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Essay / Reality TV Today
Reality shows are television shows that show ordinary people filmed doing ordinary and sometimes dangerous things. These shows are made for entertainment purposes. They're supposed to be unscripted, but would that really hold viewers' attention? Are these shows adapted to our vision or do they give us a false vision of life? Reality TV gives a poor vision of what our reality really is. Millions of viewers watch these shows daily, from people who eat cow eyeballs for money to those who compete to see who is prettiest and even change their appearance. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essayThis essay will explain how reality TV gives us a manufactured way of living and even false hope. For starters, TV shows about teen pregnancy shouldn't even be on TV. "Heavy viewers of teen mom reality shows were more likely to think that teen moms have a lot of time for themselves, can easily find daycare so they can go to work or school, and finish high school than TV viewers lighter of these shows. (Martins, Jensen 2014, p.1). These teen pregnancy shows give a false perception of what life is really like. The cast of the shows are paid for appearing on the show, for proper health care, they have families who help them, provide them with housing or babysit. They can also complete their studies and take up employment. Not all pregnant teens receive these benefits. Teenagers see these teen moms on TV on magazine covers, having plastic surgery and all over the internet. They glorify the whole situation. Is this really what life is like for a pregnant girl? Teen pregnancy shows have turned these teens into celebrities. This is not the normal daily life of the average pregnant teenager. "While it would be inappropriate to suggest that reality TV gives us a false perception of life that watching these programs is the cause of teenage pregnancy, one could consider this a contributing factor." (Martins, 2014, p.1). Second, these reality TV shows have a negative effect on the body image of adolescents. Most shows show women or men idealizing beauty and focusing on sex appeal. Modeling shows pit women against each other to see who is the prettiest or hottest. TV shows about surgery like Botched or The Swan inspire people to change their appearance. Many viewers watch shows like The Kardashians who are always changing their appearance. They wear slimming girdles to lose weight, which can harm your body. They undergo cosmetic procedures during the filming of the television show. Many women idealize the Kardashians, they take advantage of them and make their money. “Among girls who watch reality TV, 72% say they spend a lot of time on their appearance, compared to 42% of non-viewers.” (Bush, Sapire, 2017, p.1). It has become part of life to fit in and be accepted. Meanwhile, the younger generation watches these reality shows and learns that it is okay to bully people. These viewers see people being bullied,.