For more than 3 years Mtv has promoted shows such as "16 and Pregnant". Although most parents make snarky or scold their teens for watching such "nonsense", the actually can be used as a teaching device for teens. Learning by watching is a key way to explore and learn without actually doing something on a person's own.
A study released on Monday by the National Bureau of Economic Research states that " 16 and Pregnant" resulted in a 5.7% reduction in teen pregnancies only 18 months after its released. Therefore it was one-third of the overall teen births in that point in time.
Shows such as "16 and Pregnant" allow others to look into the lives of those in the situation of being a young parent in high school. It shows how honestly it could happen to anyone and it only takes one time. Although a lot of people think it promotes that teen pregnancy is a good thing, it really doesn't really. It allows viewers to develop their own opinion on the topic at hand. Also it shows different stores over the same subject, therefore showing that it is different for every person and not everyone will be the exact same.
Link: http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/13/health/16-pregnant-teens-childbirth/index.html?hpt=us_c2
I agree, I've watched that show a couple of times and the people have hard times being a young adult with a child
ReplyDeleteByron Otis-I wonder how they determined that the reduction in teen pregnancies was caused by shows like these, and not more conventional methods of teen pregnancy awareness-raising. That aside, it's wonderful that people can learn from other's mistakes, and can learn to be careful.
ReplyDeleteThis is really interesting. I always thought it would kind of promote it. But, then again, I've never watched it. This is an interesting study.
ReplyDeleteI think its good in that it raises awareness and shows just how difficult it is to raise a child at such a young age while obviously juggling ones own school life as well.
ReplyDeleteI think it is good for people to watch the show and learn not to be pregnant at 16, but for me I don't see the show as a learning lesson. I see it as a reality show that seems a little bit scripted and fake. But I do agree that 16 year old pregnant girls on that show have a hard time raising there kids.
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