Teen Mom II is the second incarnation of MTV's number one reality shows 16 and Pregnant. The show documents the lives of four teenage mothers as they struggle to cope with the burden of raising children in a financially demanding society while trying to navigate the journey of adolescence. Once aimed at a music-oriented teen consumer, MTV has reinvented itself as a teen reality television powerhouse, with many of its reality shows, including Teen Mom II, consistently dominating in the ratings. Although advertisers compete to attract the attention of the 18-49 demographic, critics question the stereotypes that may be reinforced through the television program and the negative sociological effects the show may have on its spectators. that the mass media have on adolescents, has been happening for many years now. The Teen Mom franchise is just the latest topic of discussion. With the recent influx of reality television programs aimed at young people, Teen Mom II has come under increasing scrutiny. In the first episode of the season titled "Nothing Stays The Same", Jenelle Evans, one of the teen moms featured on the show, is seen shoving her mother in a fit of rage during a heated argument over custody of her son Jace. Not long after the episode aired, tabloid magazines featured Jenelle on the cover with headlines calling her a "star". Is this an example of how the media rewards bad behavior? Unfortunately, erratic behavior is nothing new to the series, as multiple episodes featured frequent incidents of domestic violence, verbal abuse, and family infighting. In an episode titled "Slippery Slope", Chelsea is heard referred to as a derogatory term... in the middle of the card... Haefner, Margaret and Jamie Comstock. “Optimizing Compliance on Prime-Time Family Programs.” Butler University Libraries. Network. April 7, 2011.Jameson, Jaynee. "The Harsh Reality of Unreal Television | Essay on Teenage Opinion." Ink for Teens | A literary magazine and website for teens. 13 September 2010. Web. 17 April 2011. .Awakening, Forest. “The Teen Pregnancy Spectacle: A Closer Look.” HoTEB: a forest revival project. April 4, 2011. Web. April 17, 2011. Critic, Futon. "Ratings - Tuesday Cable Ratings: 'Teen Mom' Rises to the Top | TheFutonCritic.com." TheFutonCritic.com: the best television resource on the Web. February-March 2011. Network. April 17. 2011. .