Topic > Teens: “Reality” vs. Reality - 844

Reality television has had a growing impact on the lives of many young teenagers. The truth is that many teens and preteens don't understand the difference between the reality they see on television and the reality in the real world. They have the misconception that what they watch on reality TV is how they should live their lives, but they don't see the side effects that can come from watching this type of media. The type of images young adults observe from the media can result in unclear messages. Reality TV has a strong appeal to teenagers and pre-teens. Teens are convinced that pregnancy, partying, and violence/drama are the way to go in life, but the reality is that this type of media can cause bad influences in the lives of many young adults. Teen pregnancy on reality TV is sending confusing communications to teens and preteens. This type of media tries to glamorize real teen life situations, but many of these situations seem to be fictional. Teenagers have the idea that when they have a baby everything will be easy and they perceive an unrealistic idea of ​​how difficult teenage pregnancy can be. A reality TV show that shows the life of teenage parents is broadcast on a well-known channel called MTV. The producers of MTV launched a new television series called 16 and Pregnant in 2009. The show located six pregnant teenagers and began filming them during their pregnancies. The show was meant to show what it was really like to be a pregnant teenager. After the first season of 16 and Pregnant, they started filming a new series called Teen Mom. Teen Mom was filmed so it could show the teen mothers themselves and what their reality was like when their life with a baby really began to sink. There were two case studies that......middle of paper......s 16 and does pregnancy prevent or promote teenage pregnancy?." Time. Com (2014): 1. Premier academic research Network. April 8, 2014. Hertz, Todd. “MTV: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.” University Life 64.2 (2005): 50-53. Academic Research Network. April 10, 2014 it's messing with your head." School Choices 28.3 (2012): 12-17. Academic Research Premier. Network. April 8, 2014. Russell, Cristel Antonia, and Dale W. Russell. "Alcohol Messages on Prime-Time Television Series ". Journal of Consumer Affairs 43.1 (2009): 108-128. Premier Academic Research. Network. April 10, 2014 Strasburger, Victor C., and Edward Donnerstein. “Children, Adolescents, and the Media: Problems and Solutions.” Pediatrics 103.1 (1999 ): 129. Premier Academic Research. 10 April 2014. Weller, Chris. “Welcome to My Unreality.” Premier Academic Research. Network. April 10. 2014.