Reality Show Jersey Shore

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Introduction
There is a debate on the effects that the media has in terms of influencing individuals culture
and this raises questions regarding the quality of the programs that are aired on TV. In families,
television is a common medium of entertainment in different parts of the globe. The expectations
of most people are that the aired programs will be friendly to all viewers regardless of their race,
social class or age. As such, inappropriate materials are usually banned from viewing by the
public. This essay will discuss the Reality Show Jersey Shore.
Nevertheless, there are programs that have questionable materials based on the content that they
convey. For example, the reality show Jersey Shore is an obsession for many folks who follow
every episode of it very carefully. They do this regardless of its obscenity and absurdity of the
content. This show depicts youths as careless, immoral and irresponsible. Its cast does not show
a quality life because most youths are depicted as lacking ambition or occupation. This implies
that the youths do not have to worry about their future and instead, their focus should be on
inappropriate behavior.
The argument of this paper is that this show ought to be banned from the television since its
content is inappropriate and it does not add any value to the viewers lives.

Reality Show Jersey Shore The Background

Jersey Shore refers to a reality show series that was aired on MTV from December 2009 to
December 2012. This show depicts the lives of 8 housemates, 4 males and 4 females in wellliked tour destinations that include Jersey Shore, Seaside Heights and Miami Beach. Their live
revolves around endless sex conversations, poor drinking behaviors and hooking up while halfnaked in some instances. They also use filthy language (Ruscitti 1). My belief is that Jersey
Shore show is unsuitable for family viewing because it portrays age-inappropriate content that
can misguide teenagers and children on essential aspects of their lives.
Individuals in this age category are developing their identity. They have developing minds that
are gullible to external influences. The influence of the media on the youths is great because they
usually choose role models from what the television depicts as stars. In Jersey Shore, characters
engage in immoral behaviors and this can have terrible impact on the youth who choose role
models from the television.

Majority of the characters in the shore for instance Mike will only teach young people to stay
idle, participate in promiscuous activities, unnecessary conflicts and fights (Ruscitti 1). As such,
this show ought to be banned from the television. This show ought not to be aired on the
television for various reasons.
First, the eight characters in the show drink excessively after which they engage in inappropriate
activities. Social drinking is not usually the cause of misbehaving. Therefore, encouraging young
people to misbehave pretending to be drunk is against the core values of the society. Although
watching inappropriate conduct that results from drinking can be entertaining for adults, its
consequences are dire for the youth audience. Watching the television stars drink and misbehave
can influence the young people to start drinking and misbehaving as well. The consequences of
this are long term in their lives because they might end up wasting their lives due to excessive
drinking which will prevent them from pursuing their dreams. Additionally, this misleads them
because the characters in the show are just acting but the youths tend to adopt their behavior.
Secondly, this show appears to give serious impact of skin cancer that comes from indoor,
fanatical skin tanning a blind eye. This is not good because there are many Americans currently
having skin cancer problems because of UV rays from bed and sun tans (Schulman and Fisher
145).
According to a report by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), using tanning beds before
one attains the age of 35 years increases the risk of skin cancer by 75%. The risk is tripled by
their occasional use. This show is therefore inappropriate for television because it promotes
them. The false perception that this show creates is that using tanning beds excessively does not
expose an individual to side effects. Being a reality show, Jersey Shore ought not to employ
deceptive facts because the viewers might be unable to distinguish fiction from fact.
Thirdly, the characters get a lot of money when compared to the viewers. As such, this promotes
inappropriate behaviors and stupidity that they portray in the show more so the impression it
gives the young people who are struggling to get proper jobs. This show depicts a fantastic world
in which individuals ought not to worry about job, morals and money. Using this show, viewers
are able to escape the real world to join the fantasy world so that they can get protection and
utopia from the challenges in the world.
Nevertheless, after the show is when viewers realize that they are still facing similar challenges
and that they have to handle them. Therefore, this show just compound the challenges and
problems that the viewers are facing while providing inappropriate mans of escaping them which
are indulging in promiscuity and excessive drinking. Most people do not know the impact of
allowing their families to watch this show. As such, my belief is that this reality show is a worst
example of a current medium.
Additionally, the show depicts risky sexual events which are inappropriate for youths viewing
because they promote promiscuity. For instance, Mike is depicted as having sex with several
partners. Their sex includes vaginal and oral intercourse. At no single instance are the cast
members depicted as engaging in safe sex like using condoms as a means of preventing sexually
transmitted diseases.

CDC (13) shows that approximately half of HIV infections are currently occurring among
individuals aged below 25 years. Among the behaviors that contribute to these infections include
having multiple sex partners, drinking sprees, failure to use preventative measures like
abstinence and condoms.
Clearly, this coincides with behaviors and the age of the cast members of this show. This show
does not raise concerns or mention the importance and severity of sexual health. The effects of
this are negative because the youths who watch the series may find it appropriate to participate in
risky sexual behaviors since that is what they see others in their age do without suffering
negative consequences later (Brown, 43). This is unsuitable because there are studies that also
depict increasing cases of STDs and teenage pregnancies caused by sex encouragement through
the television.

Refutation
According to the opponents, this show is entertaining and it should therefore be aired. Laughter
plays a vital role for human spirit. It assists people in forgetting worries in their lives and also to
remain productive. Additionally, the opponents argue that this show might not affect individuals
negatively because it uses the ideology of reverse psychology. The viewers are repulsed by
personally inappropriate behaviors so that they can choose appropriate relationships.
The show can also assist individuals in evaluating their relationships because it depicts
characters that are in bad relationships. In addition, individuals have the freedom to either watch
or avoid watching the show. Viewers can also opt to follow the positive attributes of this show
only.

Counter-argument
Viewers are exposed to inappropriate behavior indiscriminately by this show. This is not right
since studies such as the Journal of Sex Research indicate that high-risk sexual activities have a
direct correlation with televised media (Brown 43). The television is basically important for
family entertainment. Therefore, it ought to air appropriate content only. Additionally, argument
about entertainment is not sufficient because citizens have several options when it comes to
entertainment.
Entertainment value and the essence of protecting citizens right to information should not be
overemphasized. Nevertheless, the citizens can select other forms of entertainment from the
available clean options instead of sticking to what is inappropriate for them. For instance, they
can choose Oprah show by Oprah Winfrey which is also a reality show that is equally
entertaining without encouraging inappropriate actions.
The major objective in Oprah show is to enable individuals to handle different challenges in
lives. The impact of this on the entire society is positive because it can assist individuals with the
same problems to handle them properly. Thus, Oprah provides a solution to problems in lives
which is contrary to Jersey Shore which compounds them. This is important because the two are

reality shows. As such, Oprah show illustrates that a reality show can be hosted while upholding
the moral principles of a society.

Conclusion
In general, Jersey shore has a portrayal that contradicts the moral values of the society. This
show depicts inappropriate traits of the characters that include promiscuity, idleness and heavy
drinking. Despite having the capacity for choosing individuals actions, exposure to such
inappropriate content can influence individual choices. This is the case especially for the young
individuals who cannot distinguish right from wrong. The programs are featured on the national
televisions and therefore the developing minds are likely to assume that the depicted behaviors
are acceptable. Consequently, they will choose the behaviors especially if no sufficient guidance
is provided.
The show is undoubtedly entertaining but its ability to entertain is accompanied by an expensive
cost that entails the erosion of moral standards in the society. Young people can only choose
what they should watch and adopt after developing the ability to distinguish right from wrong.
This is the only way via which preservation of social morals can be guaranteed.
The side effects that the show has on the young people are more important than its entertainment
aspect. They include problems of excessive drinking, rude attitudes as well as contracting STDs.
This show should be cancelled to prevent further promotion of destructive behaviors. It is also
important that the program be banned because it promotes bed tanning which increases the risk
of developing skin cancer (Schulman and Fisher 1). Only valuable shows such as the Oprah
reality show should be aired on television.

Works Cited

Brown, Jane. Mass Media influences on Sexuality. Journal of Sex Research, 39.1(200):42-45.
This article provides an evidence-based analysis of the effect of mass media in changing the
societys perceptions towards sexuality matters.
CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 2001;13No. 2.
The centre for disease control and prevention is an international health organization. In this
article, the organization presents facts concerning the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and other STDS
among the youth. Further, it discusses the most common causes and preventive measures for
these diseases.
Ruscitti, Keith. Seaside Heights sees Good Times when MTV Show Returns. McClatchyTribune Business News. 2010.

Keith Ruscitti analyses the Jersey Shore Show in the article published on the McClatchy-Tribune
Business News.
Schulman, Joshua. and Fisher David. Indoor Ultra-Violet Tanning and Skin Cancer: Health
Risks and Opportunities. Curr Opin Oncol 21.2 (2009): 144-149.
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