The media has a direct effect on teens, girls especially, in portraying teen pregnancy. Shows like 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom show an almost glamorous side of being jobless, unmarried and with child. Often, these girls have to deal with familly, money, and relationship problems all while having to take care of a child and going to school. Of course these girls always overcome thier problems but let’s face it, reality shows are far from reality. Solutions aren’t so simple with real life teen pregnancies. Many if not all reality shows are scripted in some way or premeditated. Majority of viewers have no idea that these shows are planned and therefore think that a happy ending is guaranteed. Unfortunatley, teens soak in everything that is thrown at them on TV and don't realize that it's fiction. This sets up many girls for a let down when they discover that having a child at a ripe age is definitely a struggle. Teen pregnancy in the media is portrayed as having fairy-tale endings and answers to all of your problems when in real life it is the opposite.
US weekly features Farrah and Maci from the show Teen Mom along with thier children Bentley and Sophia. Does this show girls that getting pregnant and a young age will bring you to stardom? Or at least get you on the cover of a highly read gossip magazine.
People Magazine Article on Mtv's Teen Mom
Another US Weekly Magazine cover with Maci from Teen Mom, advertising her newest love affair and of course her child, Bentley.
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