Educate or Entertain?

 Teenage pregnancy is overly publicized in a negative way because the reality shows entertain, rather than educate.On reality shows such as Teen Mom instead of discussing the hard work it takes to be a young mother and the sacrifices one has to make now that they are taking care of another life, part if not most of the hour long show is dedicated to their personal lives (arguments with boyfriends, problems with parents, new relationships). I understand that they do this to have a drama aspect to the reality show and to attract teenagers, but they can focus a little less on their personal lives. But would Teen Mom be as popular as it is if it just focused on their life as a young mother? Honestly, I don't think that I would have watched the show if it just focused on their struggles with motherhood. I enjoy the drama that it has, but maybe dedicating 20 rather than 40 minutes to the drama would be better. In the hour long reality show, they don’t provide any resources for teenagers to not make the same mistakes. Educating teenagers on pregnancy is important, but schools, communities centers, clinics, counselors are available resources to give imformation on pregnancy. Teenagers already learn about sex, birth control, abortion, pregnancy from their school, parents, and friends. Some people may feel as though there is no reason for the girls of Teen Mom to repeat what we already hear. Teenagers feel as though they already what there is to know. Parents and schools and just surroundings exposes kids to these aspects of life in a way that they don't have to look to a the media.