Reality television consists of unscripted situations offering a closer glimpse at the life of ordinary people. Many of these shows are geared toward teens because they typically watch more television than the average adult and therefore can be more susceptible to its various influences.
Reality television can give insight to teens about many types of people in a way that a standard fictional narrative would not. Additionally, the exposure of the format can influence teens to experiment with the genre on their own by tracking their lives through media such as a web series or video log (vlog). This can often serve as a healthy creative outlet that promotes useful technological skills.
Some argue that reality television has promoted a societal desire to be voyeuristic and devalue privacy. Many parents of teens also have expressed concerns that due to its nature, some reality shows can promote behavior in teens that is considered trashy, rude and sexually promiscuous.
With the help of popular websites such as YouTube, ordinary teens are now able to upload videos similar to the those of the reality show format and build a large audience base. Modern teenagers are aware of this and are constantly attempting to become the new viral-video sensation.
There have been many reported crimes against those who have their own web series or vlogs. It is important to monitor a teenager's Internet activity to make sure that private information or content is not easily obtainable.