Stop shaming teenage mothers online Adults must stop sexualising and shaming young mothers and instead support their education, wellbeing and efforts to rebuild their lives. Gender Just now

What you need to know: A 15-year-old mother’s experience on TikTok highlights how teenage mothers face online harassment, stigma and judgment even as they struggle to return to school.

Her videos are largely about life with her baby—taking photos, feeding, bathing and dressing the child, as well as occasional storytimes about her journey, how she became pregnant and how she is rebuilding her life, including going back to school as a teenage mother.

My first disappointment was with what seemingly grown people were saying to a 15-year-old girl—making passes at her and offering themselves as “stepdads” to her child!