The Real Impact of Glamourized Teen Relationships on Screen: What Parents Need to Know...

Let’s be real: today’s teen shows—from the CW to Netflix—make high school look like a parade of intense romances, steamy make-outs, and love triangles that make Romeo and Juliet look tame. The problem? The actors on screen are often in their mid-to-late twenties, with Hollywood-level looks and a grasp on life that few actual teens have. Objects in the mirror may appear closer than they really are, but these on-screen “teens” are about as close to actual teenage life as a Ferrari is to a minivan.

How These Hyper-Adult Relationships Shape Teen Expectations

Teen shows have always stretched the truth, but there’s a difference between a little dramatic flair and a world where every high school relationship is painted as life-or-death romance. It’s like they’re setting teens up to think that relationships are supposed to come with fireworks, huge fights, and intense emotional roller coasters every day.

For kids watching these shows, it’s easy to get the wrong message. They might start thinking that their own relationships should look just like these amped-up dramas, complete with perfect lighting, perfect skin, and impossible stakes. When we don’t step in and help them sort out the fiction from the reality, they can feel pressure to act older, look more “perfect,” and experience everything at warp speed.

The Real Consequences of Unrealistic Expectations

When young adults consume media that turns romance into a full-blown soap opera, there are real effects:

1. Unrealistic Standards: Teens may start expecting that a real relationship means constant passion and drama.

2. Pressure to Grow Up Too Fast: Seeing on-screen “teens” in adult situations can make them feel like they need to be “doing more” in their own relationships.

3. Blurred Boundaries: Many shows don’t model healthy limits, leaving teens with a skewed idea of what’s normal or respectful in a relationship.

How Parents Can Help Ground Their Teens in Reality

We can’t control what Hollywood puts out, but we can give our kids the tools to view these shows with a critical eye. Here’s how to help them see beyond the glamour:

1. Watch Together (or Get Familiar): You don’t need to sit through every episode, but knowing what’s in these shows helps. Use scenes as a springboard for conversations: “What did you think of the way they handled that situation?” or “How does that compare to real relationships?”

2. Encourage a Reality Check: Gently remind them that these actors are in their twenties (or older!) and that the storylines are amped up to keep people watching. Real relationships come with ups, downs, and a lot less lighting.

3. Discuss Boundaries: A lot of these shows skip over boundaries, making intense emotions seem like the norm. Talk to your teens about what healthy relationships look like—ones with mutual respect, trust, and, yes, personal space.

4. Share Your Own Experiences: Stories from your own high school or young adult relationships can offer a grounded perspective. You don’t have to be a saint, but you can share how you navigated real-life relationships, complete with the awkwardness, learning curves, and growth that come with them.

Wrapping Up (Omg PLEASE always wrap it up...)

Let’s face it: these shows aren’t going anywhere, and they’re entertaining for a reason. But when we help our teens see past the high-drama plotlines, we’re giving them a gift—a reality check that shows them that real relationships don’t need to look like what they see on screen to be meaningful. With a little guidance, we can help them build healthier, more balanced expectations of love, connection, and what relationships truly look like in the real world.

Let’s keep it real, keep it grounded, and keep showing up as their reality check.