SocialImpact of Television
SocialImpact of Television
Atelevision set is a key gadget in almost every modern-day household.It is a very influential medium of communication and no doubt afavorite way for most people to spend their free time. In fact, thepresence of a television set in the sitting room is so invasive tothe extent that, its mere absence is considered as an insult to themodern lifestyle. Millions of people watch television on a dailybasis so as to access information or catch up with their favoriteprograms (Mastro,2003).As a leading form of mass communication, television provides peoplewith a broad understanding of what is happening in the outside world.These include news about global events, fashion trends, educationalinformation, etc. As a result, television being a tool ofcommunication has greatly impacted on lives of many people bothpositively and negatively.
Historicand Current Impact of Television on the Economy
Televisionhas affected the economy in many ways. One of the major effects isthrough advertisement. More and more products and services are beingadvertised on television and this has a great impact on the viewers.Advertisement convinces people that a product or service is good andworth purchasing. After seeing a product they like being advertised,people will rush to the stores to purchase it.
Environment
Televisioncan also impact on environment in various ways. Manufacturing atelevision is an industrial process that requires intensive energy tocome up with a highly refined glass. Components of modern televisionsets are made of non-renewable materials that add increased problemof electronic waste. To run a television requires considerableamounts of energy to lighten up the screen (Mastro,2003).To top it all, a television still affects the environment even at theend of its use. Millions of televisions are disposed annually andtoxic chemicals coming from these televisions can leak into groundwater and soils hence posing a danger to health and environment.
Relationships
Theadoption of television has resulted into less family interaction. Forinstance, dinner time was a used by family members to shareexperiences of the day. However, this has been overtaken by watchingtelevision hence minimizing interactions among family members. On thepositive side, television can help family members bond (Mastro,2003).For example, parents can watch a certain show together with theirchildren and can result into conversations and discussions touchingon real life issues.
Education
Televisionis not just a mere aid to learning but also a direct source ofinformation. Used wisely, television can act as an effective tool forchildren to learn. Watching television can benefit children invarious ways. For example, television can be a catalyst to get achild to like reading by following up on television programs.According to Dimitri, young people who watched educational programsfor examplesesame streetduring preschool years read more books, attained higher grades,valued achievement and are more creative (2007).Whereas children exposed to negative examples may suffer, thoseexposed to positive examples had better behavior.
Morals
Thereis a lot of concern when it comes to television and moral standardsmainly due to the amount of time that young people spend in front oftelevision. There are several moral issues associated with televisioncontent including violence, sexual promiscuity, robbery, just to namea few. Today’s television is flooded with violence and this cannegatively influence children violence. For instance, it caninterfere with the ability of a child to learn imperative socialskills such as how to manage anger (Mastro,2003).When a child watches aggressive acts, he or she is enticed to emulatetheir favorite character and this can in turn change the way a childreacts to real life events. However, not all television content isbad for children as there are programs that are informative and helpthem learn. Parents thus have a responsibility to guide theirchildren and encourage positive behavior in them which helps lessenviolent behavior.
Conclusion
Thoughtelevision can bring about negative impacts, television is a truecommunication tool. It is a source of information to many people andit can stimulate one’s brain by watching educative programs. Inaddition, television has brought entertainment and news closer topeople. It is also a source of escapism from reality that ishealthier as compared to some other ways like indulging in alcohol.
References
Mastro,D. E. (2003). A social identity approach to understanding the impactof television messages. CommunicationMonographs,70(2),98-113.
DimitriC. (February 22, 2007). "Smarterkids through television: debunking myths old and new".Seattle Times Newspaper.Retrieved 2016-05-09.