Teens on Television Entry

Teens on T.V.

I grew up on Star Trek and Wallace and Gromit. My nine-year-old sister is growing up on shows like Victorious, iCarly, and The Zac and Cody Show. This type of TV portrays teenagers as rich, white, and popular. I can’t think of one popular “teen” show with a main character who is a minority race, struggling with financial issues, or awkward and friendless. At least, these are the shows designed to be relatable for teenagers, but whose actual audience is my nine-year-old sister and her friends. I guess it makes her feel cool and grown-up when she can understand what those fake teenagers are talking about. These shows give her an image of what kids and teens are supposed to look like and do.  This image is not designed to show my sister how to be a better person, and how not to be influenced by the crowd. They are simply trying to attract young, impressionable minds, and win over kids so that they want to buy their shows.

Another thing I don’t like about these shows is that the families are always the same. The dad is always quirky and annoying, while the mom is bland and pushy. There’s also usually an irritating younger sibling to add drama. The only exception to these rules is iCarly. She has an older brother who takes care of her because her dad is overseas and her mom is absent. Also, her brother is never shown working, but they can somehow afford to live in a Seattle loft. This scenario is totally unrealistic and does not truly represent teens’ lives.

Another misleading thing about this type of TV is the issues the characters are dealing with. The main characters are never worried about the environment, their education, or anything significant. They are usually worried about whether or not they are going to get a part in the school play or if they are going to get asked to the prom. These issues are not designed to help kids deal with tough situations they are dealing with; they are simply designed to attract an audience and make money. The issues described in these shows are not issues that my nine-year-old sister should have to think about or act upon.

In a perfect world, kids would watch shows that would stimulate their creativity and thought as well as giving them an image of intelligence and independence to look up to. The shows I loved as a kid may not have lived up to this standard, but at least they made me think. They were imaginative and interesting. If I had watched different, more conventional shows, I think I would be a very different person than I am today.