Since 1991, teen birth rates have dropped significantly, reaching their ultimate lowest in 2014. Bill Albert, spokesperson for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, said in a Buzzfeed article, “The majority of adults think it’s going up rather than going down. This is the greatest story never told.” Many adults today, according to Albert, have negative beliefs about teens’ behaviors today; however, there are a few important reasons behind the decline.

Albert suggests that MTV’s shows "Teen Mom" and "16 and Pregnant" could be one of the factors behind the declining rates. He says, “Young people tell us that these shows are far more sobering than salacious.” Television shows such as these disclose a lot of the truth about having a child so young; there is more to it than the cute outfits and baby pictures.

Teenagers today also have a broad selection of easily attainable contraceptives to choose from if they are sexually active, which has not always been the case. However, contraceptives only work if they are used correctly, which requires proper education. Schools are working to increase the quality of sex education, in addition to teaching students about both abstinence and safe sex practices.

It’s great that the teen pregnancy rate has decreased so greatly, but it should not stop here. Schools need to continue to effectively educate their students about safe sex and talk about the consequences that may come along with unsafe sex, and teenagers should think about their actions and strive to make good choices.