Why is the U.S. Teen Childbirth Rate Going Down?

 

            “In no other developed country are teenagers as likely to get pregnant as in the United States,” says Nicholas Kristof in this New York Times column. “Girls in the United States are almost 10 times as likely to have babies as Swiss girls, and more than twice as likely as Canadian girls.” Kristof says he’s been writing about the issue for years and doesn’t think he’s prevented a single teen pregancy, and other efforts like virginity pledges haven’t worked either.

But a recent study by economists Melissa Kearney and Phillip Levine found that the MTV reality show “16 and Pregnant” and spinoffs like “Teen Mom” have had a significant impact. By looking at birth data in areas with particularly high viewership, Kearney and Levine concluded that the shows were responsible for a 5.7 percent reduction in teen births nationwide, or 20,000 fewer births a year. “Because abortion rates fell at the same time,” says Kristof, “the reduced birthrate appears to be the result principally of more use of contraception.” There was other evidence of the link:

-    Right after each new episode of “16 and Pregnant,” Twitter messages containing the words “birth control” increased by 23 percent.

-    Google searches on how to get birth control spiked immediately after each show.

-    The trend toward fewer teen births, which began in the 1990s, accelerated sharply when the shows began airing in 2009.

Of course there are other factors, including low-income girls realizing that career opportunities for women have improved, giving them an economic incentive to defer childbirth. But there’s no denying the impact of the reality TV dramas. “These shows remind youthful viewers that babies cry and vomit, scream in the middle of the night, and poop with abandon,” says Kristof.

“As a haughty journalistic scribbler,” he continues, “I tend to look down on television, so it’s a bit painful to acknowledge its potential for good. But the evidence is overwhelming.” It shows that compelling storytelling (versus lecturing) can work wonders. “If the government tried this,” says MTV president Stephen Friedman, “it would have a good message, but three people would watch it.” Instead, we’re witnessing “one of America’s great social policy successes,” concludes Kristof, “coming even as inequality and family breakdown have worsened.” Since 1991, the U.S. teen birthrate has fallen 52 percent.

 

“TV Lowers Birthrate (Seriously)” by Nicholas Kristof in The New York Times, Mar. 20, 2014,

http://nyti.ms/1d49rIr