The effects of televison viewing
Television, which is one of the most developed mass media, has garnered quite a reputation after its invention. As evidenced by American Time Use Survey (2003), statistic shows that average two to three hours per day have been spent by people on watching television rather than engaging in other leisure and sports activities such as exercising and travelling. Due to the pervasiveness of television, advocates seem to have divided opinions on the effects of television viewing on the human psyche. In my opinion, I strongly believe that television watching can bring harms as it leads to the underdevelopment of the thinking skills, poor academic performances as well as unhealthy lifestyle.
Firstly, the viewing of inappropriate programs for prolonged periods can impede the development of the thinking process (Sharif 1999). Children who are still in the way of shaping their personalities will be influenced by the scenes portrayed on the screen. Modern children’s programs and music video clips with short fragments encourage short attention spans in children while programs like ‘Friends’ will give a misleading concept that all problems can be resolved with ease. Consequently, they will be vulnerable to the challenges of life in future. Besides, due to the overexposure of violence depicted on television, children will become desensitised to it. They might think that violence is an acceptable way of solving problems. According to Leigh (2001), although television has been used as a teaching tool especially on cultural identity, care must also be taken so that children do not automatically believe the television version of history.
Furthermore, extensive television viewing can lead to students’ poor academic performances (Leigh 2001). It will be easier for them to flick through the interesting channels rather than flip the television off (Rutherford 2002). When television is on, students will hardly focus on their studies as television programs draw undivided attention. As evidence by an educational psychologist, Geraldine Jones, children who are heavy viewers are among the lowest achievers at school. This can be attributed to the fact that television watching is a passive activity that retards one’s imaginative skills in developing problem-solving and organizational ability (Leigh 2001).
Additionally, unhealthy lifestyle will also be cultivated by improper control on watching television. Owing to television’s intrusive nature, lack of communication will befall the families that are having their meals in front of the television. Some even suffer withdrawal symptoms when they are hampered from watching their unmissable programs. Undoubtedly, television watching is a sedentary activity that people might indulge in with snacks. Therefore, it can be detrimental to health if people are becoming more of a couch potato as obesity and related health problems will be triggered (Rutherford 2002).
As a whole, television watching impedes the development of the thinking process, leads to students’ poor academic performances as well as unhealthy lifestyle. Apparently, the effects of television viewing are no longer commensurate with its desirable purpose in education and entertainment. Nevertheless, I believe that the bad effects will not be insurmountable with proper control on television viewing as Rutherford (2002) has conceded that television is a bad master but a good servant.
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