6. Reality TV

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Reality TV: Harmless Fun or Toxic for Young People

Reality TV has gained immense popularity especially over the past decade. I used to watch them all the time growing up but in my adult years looking back I think that many of the shows I used to love so much are very harmful and I wouldn’t recommend young people wasting time watching. In particular I’m going to reference, Americas Next Top Model, Bad Girls Club, and The Swan. 



Americas Next Top Model was one of the shows I watched for many years, this was a competition reality show where young aspiring models competed for the title of  “Top Model”. I didn’t realize until later that this show was very unrealistic, they put a lot of the models under a lot of intense scrutiny, body shaming, and humiliation. There have since been models who have come out to talk about how scripted and toxic this show actually was. ANTM Winner Lisa Exposes the Show.



This show “Bad Girls Club” I had NO BUSINESS watching at the age 15, but I did and now as an adult I can see this show thrived on aggressive behavior and toxic relationships between women. This sends a dangerous message to young women who are very impressionable, it says it’s “glamorous and fun” to break laws, abuse alcohol and conduct yourself like a “Bad Girl”. Personally I don’t think it’s cute and this type of show is bringing our society down, reducing women to caricatures of aggression and mental health problems. Several “Bad Girls” have gone on to regret being on the show. Watch Winters Experience. 


The Swan was a show that I watched with my mom when I was really young and at the time it was so interesting to us. The show took “ugly ducklings” and turned them into “swans” through plastic surgery and intense weight loss programs. I think this show would be way too problematic in today’s society of “self acceptance and inner beauty” but back then this show was totally acceptable. I just think about all the young girls who watched this and thought about what type of cosmetic surgery they would some day get. See an exclusive interview with Swan Contestant, Lorrie Arias.

My hope is that we start getting more positive reality shows, especially for young women when it comes to beauty standards and how we should behave as positive influences on younger generations. If I could have my own reality show it would be about young girls doing amazing things, I would title it something like "Girl Power" and it would be a show that each episode you meet a new girl who has a really cool accomplishment, I would girls who are all about social change, starting their own business, or has overcome something that could motivate other girls to overcome things in their own lives. 

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