Teen Pregnancy: Not Just about Sex on TV
Think too much sex on TV is harmful to teens? There’s a new study that links sexual content on TV to teen pregnancy. But before you blame the media for teen pregnancy, we should mention that experts are questioning how the study was conducted and whether it should be taken seriously. Regardless of how valid the study is or isn’t, you should think about other factors that are influential—like the lack of good sex education.
Let’s be real: Teens grow up in a sex-saturated world. From TV and movies to video games and music, sex is all around us; it’s a part of teen culture. But shutting off all the TVs and radios across the country won’t end teen pregnancy. It’s easy to point fingers at the big bad media but much more difficult to deal with deeper issues that contribute to teen pregnancy. Until we deal with the lack of good sex ed, the lack of open and honest conversation about sex and the limited access to birth control and health care, teen pregnancy is going to be an issue.
Tags: pregnancy, sex, sex ed, TV
(7 votes, average: 2.86 out of 5)
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November 9, 2008 at 2:01 am
I don’t think TV has anything to do with teens getting prego. I’m a 16 yr old girl and i watch
gossip girl every monday. For those of you who don’t know the show it deals with drugs, sex, and the rich. It’s my favorite show, but after watching i don’t think “wow, now i want to have sex and have a baby” and it’s crazy to think that that’s why teens get pregeant. It is the parents job to rise their children and teach them about sex and safe sex and what can happen if you don’t have safe sex. It’s not TV’s job to teach teens about that.
December 28, 2008 at 1:53 am
media doesn’t affect me as far as sex goes. If I watch something with sex in it I dont all the sudden want to have sex to. That is stupid. Kids do what they want regardless of whats on the tv
April 12, 2009 at 10:14 pm
i agree with the fact that tv doesnt have an instant effect on teens. however, i believe it has a slow and subtle effect. Often tv shows the exstacy of sex, its all about feel good, and it doesnt show the responisibility that comes with it. Television doesnt show the emotional struggle that comes with deciding to have sex. Teens might decide to have sex because they have this false image of how fantastic it is going to be and how good its going to feel, and although it feels good, the after struggle it may present aften leaves them regretting thier decision. For that reason i believe the media has a negative effect on teens.