Yes, but i love it anyway!!!!

I said yes, but I'll admit I'm still a huge fan of Gossip Girl...but I'm not in high school and don't have teenage daughters so...

I said yes, but I really think these shows should only be watched by adults out of their teens...sadly enough, teenage girls are far to impressionable to be able to watch a show like these and just let it be a guilty pleasure and not something to try and either imitate or learn life lessons from...

The maybe option says it all! The shows are good entertainement (Gossip Girl!!!), but it's up to the parents whether they think the show's a bad influence or not!

I say MAYBE because I remember the shows to watch when I was high school age were Beverly Hills 90210 & Melrose Place but my mom used her judgement when it came to those things & I didn't watch them until I was old enough to see what they were talkign about. These shows sometimes carry the same or similar content as those did but the characters are younger but I do strongly believe that it is up to the parent's to determine what their child should be viewing and to set the boundaries.

My preteen daughter saw Gossip Girls and The Hills at a friend's house (I refuse cable)during a sleepover and she said it was gross and hated how ignorant the girls acted towards life. She also takes classes a grade above her grade level; so there you go...

I said no. but i also agree with the maybe. The premise is still the same. They are too shallow and too rich. But parents should watch what their kids are watching. America said that about Blake's show??? HA! that's kinda funny. makes me think of the video when she was rolling her eyes.

I think "teen" shows are too mature for their intended demographic. Honestly, while the kids of Gossip Girl are in high school, the sordid love affairs, cocktails, endless supervision-free parties, conversations, and situations are practically mirrored to your average 20-something...or least some one in their sophomore year of college (LOL).

But truthfully, I haven't been a teen for almost 7, but getting closer to 8 years, but I still don't remember shows being this racy when I was younger. And if it was the content went WAY over my innocent adolescent head.

of course, but as parents we need ti make sure we are censoring what they are watching my 8 and 5 year old are not allowed to watch sponge bob

Yes! I love Gossip Girl, and I am kind of enjoying the new 90210, but I am 27 years old. I think that the situations are totally inappropriate for young kids (the tween and teen audience that they are trying to represent and reach). These kids are drinking, having sex, wearing thousand dollar outfits. I wasn't an angel in high school, but that doesn't mean that these shows should make this behavior seem like the expected norm.

Yes and No. These shows in particular don't instill great values, but it kind of shows us what not to do in these situations. Shows like these are for entertainment y'know.
Personally, a show that makes me wonder about teens values is The Secret Life of an American Teenager.
(And by the by, the people in The Hills, Gossip Girl, and 90210 aren't teens. I just look at it as older people acting badly lol)

i said yes, because these shows are way too adult for their supposed "teenage" audience. it's not that the shows aren't great to watch... they are generally very entertaining to watch. but when i was a teen i knew to separate entertainment from reality, and not to follow their examples. i hope others can too

i say no and maybe!! no because its made for entertaiment purpouse and maybe cuz some girls may wanna be as them but its the parent work to tell them that that kind of shows r not real!!

I think it is the parents responsibility to monitor their kids TV habits, and discuss controversial topics with them. Just because something might not be suitable for 12 and 13-year olds doesn't mean the rest of us can't watch it. It can also be a great jumping off point for parents to discuss sex, drinking, drugs, and relationship/friendship "politics" with their kids.

Also, we didn't have these shows when I was in grade school (except 90201, which my friends and I weren't allowed to watch because it was too racy) and we had Dawson's Creek in high school. Girls were still mean in grade school, without any TV show influence ... and no one was crawling in anyone's bedroom windows in high school. I think kids peers are far more influential than their TV shows.

Well, they're definitely too skinny....

most of the shows for "teen" girls actually have a lot of adult content and/or don't really show a reality of what it's like to be a regular teen girl. I do think that it's up to the parents to know what their kids are watching and talk about it with their kids, but come on, Hollywood!

And America Ferrera on the cover of Seventeen? I'm SO buying it!

Blaming the media is always the easy way out.

Blaming the media may be the "easy way out" but why should we subject teenagers (who are getting negative messages from all over the place) to even more pressure to be skinny, rich, drunk, and sexually active? I grew up not watching these shows because I didn't think they were appropriate. I think we can't blame everything on the parents once a child is in their teens. Teenagers have, for all intents and purposes, become their own people by that point. While parents can continue to supervise them and try to give them guidance, I think most of the actual "raising" is done by that point and can't really be undone.

I don't even understand why these shows are considered entertaining. All I see are a bunch of terribly insecure teenagers tearing themselves and each other apart. It doesn't sound like what I want to watch for fun.

I said yes, and the fact that the people in them are hardly ever teens themselves says alot.

These shows arent reality based obviously, and pre teens and teens shouldnt think that they are something to strive for and thats where the parents come in.

no, i am a teen and i watch these shows and they don't affect me. i just like them for entertainment.

I'm so glad I was a Cosby and Keaton kid...no pressure. My high school years were fun and exciting enough without all that grown-up pressure. I'm very much so an adult and I still don't define 'grown-up' by drinking, smoking, or being sexually promiscuous. I collect the dvd series I grew up on and my kids watch those! Stress-free! And thanks to a school sponsored sex ed class and our conversations my daughter knows more about sex and STD's than I do. And my sons(10 &7) are taught to be respectful of girls...their teachers tell me they treat the girls in their class like angels; because they don't see vulgar women very often to them they are. Everyone, the media and the viewers created this mess, it's our job to clean it up now. I'm just trying to do my part. (God help me!) :}
**As for the skinny issue: my teen says 'they look sickly.'

I just think that it would be nice if most people weren't learning their values from TV. I mean, come on. TV shows are mostly there to sell ad time.

And I agree with tia--these shows are a lot racier than the ones I watched as a kid. The worst thing I was ever exposed to was Jessie getting briefly hooked on OTC caffeine pills in a very special episode of Saved By The Bell.

I chose Maybe because it is ONLY a bad influence if the parents DON'T PARENT!

I truly think that most teens are more like Nessa and aren't influenced by TV. I don't think we always give teenagers enough credit.

I think that a lot of 'teen' shows geared at teens are a little too racey for kids. I mean Gossip Girls characters has more sex and scandals in their teenage years than my 25 years of existence.

But having said that...it is up to the parents to edcuate the kids and limit and censor what material is approriate for children...even if their kids kick and scream about it...

Yes. They should have a better variety. The fantasy ones where the girls have designer everything are fun for daydreaming but some realistic ones would be good. Then again, all I see are headlines of the shows, I don't even know what's all on tv these days for kids.

maybe with the way all those girl are so skinny. It makes young girls think they should be that size.

the girls from 90210 need to eat something !

Yes, esp. Gossip Girl, esp. all the drinking (how is it even lega?)

But I LOVE the show nonethelss but I am not a teeanger anymore so...

Yea.

*legal

Yes, I do... of course I enjoy watching the shows, but if I was in high school I'm pretty sure it would affect me. All the drinking, sex, and skinniness seems like a lot of pressure.

I've also noticed everyone always has a lot money or the ability to get it - even Gilmore Girls while they were not rich themselves they always had the parental backup.

I agree nadioz..the girls from 90210 are rail thin..I wonder if its a normal thin like they are just like that or a starvation to be pretty thin..if its the latter..so sad.

Definitely maybe...I enjoy the shows as a twenty something, but I wouldn't want my pre-teen watching it. The parents need to keep control, but I'm sad to say...I love them all!

I said, "maybe."
I think the shows are a bit more mature then they should be for a teen audience but I also believe parents need to step up and actually be parents. Times have changed and, unfortunately, kids grow up far faster then they should. They don't get to enjoy childhood as long without sex, drugs, alcohol, and image come into their lives.

I don't understand WHY children HAVE to grow up fast. Even with the addition of cellphones and the internet, that's not a good enough excuse for why television that is supposed to be targeting teens is nothing but Adult Shows with a "younger" cast.

i really do think that sometimes they set the wrong example. yes it's TV and it's supposed to be an escape from reality and all that - but it makes you wish that you had a life that in general isn't all that attainable. i'm not a teen and it makes me feel down about myself since i see these teens and 20 something (ok i'm still a 20 something) who have soo much more than i do and they don't seem to work as hard.

i guess that's all part of our culture though - the shows get such great ratings - so positive influence or not - i don't see them changing

^ Oh I agree! I think it's beyond sad and makes me really happy that I grew up in times I did.

I suppose it depends on the person and the way the person was raised. The people I know won't be affected by such a show. There may be very insecure girls who are trying desperately to fit in and thus try to copy the characters in the show, but overall I don't think that's the case. You have to give those "terribly insecure and stupid young girls" some credit. Teenagers can seperate television from reality, it's not rocket science. I don't think magazines showing off skinny models or television shows with popular girls who are constantly b*tching to each other has as much of an impact as is being thought.

I think everyone (especially moms) take tv too seriously......when I was young I was allowed to watch whatever I wanted, sex and all. My mom and dad watched with me, explaining what was "for adults to do" and what was "just pretend". I believe this was best, it helped me form my own opinions. Taking children and teens away from TV only makes them wonder what all the fuss is about. I believe a good parent will let their kids and teens "live a little".

I think these shows definitely glamorize b*tchy, risque attitudes towards life. I mean, lines like "Ain't karma a b*tch? We know that Blair Waldorf is one" definitely get stuck in my head and make me giggle.

I do think the girls from the new 90210 are too skinny. But the other things, no. It's a tv-show, not real life. People should be able to distinguish between reality and tv.

Cuppity, well said. The more you tell a kid NO NO NO, the more likely they are to rebel and say YES YES YES, and usually that is FAR worse than what would have happened had you not restricted their activities and explained things to them instead.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating NO boundaries for kids, they ABSOLUTELY need some, but any more, you have to creatively parent. If you don't, you're running the risk that your kids will get the information they're looking for from the WRONG sources and it will be BAD information that will cause them problems.

Mykie...I love your icon... I love Hillary too

I think a parent should honestly discuss fact from fiction. What is reality and what is not. Most of the girls in these shows are 21 and over and play the roles of young teenagers. I don't understand why these shows are targeted for a younger audience but I guess Teens consume the most . I heard an amazing broadcast about this on NPR the other morning. These girls wearing Chanel, Gucci, Fashion week. These are things people earn or work hard for in Reality. 5% are born into it . I know myself I didn't start wearing these label's until I was 25. It takes time. Some might not even wear them until they are much older. So just be realistic.

Thanks CYL, but when I copied the picture, it cut off the best part which said

"In the absence of the best woman, we'll take the best man. McCain."

It's TV, it's NOT REAL. Girls should be smart enough to realize that.

I got to watch everything I wanted when I was a child. I turn out good. I dont know how f*cked up you have to be to take UNREAL ROLEMODEL/EXAMPLE and copy whatever she/he does. Teenagers drink anyway with or without TV guiding. And fashion does the skinny

yes we should not take everything away without explaining why we are taking it away, like spongebob in my opinion is more for adults and the word stupid will NEVER be glamourized in my HOME, but that is just my family

They don't make me want to go around and be mean to girls at my school but if girls are taking these shows so literally that they act like the characters it's really more that they don't have a mind of their own then isn't it?

absolutely not, everyone just likes to blame things on television and movies and the media, but if anyone is imitating this stuff in real life then its their problem.

Yeah,maybe in a way.
But I enjoy watching "gossip girl",but still It doesnt make me want to become "too rich, too skinny, and too shallow".
Its fiction.
After watching a Quentin Tarantino movie I dont come out of my house with a gun trying to kill everyone around.
Also the parents should be more protective towards to teenage kids and what program they're wayching.
I plead guilty : I tend to like most of them !!!

Btw, HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLAKE (lively) !!