so much teen pregnancy because.... **Update in Red*

[RyansMommy6407]

I think the media and television glamorizes teen pregnancy and sex!! Even on Nick. Has anyone watched that show Degrassi? Kids are "hooking up" left and right on that show and thats on Nickelodeon! Shows like The Secret Life of the American Teenager (I watched a few episodes and got bored), Gilmore Girls (I do like this show, but still), Teen Mom and all the rest of them (IMO) send out the wrong message to girls that pregnancy isn't a huge deal! All problems are solved in 30 minutes to an hour. It's not real. I think its irresponsible. I know we can monitor what our kids watch, but it's still out there, and a lot of it is on family channels!

Also, when Jamie Lynn Spears and Brystol Paylen got pregnant the media was ALL over it! I think that definitely sent out the wrong message. All the media was concerned about was getting pictures of their bellys and the babies, like it was the hottest new accessory! What they DIDN'T say was that when JLS got pregnant, she had her own show! She had a job and makes more than the average family! She had the means to support a child, and Brystol Paylen's mother is a politician! She can get into any college she wants to just with that!

I'm not putting ALL the blame on TV and the media, but does anyone else think that this is a little irresponsible?

I am not blaming tv for teen pregnancy... I'm asking wether you think  it is irresponsible for the media and tv to glamorize it so much...or do you think it is glamorized at all?

[atlmom2]

I see teen pregnancy as irresponsible and I have teens.  I don't see any reason why they don't have more restraint?  I did.  I like the Secret Life.  I don't think it glamorizes teen pregnancy. 

[mollymae09]

I do feel that some girls try to get pregnant mostly because they're not informed of all that can happen. I praise the shows pregnant at 16 and teen mom because they actually show the after effects.  But, there are girls that protect themselves and still become pregnant.  I was 18 years old, told I couldn't get pregnant, using birth control and condoms...and i got pregnant.  The difference to me is whether the mother steps up and takes the role.  When you become a mother, you can't expect to still go out every night and have a baby... just doesn't work like that.

There's my two cents.

[meghan925]

I was/am a teen mom. No tv show or friends influenced me to get pregnant. At 15, I was pregnant, 16 when my daugter was born. I knew all the facts and took sex ed, talked to parents, the whole 9 yards. I was just having sex with my boyfriend unproteced everyday because i didnt care about getting pregnant. No tv show made a difference to me.

[RyansMommy6407]

I got pregnant 3 months after I graduated... I was a teen mom... I'm just saying I think that by putting so much attention on it that it sends out the wrong message. I wasn't influenced by tv and don't think that ALL teen moms are, either. Sorry If I sounded like I did.

[NewMom304]

The media is never responsible, so I just don't expect anything.  They just want a story that people will pay attention to, whether it's a news story or a daytime drama.  It's all about money.  Does it influence people?  That is hard to say.  I do think that it does reflect the culture, and it may go the other way to some extent too.  But, parents are always the most influential to teens no matter what.

[PamR]

I think lack of education about how to prevent pregnancy is one big reason we have so many pregnant teens now.   Young girls who don't have a lot of self-esteem and have sex to hang on to a boyfriend, or girls who see no future for themselves post-high school.  There are a lot of reasons. 

The MTV show "16 & Pregnant" and "Teen Mom" are excellent about showing the realities of getting pregnant and having a baby when you are a teenager.  There's no glamorization of the situation and you see how difficult it is for these young parents. 

[Elyce225]

I agree with you a lot. I know I'm going to get jump on over this but more tv shows should show the other options there are to prevent teen pregnancy. (Well obviously there wouldn't be a show if the teen prevented pregnancy but ya know what I'm saying)

I remember one of the girls on the real world had an abortion on the show for the world to see. At the time I didn't really understand it(I was like 12) but now I say good for her. I remember her saying that she needed to do it for others to see and set an example.

[RyansMommy6407]

Oh God! you said the "A" word!!! here we go! lol

Quoting Elyce225:

I agree with you a lot. I know I'm going to get jump on over this but more tv shows should show the other options there are to prevent teen pregnancy. (Well obviously there wouldn't be a show if the teen prevented pregnancy but ya know what I'm saying)

I remember one of the girls on the real world had an abortion on the show for the world to see. At the time I didn't really understand it(I was like 12) but now I say good for her. I remember her saying that she needed to do it for others to see and set an example.

[supermom3806]

 Alright first off I'm going to say I had my son at 16 now I did use protection because really who wants to be a mom at 16. thats what I think so because of that. I don't regret having my son in any ways. I love him.

I do think the media does glamorizes teen pregnancy. Like you pointed out there are shows like Degrassi they have it all from sex to drinking && drugs even abortion. Then Secret Life (I like this show) does glamorize in away but then it just talks alot about sex. Gilmore Girls I really dont see that glamorizing teen pregnancy because it showed how hard it was for her to raise her daughter alone && what not. Teen Mom does in my eyes but then it also shows how hard it is to keep a relationship or date with a kid. Really every single show has its pros && cons on teen pregnancy.

As for Jamie Lynn Spears and Brystol Paylen I think the media just took that way to far && out of hand. yes they didn't show how they had the money to support the kids or what not. Really if you ask me I think that is where all the young girls (well most of them) got the idea that teen pregnancy is a cool thing. This is JMO

[Elyce225]

I know, now people are going to send me nasty messages about how I told them they must have one ;)

Ps. Everyone I was a teen mom too.

Quoting RyansMommy6407:

Oh God! you said the "A" word!!! here we go! lol

Quoting Elyce225:

I agree with you a lot. I know I'm going to get jump on over this but more tv shows should show the other options there are to prevent teen pregnancy. (Well obviously there wouldn't be a show if the teen prevented pregnancy but ya know what I'm saying)

I remember one of the girls on the real world had an abortion on the show for the world to see. At the time I didn't really understand it(I was like 12) but now I say good for her. I remember her saying that she needed to do it for others to see and set an example.