Teen Mom and the Media

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Ashleah
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Teen Mom and the Media

Unread post by Ashleah »

Tonight, the original women of '16 and Pregnant' and 'Teen Mom' are back (and I'm low key excited)!

Back in 2009, MTV started something we've never seen before by documenting the experiences of teens as they navigated their experience with pregnancy and parenting. Viewers get to follow along as teens make tough decisions about becoming parents, even covering adoption (and one episode on abortion). While the show continues to air new episodes, I can admit I'm attached to the original cast who came out while I was experiencing my own unplanned pregnancy. You saw everything from the joys and pains of pregnancy, the difficult transition into becoming a parent, the highs and low lows of relationships, all of which felt very real.

Not without controversy however. The show has always received mixed feedback in reviews and research with some saying that it encouraged teen pregnancy and others saying it is a great prevention tool.

What do you think? Even if you have never seen the show, how do you think sharing the real experiences of others could help or hurt? Does it encourage or help prevent?

One step further, how does the media, in general, impact ideas and/or knowledge about unintended teen pregnancy? What, if anything, needs to be different?
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