Teen 'Mommy Lizard' Confesses to Pregnancy for Fame, Despite Falling Teen Pregnancy Rates
A 16-year-old girl, who goes by 'Mommy Lizard' on social media, recently confessed to intentionally becoming pregnant to gain fame and wealth, hoping to appear on the MTV reality show '16 and Pregnant'. Her video confession has since gone viral on TikTok.
Mommy Lizard's video, which has amassed over 2 million views and 326k likes, reveals her controversial motivation for becoming a teen mum. The show '16 and Pregnant', which aired from 2009, followed pregnant teenage couples, sparking controversy but also showing the hard reality of teenage motherhood.
Interestingly, despite Mommy Lizard's actions, the under-18 conception rate in England and Wales has significantly decreased. In 2007, the rate was 42 per 1,000 women, but by 2021, it had dropped by 68% to 13 per 1,000 women. Similarly, a study by the National Bureau of Economic Research in 2014 found that the show's airing correlated with a decrease in teenage pregnancy rates by up to a third in the US.
Despite Mommy Lizard's individual case, teen pregnancy rates in both the US and England and Wales have been declining. The impact of reality shows like '16 and Pregnant' on these rates remains a topic of debate.
