Treat Teens With Talks, Not TV

CINDY LUO
Staff Writer

It is not necessary to emphasize how influential media is in the lives of young adults in the 21st century. Nonetheless, the argument about whether its impact is positive or negative remains controversial, especially when the topic is related to sensitive subjects such as teen pregnancy.

Both MTV’s “16 and Pregnant” and its spinoff series “Teen Mom” have received over three million views after their first debut in 2009. Recently, a study published in the journal Mass Communication and Society states that high school students who frequently watch the shows are more likely to have unrealistic and fanciful imaginations of teenage pregnancy. Ironically, another study released in the same month by the National Bureau of Economic Research suggests an opposite result. The research shows that the TV series has ultimately led to a 5.7 percent reduction in teen pregnancy in 18 months, which is one-third of the overall decline in teen births in the U.S. during that time.

However, neither criticizing the shows for glamorizing teen pregnancy nor searching for evidence to prove that the shows deter teens solves the problem. Seeking comfort or solutions from reality shows reflects the lack of communication between the different generations.

Experienced adults such as parents and teachers should be the ones who guide the naive teens. Personally teaching teenagers about the consequences of impetuous decisions and the importance of self-discipline would be more effective than leaving the youth to learn from the mixed messages that TV shows send.

Teens should at least know adults will be their main support, helpers and counselors when facing tough situations, not the television.