The MTV show Teen Mom (spun off from 16 and Pregnant) is the hottest thing out there. You know it’s big when these teen parents grace the majority of the magazine covers at check out stands.
Recently, during a radio interview I was asked what I thought about the show. Of course I was happen to give my opinion. 🙂
I think it’s SAD! I think it’s wrong for a show to exploit teen parents like this. I’ve watched the majority of the shows and my heart goes out to the young people.
What I don’t like is the TV camera getting caught up in their drama and angst. There have been fist fights, shouting matches, tears. Lots of tears. Yes, it’s reality, but can’t we do better?
What I would LOVE to see is a show that would help these young parents. An Extreme Makeover of their life and circumstances. People could be brought in to give them guidance on their education and parenting classes and job training and relationship counseling and … a listening ear.
Why are we so fascinated with seeing these teens fumble? Should we make stars out of them because their problems make for good TV?
While I can’t be a personal mentor to all these young people (I wish I could), I’m going to do my part in reaching out to the young parents God put in my path.
Won’t you do the same? These young parents need you. Your loving care could be the first step in the makeover of their lives.
Thanks Tricia! I’m glad to see this perspective. It makes me sick to see this show exploiting these poor kids who have it hard enough as it is. Rather than being entertained by their lives, how can we make them better?
i respect everything you are saying but you say you would rather see them going to counselling? some have,they have already got guidance in regards to their education, and they all have listening ears. i am only saying this because i feel that if they changed it then it wouldn’t be a true perception of their lives, what they are trying to do is show people what its like and the good points and bad points of being a teen mom. People say that MTV glamorizes it at is it, could you imagine if they changed iy around, what kind of criticism it would get. i just believe that it is an amazing show, and being a young mother myself, it sometimes encourages me, as far as education, jobs, and just how they get through the stresses of it all. i think teen mom is an amazing show and under no circumstances should it be changed 🙂
i do not believe that they are being exploited at all, they signed up for it and continued filming after 16 & Pregnant, if you read much about these girls you will know that they just want to prevent other people from getting into the sae situation which is understandable. Also exploited? seriously? the fame and fortune that comes with it all? these girls are seen as celebrities now!