts when you drive over a pothole in the game, but recognizes it can be violent.

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