When Saratoga High School student reporter Tanvee Tirthapura set out to explore the impact of shows like Euphoria and Sex Education for her California school’s student newspaper, she opened with a simple but profound question:
- “How is this graphic media affecting its young audience?”
It’s a question many parents, educators, and health professionals are still wrestling with. Millions of teens — sometimes younger than the intended audience — watch popular shows that feature drug use, risky sex, or violence, and the line between responsible storytelling and dangerous glorification isn’t always clear.
Here, Voxitatis reviews what credible research tells us about this issue: where the evidence is strong, where it’s less certain, and how complicated the picture really is.
Media Can Influence Risky Behaviors and Mental Health
One of the clearest examples of media’s real-world impact comes from the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. The show, which depicted the suicide of a teenage girl in graphic detail, was followed by a 28.9% spike in youth suicides in April 2017 compared to expected rates. The National Institute of Mental Health reported on the findings, calling the correlation “disturbing.”
Similar concerns have been raised about HBO’s Euphoria. The show’s candid portrayal of teen drug use and sexuality has sparked conversations not only about realism but also about whether it normalizes dangerous behaviors. Research from the University of Rotterdam found that risky behaviors in popular streaming shows are “portrayed in a normalized manner [and] rarely problematized.”
Social Media as a Parallel Force
Beyond scripted television, social media plays a significant role in shaping youth perceptions of risk. Reviews of dozens of studies show that heavy social media use among adolescents correlates with:
- Higher rates of substance use
- Riskier sexual behavior
- Poorer sleep and concentration
- Increased depression and anxiety
The Mayo Clinic summarized it bluntly: adolescents who check social media more than three times a day report poorer overall mental health. The World Health Organization has noted that “problematic users” — those who struggle to disengage — are far more likely to report substance use and low well-being than casual users.
A recent systematic review by Purba and colleagues at the University of Glasgow confirmed that social media is consistently linked to adolescent health risks ranging from smoking to poor sleep quality.
The Counterpoint: Trends in Real Life
Ironically, while teens are bombarded with images of chaotic youth culture, real-world behavior is trending in the opposite direction. National surveys show that alcohol use among high school students has dropped from 88% in the 1980s to about 42% today and illicit drug use is also down significantly, from 65% in 1980 to about 41% in 2022.
These declines are well-documented in large datasets such as the Monitoring the Future survey and the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
This “perception gap” — where life on screen looks wilder than life off screen — fuels the sense that risky behaviors are the norm, when in reality, they are declining.
Why It’s Complicated
When it comes to media and teens, the research isn’t always cut and dry. There are a few big caveats worth keeping in mind.
First off, it’s not always clear which way the influence runs. Teens who are already struggling with depression, anxiety, or tough home situations may be the ones most drawn to darker content in the first place. So when studies show a link between, say, watching shows about suicide and higher rates of suicidal thinking, it doesn’t necessarily mean the show caused those feelings. It might be that kids who are already hurting are more likely to watch that kind of content — and then feel those struggles more deeply.
Second, not all portrayals are created equal. A film that happens to show a teenager sipping a beer at a party is very different from a show that spends whole seasons making drug binges look glamorous or exciting. Context matters a lot. Sometimes risky behaviors are shown in a way that highlights the consequences and sparks good conversations. Other times, the very same behavior is framed as edgy or even aspirational. That difference in tone can completely change how a teen viewer interprets what they’re seeing.
And third, studies themselves have limits. Some look at a very small group of students, or focus only on a short time window right after a show airs. That can make the results look dramatic — like a sudden spike in harmful behavior — when the longer-term picture might be more complicated.
A good example is 13 Reasons Why. One study found a 28.9% increase in youth suicides in the month after the show’s release. Later research, though, suggested that while there was clearly a short-term effect, the longer-term patterns didn’t always look the same. In other words, whether a study zooms in on a single month or zooms out over several years can change the story we think the data is telling. So, while we can say that there’s clearly a short-term effect, we’re much less certain that the increase was sustained or that it led to a long-term upward shift over years.
These caveats don’t erase the risks, but they help us read the evidence more carefully.
What Experts Recommend
Despite the complexity of the research, mental health professionals do point to some consistent takeaways. One of the strongest protective factors is media literacy education. When teens are taught to recognize how television, movies, and social media dramatize events for entertainment value, they are better able to resist the normalization of risky behavior. Instead of internalizing the message that substance use, violence, or reckless sex are “normal,” they begin to see these portrayals as storytelling choices — often exaggerated or unrealistic — designed to attract attention.
Parents also play a crucial role. Studies show that when parents engage in open, honest conversations with their teens about what they’re watching, it can significantly reduce harmful effects. Even simple discussions — “What did you think about that scene?” or “Do you think that’s realistic?” — can provide valuable context, reassuring teens that adults see the difference between screen fiction and real life. This kind of dialogue not only deepens trust but also helps adolescents process troubling content in a safe, supported environment.
Content creators themselves have a responsibility as well. The way difficult issues are portrayed can make a real difference. Depictions of self-harm, for example, are less harmful when they avoid glamorization and instead focus on consequences or provide resources for those who may be struggling. The World Health Organization’s suicide reporting guidelines stress the importance of portraying suicide in ways that do not sensationalize the act and that include clear information on where to seek help. Producers who follow these practices can reduce the risk of copycat behavior while still telling powerful stories.
Finally, professionals emphasize the importance of self-awareness. Teens who learn to monitor their own emotional reactions to media are better equipped to protect their mental health. As therapist Victor Thompson explained in the article at Saratoga, “Being aware of your emotions is the best way to navigate this kind of material.” Recognizing when a show leaves you feeling unsettled, volatile, or anxious — and then making the decision to step back — is a skill that can help young people build resilience not only with media but in many aspects of life.
Conclusion
From 13 Reasons Why to Euphoria, the media teens consume can shape how they perceive danger, identity, and even mental health. The evidence shows real risks — especially for vulnerable audiences — but also reveals declining real-world behaviors and the protective value of context, literacy, and conversation.
As one Saratoga High sophomore reflected, after realizing how “normal” TV had made risky behaviors seem:
That fear is also an opportunity: for educators, parents, and creators to use media not as a trigger, but as a starting point for deeper conversations.