From cult classics like “Mean Girls” to Oscar-nominated films like “Ladybird,” there is no questioning the cultural impact teen media has. American shows and movies in particular have a habit glorifying the high school years, often giving younger viewers expectations of drama-filled, exciting experiences that will never be met. 

While pieces of this genre have made an effort in recent years to be more socially aware and address a plethora of topics, one prominent issue still remains: most teenagers we see on the screen are played by adult actors.       

The age gap between actors and their teenage counterparts is as big as eight years for shows like “Riverdale” and “Glee.” Some actors playing 16-year-olds are well into their twenties, far from looking like the age they are portraying. 

This becomes a problem when these shows market themselves as realistic stories that teens can relate to. A prime example of this is HBO’s “Euphoria.” Receiving widespread praise for its cinematography, soundtrack and acting, the show has been regarded by many as a gritty representation of teenage life. Some of its accuracy can be attributed to the fact that, like the show’s protagonist, its creator has struggled with drug addiction himself. However, despite these accomplishments, almost all the cast members were over the age of 21 when the first season was released. 

While using adult actors may be the more convenient choice due to labor laws, it is apparent that, in the case of “Euphoria”, this choice was made for other reasons — a main one being the very explicit sex scenes that require actors 18 or older. Some argue that having unabashed nudeness contributes to the show’s realism. But rather than showing a relatable aspect of teen life, these scenes have a voyeuristic, sexualized tone. Not only might this cater to the wrong audience, but it can negatively affect teenagers, a particularly vulnerable audience. According to Teen Vogue, teenagers are susceptible to the spotlight effect, meaning they have a tendency to overestimate how much other people notice them. 

As many teens are already concerned about their appearances, shows that present an oversexualized view of teenage bodies give an unrealistic expectation of what they should look like. Viewers 17 to 18 years of age are told that these characters they see on screen are the same age as them. In reality, they are seeing actors who have much more developed bodies than them because they are older. Teens who are supposed to feel represented by what they’re shown on screen may instead be easily swept up by beauty standards that shouldn’t exist at all for their age range. The creators of teen media should not take advantage of their actors’ adulthood to make overly explicit scenes — because if a scene about teenagers can’t be made with real teenagers, it shouldn’t be made at all.