Good lord, I've just started watching Teen Mom UK.

[Mowington]

Obviously scraping the barrel of things to binge having been stuck at home so long, not the kind of thing I usually watch at all, but thought I'd give it a go.

God, this show makes me so uncomfortable. Ethically it seems so not in the interest of the people on the show. Are they paid well for it? Do they have legal advisors?

It's a guilty pleasure show of mine.

What do you think is so wrong with it?

Some of them do very well for themselves now. A lot of them are “influencers” and make a lot of money!

A couple of them have gone all plastic surgery rogue and now look like barbules. I guess fame so young is not so good for some.

@PatrickBatemann

It's a guilty pleasure show of mine.

What do you think is so wrong with it?

Part of me wonders if they fully know what they're signing up for - for arguments, family issues, break ups, cheating etc - being shown on tv for the world to see.

They just seem so young, like they don't know who they are yet, and I wonder if they'll regret being on tv later on.

Honestly, some of them just seem SO young, immature, misguided, insecure, unsure of themselves.

And we're watching it as car crash tv for entertainment.

The 18 year old who tries to keep a horse in the back garden, living in a caravan with her partner who not long ago cheated on her, and now she wants them to have another baby. I don't know, maybe I'm being judgmental. It just makes me sad.

I also find it hard to watch.

I think these shows are borderline abusive. Can you imagine having your life held up for being to be entertained by and to judge you. It's fucking sick. Not only for the teenage parents but for their children. These shows last online forever.
It's similar to poverty porn. The programme makers should feel shit about it

It is a tv show but actual real kids, a lot is 'guided'.

Most of them are doing better for themselves than if they hadn't been in the show 🤷‍♀️

@Pinchoftums

I think these shows are borderline abusive. Can you imagine having your life held up for being to be entertained by and to judge you. It's fucking sick. Not only for the teenage parents but for their children. These shows last online forever. It's similar to poverty porn. The programme makers should feel shit about it

Yeah that's what I mean. It feels exploitative.

I wonder if they have solicitors/therapists included in the pay for the show.

The 18 year old who tries to keep a horse in the back garden, living in a caravan with her partner who not long ago cheated on her, and now she wants them to have another baby. I don't know, maybe I'm being judgmental. It just makes me sad

Megan? Yeah, in the first few seasons, her story really did seem tragic. But she seems to be thriving now! She's binned him off, has her own flat, and now has her own beauty business.

@idontlikealdi

It is a tv show but actual real kids, a lot is 'guided'.

Most of them are doing better for themselves than if they hadn't been in the show 🤷‍♀️

Yes, I agree.

Every one of them seems to be doing well for themselves now.

@PatrickBatemann

The 18 year old who tries to keep a horse in the back garden, living in a caravan with her partner who not long ago cheated on her, and now she wants them to have another baby. I don't know, maybe I'm being judgmental. It just makes me sad

Megan? Yeah, in the first few seasons, her story really did seem tragic. But she seems to be thriving now! She's binned him off, has her own flat, and now has her own beauty business.

Oh thank god.

The last one I saw she was pregnant with her 2nd, they'd split up and abandoned the caravan.

I really fucking hope they all get a huge chunk of money out of it.

It feels exploitative.

I really think it is. They’re so young.

It's exploitation.

They've recently done a series of programmes where the women talk about what else went on. It says on there that they all had access to psychological support throughout filming.

@Twizbe

They've recently done a series of programmes where the women talk about what else went on. It says on there that they all had access to psychological support throughout filming.

That's good to hear

@KaleSlayer

It feels exploitative.

I really think it is. They’re so young.

Some of the toxic argumentative behaviour/arguments on the show took me back to being a daft 17yo myself.

Jesus Christ id be mortified if any of that was televised.

Jesus Christ id be mortified if any of that was televised.

Oh god yes. I was a pretty sensible teen but still did some stuff I’m glad to forget, especially with friends and boyfriends. I suppose it’s normal for young people to put themselves out there now though with social media. It makes me glad to have grown up without it but worried for my kids.

Um Megan's bf is in prison for manslaughter, Dylan has two more kids with someone else and I'm not sure he sees any of them.

Oh no, was that her in the caravan, the readhead?

*redhead

Megan's ex Dylan sees his two kids with Megan and he's in a relationship with Ree-ann the mother of his youngest two children. Megan has a bf who isn't in prison. God knows where you get your wrong information from!

How do you guys know all of this?

Social media.

Omg I've just binged the whole season. It just gets worse 🤦🏽‍♀️ its so addictive

@Mowington

How do you guys know all of this?

The first season aired about 6 years ago now.

All the girls have social media and everything is on there to see.

If you find the UK one slightly unethical you should read about the first US one where a couple called Catelynn & Tyler gave a baby up for adoption. The show then became a massive hit & in retrospect the couple could totally have afforded to keep their baby. They have obviously both massively struggled with the decision they made at the time, not knowing what was about to happen with the show. Its horrendous.