Teenage sex on televison

How is it legal to represent or suggest teenagers engaging in sexually explicit activity on television? I bring this up because of an article I just ran across about an up coming episode of that show Glee. Now, I don’t watch this show, never have, and never will, but apparently there are some couples in love included with the plot which are going to have sex.

Finn and Rachel and…Kurt and Blaine! Yep, the couple — who was featured on the cover of EW’s Gay Teens on TV issue – finally decide to take the next step in their relationship. It’s all handled very delicately and is incredibly moving. I can’t think of another network series that’s taken a teenage gay relationship so far or been so progressive.

popwatch.ew.com

How can a situation, which is intended to suggest that underage children are having sex, be considered “incredibly moving” or "progressive"? No matter how you slice it, it’s by law, child pornography.

Child pornography is the visual representation of minors under the age of 18 engaged in sexual activity or the visual representation of minors engaging in lewd or erotic behavior designed to arouse the viewer's sexual interest.

Legal Definition

Obviously, I haven’t seen the scene in question, and certainly this isn’t the first show or movie (American Pie comes to mind) to push this boundary, and no, this has nothing to do with the fact one of the couples is gay, I am merely curious as to how TV execs are allowed to peddle child pornography to the masses.

What are your thoughts and comments, please?

What I don't understand is WHY do they promote sex everywhere, then tell us we're over populated.
Wouldn't it make more sense to have things like Bible study shows on TV if you want to slow down the growth of a population?

Because its not actual porn that they are peddling to the masses. This is a bit of an over dramatic response to an article that you read. Its 2011, Kids have sex nowadays. A lot of them. So its genuine to the course of a show thats about a bunch of kids. Will the scenes be uncomfortable fo some, sure. Will they be explicit, not at all.

I don't think it's illegal. Depictions of murder are not actually murder, etc. And there have been plenty of movies and other tv shows with depictions of underage sex.

reply to post by JibbyJedi


I'm not really sure how bible study would prevent that, but it certainly would get people to stop watching so much television. But I agree, sex is promoted far to often in society, and seemingly to younger and younger crowds.

Originally posted by JibbyJedi
What I don't understand is WHY do they promote sex everywhere, then tell us we're over populated.
Wouldn't it make more sense to have things like Bible study shows on TV if you want to slow down the growth of a population?

Your argument is backwards. The most religious societies have the highest growth rates.

The fact that teens have sex is not a new concept. I am really confused at the value systems here (in the USA). It's okay to show people shooting, stabbing, and other violent things, yet something that is perfectly natural and normal for humans is treated like it's the Worst Thing Ever. Sex is natural. Education is better than acting like it doesn't happen. Our bodies are beautiful and there is no reason to act like the body and normal functions of it are Bad. It is no wonder we are all so messed up.

reply to post by BlastedCaddy


I don't think it matters what year it is. The laws are there to protect the innocence of children. And you're right, it is a bit of an over exageration, but it's still an important conversation in my mind. The intent of this scene, as it is with any scene of this nature, is to arouse interest in the viewer. Therefore if the subjects involved in that scene are intended to be minors then by law, that constitutes child pornography.

reply to post by repressed


Pornography is different than murder since by lay, even the representation of sexual acts, is illegal. The representation of murder is not. And you are very right, this is by far not the first, which is only a testement to the degredation of our morals.

I yell at the TV about this all the time but it does'nt listen.
What the fnck is our world comming too. (no pun intended)
My daughter is 10 and she is a Glee fan even though she isnt
allowed to watch it she still follows it. Because the hype over this
show is so big I cant protect her from this sleazy crap.
Infact its not even sleazy crap I like a bit of that, Glee is utter rubbish
that should not be on at all.
Next episode a mother who is also a teacher
gets it on with a teen boy student. And two school boys having sex or
some fncking rubbish!!
WTF!!!

reply to post by AlomaRa


I certainly agree with your statement. Education is essential in this matter, however, it should not come from a television show geared towards teenagers.

reply to post by weirdguy


I feel your frustrations. Thats why I turned off my televison a long time ago. The values and moral lessons taught to everyone, not just children and young adults, is appaling.

Let's be honest and accept the truth that we've always known. "Sex Sells". In advertisement and entertainment. Unfortunately teens have sex.. a very large number of them have sex at least once before graduating high school. It's just a reflection of reality. Not that it's right. but this is the truth.

Also aren't these people both minors in these shows. It's not an adult and a minor. Also depending on the state 18 is not the definitive age of consent.

Originally posted by amaster

Child pornography is the visual representation of minors under the age of 18 engaged in sexual activity or the visual representation of minors engaging in lewd or erotic behavior designed to arouse the viewer's sexual interest.

edit on 11/4/2011 by amaster because: spelling

If you look at the last part of the definition, it states 'designed to arouse the viewer's sexual internest.'
I.E. Porn! I doubt the scenes in Glee are to be that.

reply to post by amaster


It is perfectly natural to show love and affection, anywhere in my opinion. I have kids, they learn from me but are free to explore the world, after all I can only make sure they are equipped with good tools to get through life. Censoring some things and not others is skewing reality. Kids will see TV no matter how you try to keep them from it. I think we should not Freak over something so natural and nice. There is plenty of negative and violence not nearly enough natural love and affection.

reply to post by amaster


" teen sex " covers 13 ~ 19 . what specific ages are being portrayed in this " glee " program ? most jusistiction have a 16 year old ` age of consent `

Originally posted by repressed

Originally posted by JibbyJedi
What I don't understand is WHY do they promote sex everywhere, then tell us we're over populated.
Wouldn't it make more sense to have things like Bible study shows on TV if you want to slow down the growth of a population?

Your argument is backwards. The most religious societies have the highest growth rates.

I used Bible study show as an example of something that is on the other end of the spectrum, maybe Bob Ross painting show and Antiques Roadshow are better examples of sexual deterrents on TV.

I know they use sex to sell their products and ideals, but that only will produce more sexual activity in people, and younger and younger as time goes by. It just seems to go against their goals of "Keep the population under 500 million" overpopulation propaganda stuff.

reply to post by AlomaRa


what you say is true, I do understand but there must also be limitations

In Glee he is screwing her and shes screwing someone else, another girl is prego to a boy but really
some other guy, while the first boy is now scewing another girls mum whom is also a teacher. And
I dont even watch this crap thats just from the adverts. Good family show hey

whats worse is that its on at 7:30pm

I could change the channel or turn the TV off but my point is that
it should'nt be there in the first place, especially at that time slot.

Originally posted by Ark005

Originally posted by amaster

Child pornography is the visual representation of minors under the age of 18 engaged in sexual activity or the visual representation of minors engaging in lewd or erotic behavior designed to arouse the viewer's sexual interest.

edit on 11/4/2011 by amaster because: spelling

If you look at the last part of the definition, it states 'designed to arouse the viewer's sexual internest.'
I.E. Porn! I doubt the scenes in Glee are to be that.

I would venture to say that is the exact intent of any sex scene in any show or movie. It is there to arouse the viewers sexual interest. Otherwise, it wouldn't be necessary. However, that is certainly open to interpretation.

reply to post by weirdguy


TV "timeslots " - are a pathetic irrelevancy - real life does not have " timeslots " - in the real world people have the potential to see unedited ANY aspect of human behaviour 24/7

why are certain people so fixate on what is viweable on the sanitised TV and movie meadia ???