With shows like Euphoria, Gossip Girl, and even older shows like Pretty Little Liars, it is easy to fall under a false notion of what teenage life looks like in America. Even though these shows are made for entertainment purposes, it is easy to misinterpret entertainment as a reflection of reality. Since most of these teen shows are geared towards people between the ages of 16 and 25, it can be difficult to navigate what modern teenagehood looks like from the lens of actual teenagers.
When watching these teen shows myself, I have noticed that I am no longer interested in the theatrics and lack of realistic nature of these shows. Even my high school self understood that not all kids are having sex at fourteen or strung out on drugs before they even graduate high school. That is not to say that these things do not happen, however for a large number of people, this is not the reality of their teenage years or even their young adulthood.
Now, why is all of this important in relation to how certain age groups view these shows? As mentioned earlier, it is easy for people to misinterpret reality-based entertainment. Although most people believe that they can separate what they see on TV from the real world, it can still leave a lasting impression on their subconscious minds. This is where things become tricky in understanding why so many feel as if they are behind in life or “late bloomers” compared to what they see on TV. Don’t get me wrong- I have felt this way at times as well. Watching a character the same age as you take luxury trips every other week while you are sitting in your room studying for a test the next day, it is hard not to compare your situation, especially when you have a bond with a particular character. However, the underlying problem is that this creates a false reality.
The idea of false reality is nothing new. You may have heard of people who protest video games because they can promote a lifestyle that is extreme to reality as well as cause fear that people may try to recreate what happens in the games in real life. Similarly, TV shows can create an illusion especially when it comes to teen shows, where their audience is arguably most impressionable. Inadvertently, these shows promote lifestyles by glamorizing certain aspects which can take away from the true message. Take an episode of One Tree Hill, where Brooke is in a relationship with the new teacher. The show presents this relationship as something that is risky but exciting, ignoring the power dynamic between the two and the fact that in reality, most teachers don’t look like that- not to mention it’s illegal. Now if you transfer this same type of relationship to a show involving college students, it may be legal but there is still a power dynamic there that victimizes young girls.
This is not to say that teen shows are bad and no one should watch them. I, for one, enjoy them and think that they can be an instigator for serious and real conversations about things that can sometimes happen to people of these ages. My problem is the execution and the fact that there are often groups of people left out, or if they are included, are generally portrayed as secondary characters that have no potential of growing in the series.
Shows like these are complex and can shape how people view teenage life. These shows sometimes romanticize toxic people or situations instead of addressing underlying issues. Not everyone’s life looks like what is on the screen, and sometimes it is hard to differentiate between the two. However, as time progresses I hope that creators become more aware of problems outside of the bubble of drugs and sex, and focus more on those awkward transitions of having your first kiss and crying over acne, or parents who support and help their kids to navigate their lives. Teen shows have so much potential in showing reality instead of just glamorizing lifestyles that are often so removed from most viewers’ reality.