MTV's reality series, "16 & Pregnant" is facing accusations that it's trashier, and less compassionate, than it seems. The runaway hit — which tracks pregnant teens through the trials of young motherhood — consistently ranks #1 among female viewers ages 12-34 and, while MTV explicitly calls the episodes "cautionary tales" for underage viewers, some pop-culture analysts think the show does more harm than good. What about the "repercussions" the typical "16 & Pregnant" subject faces for "putting her life out there," asks Jessica Grose in Slate, not to mention "the cruel comments on MTV's Web site"—for example, "You suck as a person and are a horrible mom."
Don't underestimate young viewers, counters Sadie Stein at Jezebel: "[When I'm watching the show], I find myself thinking. Well, I'd be better than that. I wouldn't have a baby with a guy like that; I wouldn't party every night." And I doubt the show's viewers are "markedly less suggestible." Does "16 & Pregnant" trivialize the important issue of teen pregnancy by turning it into entertainment? Watch a clip below, or click here to view full episodes:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
