I haven’t met a teenager who hasn’t watched at least one episode of a show such as Gossip Girl or the OC. Shows such as these are apparently supposed to show the lives of high school teenagers, but the lives they show are far from normal. Although you might enjoy watching them, have you ever considered the negative impact shows like these can have on you and other teens?

First of all, a majority of the actors and actresses playing these high school juniors and seniors are actually in their 20’s. They’re often wearing designer clothing picked out by professional stylists (that are way too expensive for almost anyone to buy), and make up done by professional make up artists. To make it worse, the most “popular” actresses in these shows are most often the most attractive. Although this might seem harmless, it reinforces the idea that only physically attractive people are popular. Seeing this idealized image of what high school students can and “should” look like can have a negative impact on your self-esteem.

The biggest problem with these shows, however, is the way the characters act. Both of the shows that I mentioned are full of teenagers making poor decisions regarding sex, drugs, and alcohol. Even though the issues are similar to what teens in high school encounter, the way they’re shown on TV sends the message that experimenting is normal (and even expected) in high school. People often forget that not everyone experiments with drugs, sex and alcohol.

I’m not saying that you need to stop watching these shows all together, because I’ll admit that the OC is one of my favorite shows. What I’m suggesting is that the next time you turn on Gossip Girl, remind yourself that you’re watching actors and actresses on a TV show; not what really happens in high school.

-Brooke, CYWH Summer Intern