The Unrealistic Portrayal of High School in Teen Dramas 

High school is a formative time for teens. Many teens get their first jobs, meet their first loves, learn to balance responsibilities, and experience a period of growth and self discovery. While all of these social, professional, and mental milestones are being met, these teens are also balancing the work of eight subjects and extracurriculars. 

For years, teen dramas have drastically shaped the expectations of the high school experience. Constant love triangles, crazy unsupervised behavior, and over-the-top drama have been drilled into the minds of young adolescents and teens alike as if it is the norm. These shows also tend to over-romanticize and sexualize the high school experience of minors. Rarely do the typical teenage audiences see an experience they can completely relate to.

It is mind boggling to watch these shows and see what unrealistic expectations they set up for my (and many others’) high school experience.

The lack of education in teen dramas is simply one of the most unrealistic aspects of these shows. These shows often highlight clubs, athletics and other extracurriculars yet fail to acknowledge the prominence that classes have in a teens life. Many times I was drowning in work, barely making time for meals or sleep. The only time that lack of sleep seems to be an issue in teen dramas is when a character was out on some absurd adventure. Shows definitely seem to underestimate the workload that high school provides. 

The glorification of drugs and alcohol is another expectation that is often highlighted in teen dramas. While it is true that many teenagers do experiment with drinking and sometimes drugs in their high school years, it is also very normal for teens to abstain from that behavior. Teen dramas make those who don’t partake in these activities seem nerdy, too “innocent,” or completely sheltered. Teen dramas can set a bad example and often romanticize the abuse of drugs and alcohol, making it seem like the only way to have fun in your teen years and beyond. 

Often, “teens” in these shows were pictured with perfect skin and perfect bodies. They all seemed to be sexually active and completely comfortable with themselves. This portrayal often forces much younger audiences to have unrealistic expectations when it comes to their sexual experiences, body image, and maturity. The oversexualization of high schoolers on TV is often attributed to much older actors playing younger roles. Often actors are well into their 20’s while playing 16 and 17 year olds. According to Vulture, in the case of HBO’s Euphoria, the average age of the actors is 24 while their characters range from ages 13-19. 

One other completely unrealistic trope that audiences have become accustomed to is the complete lack of parental supervision and teens having to be overly independent. In early 2000s dramas like One Tree Hill, we only see the parents of two of the main characters on a regular basis. The others just seem to be forever absent and leaving their children at home alone for months at a time. Shows like this had me thinking I would be living on my own, completely independent by age 16. And while it is a sad reality for some, it is definitely not a normal circumstance. 

Teen dramas have high school set up to be this magical and crazy time period of your life. While it can be, most of the time it is not the case. Shows like One Tree Hill, Euphoria, and others can set these high expectations up. 

Just remember, these shows are highly dramatized and chaotic for the audience’s entertainment- they are not meant to guide you through your teenage years!