Influencing the Young

A reoccurring topic happening in America is teen pregnancy. Through television, pregnancy has been increasingly more popular over the years. By glorifying unprotected sex leading to pregnancy on TV this will lead to an increase in teenage pregnancy.  In my opinion it shows that teenagers can make stupid mistakes and not get in trouble for their actions. Teenagers are not old enough nor are teenagers well stable enough to have that big of a  responsibility.

One show that has just come out the last few years is, 16 and Pregnant and the follow up show Teen Mom produced by MTV. This shows teenage girls that if you get pregnant you will get to be on TV and have instant fame. Becoming pregnant comes with a cost but by showing shows such as 16 and pregnant teenagers forget how the real problems the shows don’t talk about. They may address some issues but not very many.

Another example of how TV networks promote teen pregnancy is the show Secret Life of an American Teenager. This show starts out with the character Amy finding out she is a pregnant freshman in high school. Throughout the course of the season more and more characters have sex and getting pregnant. Where ABC believes they are doing a Public Service Announcement, I believe they are just showing teens that it’s okay to have sex in high school.

Although I believe shows like this are showing one option when being pregnant. Keeping the child and showing small struggles and not real struggles will not help the teenagers when they are stuck with the pregnancy. The show Degrassi the ongoing teenager soap has had several pregnant characters who have dealt with pregnancy is a variety of ways. Such as the first character Christine “Spike” Nelson who gets pregnant at 13 she keeps her daughter and names her Emma who later becomes a character. Next girls to get pregnant were Library, Mia, Jenna, and Manny. With the next four characters one gets an abortion, two keep their children and one gives it up for adoption. This I believe is a good way to show options. If networks are going to show teen pregnancy I think the networks show at least show options for the teenagers.  

Overall I believe that teenager pregnancy is making teenagers feel like getting pregnant is okay and a normal thing for teens to experience. Television shows should also stop saying teenager sex is a good idea. Because unprotected teen sex is what leads to teen pregnancy and makes the T.V. networks support more teen pregnancy.