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Television Negative Effects on Society

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You Are What You Watch? The Social Effects of TV

There’s new evidence that viewing habits can affect your thinking, political preferences, even cognitive ability.

By Jonathan Rothwell

Other than sleeping and working, Americans are more likely to watch television than engage in any other activity .

A wave of new social science research shows that the quality of shows can influence us in important ways, shaping our thinking and political preferences, even affecting our cognitive ability.

In this so-called golden age of television , some critics have pointed out that the best of the form is equivalent to the most enriching novels. And high-quality programming for children can be educational. But the latest evidence also suggests there can be negative consequences to our abundant watching, particularly when the shows are mostly entertainment.

The harm seems to come not so much from the content itself but from the fact that it replaces more enlightening ways of spending time.

‘Sesame Street’ as a social experiment

Cognitive ability is a complex characteristic that emerges from interactions between biological dispositions, nutrition and health, parenting behaviors, formal and informal educational opportunities, and culture.

Studying the connection between intelligence and television consumption is far from straightforward, but researchers have developed compelling ways to isolate the effects of television.

Some of the best research has been done on the television program “Sesame Street.” The show, which began in 1969, was meant to develop early literacy, numeracy and emotional skills for children of preschool age. A detailed analysis of the show’s content in its first and second years reveals that 80 percent of the program was dedicated to those goals, with the rest meant to entertain.

Researchers randomly assigned groups of low-income children age 3 to 5 into an experimental group and a control group. In the experimental group, parents were given access to the show if they lacked it and encouraged in person once a month to have their children watch the show.

[The topics new parents are talking about. Evidence-based guidance. Personal stories that matter. Sign up for the NYT Parenting newsletter for the info you need.]

Almost all (93 percent) parents of children in the experimental group reported that their children subsequently watched the show, compared with roughly one-third of children in the control group (35 percent). Among watchers, those in the experimental group also watched more frequently.

Over six months, from November 1970 to May 1971, the experimental group gained 5.4 I.Q. points — a large effect — relative to the control group and showed stronger evidence of learning along several other dimensions. Gains in cognitive performance were especially large for those who viewed the show frequently relative to those who did so rarely or never. A more recent meta-analysis of published research in 15 countries shows that “Sesame Street” has similar effects around the world.

In newly published research , the economists Melissa Kearney and Phillip Levine examined longer-term effects of “Sesame Street” by comparing the educational outcomes of children and young adults in counties more or less likely to have access to the program during its early years. They found that children living in counties with better “Sesame Street” coverage were less likely to be held behind a grade level.

Other experimental research is consistent with the original “Sesame Street” findings. Low-income prekindergarten children scored higher on a social competence index six months after being randomly assigned to an experimental group, in which their parents were encouraged to replace age-inappropriate television with educational television.

Less reading and more watching

In Norway, and a handful of other developed countries, average I.Q. scores have declined slightly in recent years, after rising for many decades. This is known as the negative Flynn effect, a variation of the more famous Flynn effect , which is named after the psychologist who first published comprehensive evidence of I.Q. gains over time. Among native Norwegian men taking an exam at age 18 for military conscription, those born in 1974 scored two I.Q. points higher than those born in 1987.

In an academic article published this year, the Norwegian economist Oystein Hernaes and his co-authors attributed some of this decline in I.Q. scores to access to cable television, which also coincided with a sharp decline in reading. After the introduction of cable in 1981, Norwegian teenagers and young adults drastically cut back on daily time spent reading from 1980 to 2000, and increased their time watching TV. Moreover, relative to public television, cable television had far less educational content and was focused on entertainment and advertisements.

To estimate the effect of cable television on I.Q. scores, the Norwegian scholars analyzed data on the introduction of cable network infrastructure by municipality. They calculated years of exposure to cable by considering the age of eventual test takers when cable became available in their municipality. They controlled for any potential geographic bias by comparing siblings with greater or less exposure to cable television based on their age when cable infrastructure was put in.

They estimate that 10 years of exposure to cable television lowered I.Q. scores by 1.8 points. In related research , Mr. Hernaes finds that exposure to cable television reduced voter turnout in local elections.

Berlusconi television

A similar study was conducted by the Italian economist Ruben Durante and his co-authors and released in this month’s issue of the American Economic Review. They examined the introduction of Silvio Berlusconi’s television network, Mediaset, which specialized in light entertainment such as game shows featuring scantily clad women.

The economists document that Mediaset devoted almost no programming to educational content and did not offer news in early years, whereas its main competitor — the state-owned channel — devoted the majority of its airtime to news or educational material.

To study the effects of Mediaset, Mr. Durante and his co-authors obtained data on the location of Mediaset transmitters in 1985 and calculated the strength of the broadcasting signal in every Italian municipality based on the position of the transmitters and other technical features of the municipality.

They found that children raised in areas with greater access to Mediaset (a standard deviation in signal strength) had lower cognitive scores as adults by the equivalent of 3 to 4 I.Q. points.

People more exposed to Mediaset as children were also less likely to be civically engaged adults and more likely to vote for parties with populist tendencies like Forza Italia and the Five Star Movement.

A handful of American studies along these lines have focused on the political consequences that news media coverage can have, showing that exposure to Fox News could increase Republican Party vote shares significantly, and that exposure to MSNBC increased Democratic Party voting share (but with a much weaker effect).

Art and public health

We know that education increases cognitive ability, so it stands to reason that educational television would also have a positive effect.

Concerns about culture are hardly novel: Plato made a case for regulating the quality of artistic productions to avoid the corruption of youth and weakening of their character. Twenty-three centuries later, it is easier than ever to placate children as well as lose yourself in entertainment options — in the ocean of online videos, podcasts, cable, and streaming shows and movies.

These options are most likely harmless. Some provide relaxation, and others may modestly reshape cultural attitudes for the better; one study found that the introduction of cable TV empowered women in India. High-quality shows and films can be inspiring, even edifying.

Still, media providers and advertisers compete aggressively for our attention. Most lack the altruistic motivations that guided the producers of the original “Sesame Street.” The evidence from social science suggests that biased or sensationalist news programs may misinform citizens or discourage civic engagement, and that we should also be cautious about what we give up for the sake of entertainment.

Jonathan Rothwell is the Principal Economist at Gallup, a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a visiting scholar at the George Washington University Institute of Public Policy. He is the author of a book, “ A Republic of Equals : A Manifesto for a Just Society,” to be published by Princeton University Press in the fall, on the causes of income inequality. You can follow him on Twitter at @jtrothwell , and listen to his podcast, “ Out of the Echo Chamber .”

Essay on Television for Students and Children

500+ words essay on television.

Television is one of the most popular devices that are used for entertainment all over the world. It has become quite common nowadays and almost every household has one television set at their place. In the beginning, we see how it was referred to as the ‘idiot box.’ This was mostly so because back in those days, it was all about entertainment. It did not have that many informative channels as it does now.

Moreover, with this invention, the craze attracted many people to spend all their time watching TV. People started considering it harmful as it attracted the kids the most. In other words, kids spent most of their time watching television and not studying. However, as times passed, the channels of television changed. More and more channels were broadcasted with different specialties. Thus, it gave us knowledge too along with entertainment.

Benefits of Watching Television

The invention of television gave us various benefits. It was helpful in providing the common man with a cheap mode of entertainment. As they are very affordable, everyone can now own television and get access to entertainment.

In addition, it keeps us updated on the latest happenings of the world. It is now possible to get news from the other corner of the world. Similarly, television also offers educational programs that enhance our knowledge about science and wildlife and more.

Moreover, television also motivates individuals to develop skills. They also have various programs showing speeches of motivational speakers. This pushes people to do better. You can also say that television widens the exposure we get. It increases our knowledge about several sports, national events and more.

While television comes with a lot of benefits, it also has a negative side. Television is corrupting the mind of the youth and we will further discuss how.

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How Television is    Harming the Youth

Additionally, it also makes people addict. People get addicted to their TV’s and avoid social interaction. This impacts their social life as they spend their time in their rooms all alone. This addiction also makes them vulnerable and they take their programs too seriously.

The most dangerous of all is the fake information that circulates on news channels and more. Many media channels are now only promoting the propaganda of the governments and misinforming citizens. This makes causes a lot of division within the otherwise peaceful community of our country.

Thus, it is extremely important to keep the TV watching in check. Parents must limit the time of their children watching TV and encouraging them to indulge in outdoor games. As for the parents, we should not believe everything on the TV to be true. We must be the better judge of the situation and act wisely without any influence.

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Watching TV: Is It Good or Bad? Essay

Introduction, argument for positive effects of tv watching, argument for negative effects of tv watching.

Future fulfilment and success that is enjoyed by people in their adult life depends mainly on the emotional as well as the intellectual development that was experienced in their childhood. The experiences are derived from direct experiences that results from interactions with people around us and indirect experiences that are attributed to the ever growing media sources in the technological world we are living in. In the modern world, the media sources have been taken over by the mass media which incorporates the television; it’s most prominent and prevalent category. Television is attributed to influencing the society’s perception on the real world through the images it depicts. It has however experienced its share of negative and positive criticism. Despite this, it has continued to be adopted throughout the world hence becoming the favourable mass media device. Over the years a lot has been said and written over the impact of television within our society.

The general perceptions and explanations that are attributed to the effects of television in the social life tend to incline on the negative aspects thereby disregarding the other factors that bring about the positive effects of television. Television is considered as a socializing agent (Fisch 112, 113).

One of the functions of the media is to depict the current happenings in the modern world. These happenings are often depicted in the television dramas or the news. For instance while dealing with violence, the media plays its role by indicating the threat it poses and implies the appropriate response that arises from the threat. The focus therefore needs to be shifted from the simple journalistic idea, if the reality which is expected to be captured by the media is to change the motive media of images that are structured to have a role in the determination of social agendas.

Educational Television programs are regarded to have a positive effect on children’s cognitive development as well as social development in adults. There are programs that encourage prosocial behaviours within the society. Positive effects have been identified in the variety of different cultures as they advocate sharing and respect within the society. Among the positive effects of prosocial shows are the increase in interaction levels and a decrease in aggression levels among the viewers as the effects will be will be visible in the real world. Watching TV programs has also been regarded as another way of fostering group identity as teenagers or viewers are known to identify themselves with media preferences (Parke and Clarke-Stewart 307).

According to Straubhaar and LaRose, violent behaviour effects from television have received a lot of attention from researchers than any other antisocial behaviour. Teenagers are regarded to possess the biggest percentage of television viewers. This therefore means that majority of the studies conducted are based on the teenagers within our society. The effect of television on the youngsters and teenagers at large has been an issue of concern in the public domain. This is because it is difficult for the youngsters to comprehend the difference between the current world they are living in and the world they perceive in the small screen. In the current world teenagers tend to spend numerous hours in a day watching the television without supervision. This hence creates room for possibility of harming the young developing mind with contents that are regarded as antisocial behaviour and as well as violent behaviour (Straubhaar and LaRose 407).

According to Martin, majority of the experts laid the blame of increase decay of social behaviours on the television and other forms of the media. It is these forms of media that glorify the unacceptable norms of the society such as drug use and irresponsible sexual behaviours. When these behaviours are seen or encouraged over the televisions the viewers are attracted to them and tend to try the theoretical behaviours practically. This therefore indicates that the viewers imitate what they see or hear over the various sources of media. The fact that the television or the film industries glorify these behaviours, they bear the burden of causing a decline in moral behaviour and increase in moral decay within the society. In the modern world majority of the rap and rock songs are incorporated with messages of violence in their lyrics. This will bound to increase deviance among the teenagers as the forms of entertainment known to them glamorizes the themes that are inclined to deviance behaviours (Martin 89).According to the cultivation theory, television addicts are mainly less concerned with violent acts as they perceive these acts as justified and they can tolerate it. The viewers’ perception on violence is moulded according to what he or she sees on the television thus in time, violence is not viewed as problematic but rather as an acceptable behaviour. The cultivation theory suggests that addicts of the television often perceive the world in a frightening and violent dimension which is contrary to the situation at hand. In addition to this, these viewers tend to be victims of the same violence they are watching. In summation, the violent televised shows are one of the root causes of violent behaviours in the social world as they tend to be more desensitized and aggressive to the aftermath of watching these programs in the sense that they consider the world revolving around them to be fearful, a phenomenon regarded as “mean world syndrome”.

Despite the various factors that contribute to the negative development of behaviours within the society, the one factor that cannot be ignored is the impact the television has in shaping the behaviour of the whole society we are living in. Media violence is one of the factors that are attributed to negative and antisocial behaviours among the developing teenagers and the society as whole. Human beings tend to imitate what they see a process called observational learning. It is at this stage that the youths are normally curious in trying out any kind of behaviour. The observational learning has been described as one of the main psychological process upon which the effects of media violence are based especially in a teenager’s that are developing.

In April 6, 1998 the Time Magazine wrote an article that indicated that a time was coming when the debate on media violence will be put in the same platform as the one the debate on tobacco’s impact on health was kept on. In addition the article went on to condemn researchers who don’t bother in debating over the increased bloodshed over the television that is bound to affect the viewers witnessing it.

Slapstick humour as well as other comedic elements has a way of camouflaging scenes of moral decay. As from its definition, it is regarded as humour achieved from physical action, slapstick humour has been incorporated in various television shows. There are several reasons as to why comedy which is one of the many television shows is regarded to condone violence. Some of the reasons include: 1) in comedies, the seriousness of the violent scenes is downplayed leading to the notion that violence is just another trivial by the viewer; 2) violence is camouflaged by excluding it from the schemas; and 3) when combined together humour and violence will result to downplaying the level of violence.

As regarding the deviant behaviours some of the entertainment shows are centrally focus on portraying a negative perception. The music entertainment shows that depict singers advocating on the use of drugs such as marijuana are bound to instigate negative and deviant behaviours among the teenagers. Majority of these singers are depicted in a lavished life of comfort that is yearned by majority of the teenagers and the moment they portray the use of drugs and other negative sexual behaviours as a common way of life, the teenagers will incline to the newly acquired way of life by trying out the same behaviours shown on the TV.

A lot of the attention from the researchers while conducting their researches has mainly been focused on the negative effects that television has as opposed to its positive effects. While considering the due care that is needed in showing the various programs to the viewers, it must be noted that television when used sensibly will give rise to numerous benefits. However the current form of media has been used to instigate negative social behaviours within the society we are living in.

Fisch, M. Shalom. Children’s learning from educational television: Sesame Street and beyond. NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. 2004.

Martin, Gus. Juvenile justice: process and systems. CA: Sage Publication Ltd. 2005.

Parke, D. Ross. and Clarke-Stewart, Alison. Social Development. NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2011.

Straubhaar, D. Joseph. Media now: understanding media, culture, and technology. CA: Thomson Corporation. 2006.

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Effects of Watching Too Much TV: Mindful Consumption for Well-Being

Table of contents, physical health consequences, impact on mental well-being, reduced social interactions, academic and cognitive implications, strategies for healthy tv consumption.

• Biddle, S. J., Pearson, N., Ross, G. M., & Braithwaite, R. (2010). Tracking of sedentary behaviours of young people: A systematic review. Preventive Medicine, 51(5), 345-351.
• Christakis, D. A., Zimmerman, F. J., DiGiuseppe, D. L., & McCarty, C. A. (2004). Early television exposure and subsequent attentional problems in children. Pediatrics, 113(4), 708-713.
• Rideout, V. J., Foehr, U. G., & Roberts, D. F. (2010). Generation M2: Media in the lives of 8- to 18-year-olds. Kaiser Family Foundation.
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• Ward, L. M. (2003). Understanding the role of entertainment media in the sexual socialization of American youth: A review of empirical research. Developmental Review, 23(3), 347-388.

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The Negative Impact of Television

Everyone watches television every day, thinking that it helps them to relieve stress after a hard day. It applies to all ages since children are similarly prone to the habit of watching cartoons on television. As they get older, everyone finds a show or hobby program that keeps people coming back to the screen every day. However, this does not bring relaxation and satisfaction of moral needs, but only a stream of negativity, a shift in perception, and distraction from real problems.

Adults most often watch the news and informational programs that talk about various negative events. These can be programs about world news, wars, political debates that make a person upset. Furthermore, the information may be incorrect, inaccurate, distorted, or grossly exaggerated. It leads to disputes with friends, colleagues, and families, who may look at the news on the same topic in other sources. The harmful component is most likely when choosing to disseminate information about a particular event.

Human perception is formed based on external factors, one of which is television. For example, advertising for a product forces customers to make a purchase decision, even if the person does not need the good. Television is considered the authoritative source of information; therefore, it is used for large-scale manipulation (Pan). Additionally, it can be used to promote ideas and principles that people blindly follow. Television strongly influences the perception of a person and their further actions; therefore, it is necessary to select reliable sources carefully.

A person, watching programs that he does not need, is distracted from his real problems instead of solving them. For example, an adult comes home from work, where he cannot resolve the difficulty and wants to relax. The television can distract him from the problem and fill his head with other completely unnecessary things. Furthermore, parents send their children to watch television instead of spending time together playing developing games. The TV does not help to solve critical tasks but only clogs the head with unnecessary things.

Pan, Jennifer. “The Effects of Television News Propaganda: Experimental Evidence From China.” SSRN . 2020. Web.

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• Volume 83, Issue 4
• The effects of television on child health: implications and recommendations
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• Miriam E Bar-on
• Department of Pediatrics, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, 2160 South First Avenue, Maywood, IL 60153, USA
• Prof. Bar-on email: mbar{at}wpo.it.luc.edu

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The exposure of American children and adolescents to television continues to exceed the time they spend in the classroom: 15 000 hours versus 12 000 hours by the time they graduate. 1 According to recent Nielsen data, the average child and/or adolescent watches an average of nearly three hours of television per day. 2 These numbers have not decreased significantly over the past 10 years. 3 By the time a child finishes high school, almost three years will have been spent watching television. 1 This figure does not include time spent watching video tapes or playing video games. 4

Based on surveys of what children watch, the average child annually sees about 12 000 violent acts, 5 14 000 sexual references and innuendos, 6 and 20 000 advertisements. 7 Children and adolescents are especially vulnerable to the messages communicated through television which influence their perceptions and behaviours. 8 Many younger children cannot discriminate between what they see and what is real. Although there have been studies documenting some prosocial and educational benefits from television viewing, 9 , 10 significant research has shown that there are negative health effects resulting from television exposure in areas such as: violence and aggressive behaviour; sex and sexuality; nutrition and obesity; and substance use and abuse patterns. To help mitigate these negative health effects, paediatricians need to become familiar with the consequences of television and begin providing anticipatory guidance to their patients and families. 10 In addition, paediatricians need to continue their advocacy efforts on behalf of more child appropriate television.

In this review, we will describe the effects of television on children and adolescents. In addition, we will make recommendations for paediatricians and parents to help address this significant issue.

Prosocial and educational benefits

Studies from the early 1970s have shown that children imitate prosocial behaviour. These imitated behaviours included altruism, helping, delay of gratification, and high standards of performance when children are exposed to models exhibiting these behaviours. Friedrich and Stein provided evidence that children learned prosocial content of the television programmes and were able to generalise that learning to a number of real life situations. 9 In addition, they were also able to show that prosocial programmes increased helping behaviour in situations similar to and different from those shown on television.

Violence and aggressive behaviour

Young people view over 1000 rapes, murders, armed robberies, and assaults every year sitting in front of the television set. 11 Recently published, the three year, National Television Violence Study examined nearly 10 000 hours of television programming and found that 61% contained violence. 12-14 Children's programming was found to be the most violent. In addition, 26% (of the 61%) involved the use of guns. Portrayals of violence are usually glamorised and perpetrators often go unpunished. Another venue in which a significant amount of violence is portrayed is in rock music videos, which are viewed heavily by adolescents. In a comprehensive content analysis of these music videos, DuRant et al showed that 22.4% of all rap videos contained violent acts, and weapon carrying was depicted in 25% of them. 15

Numerous studies, including longitudinal research, 16 , 17 have shown a relation between children's exposure to violence and their own violent and aggressive behaviours. Many studies have documented the role of television in fostering violent behaviours among children. 18 , 19 Two recent meta-analyses investigating the relation between violence viewed on television and aggressive behaviour in children concluded that exposure to portrayals of violence on television was associated consistently with children's aggressive behaviours. 20 , 21

Sex and sexuality

American television, both programming and advertising, are highly sexualised in their content. Each year, children and adolescents view 14 000 sexual references, innuendoes, and jokes, of which less than 170 will deal with abstinence, birth control, sexually transmitted diseases, or pregnancy. 22 What has been traditionally described as the “family hour” (8–9 pm) now contains more than eight sexual incidents per hour, more than four times as much as in 1976. 23 Nearly one third of family hour shows contain sexual references, and the incidence of vulgar language has increased greatly. 24 In addition, soap operas, a genre highly viewed by adolescents, show extramarital sex eight times more commonly than sex between spouses. 11 At the present time there have only been four studies examining the relation between early onset of sexual intercourse and television viewing. However, there are numerous studies which illustrate television's powerful influence on teenagers' sexual attitudes, values, and beliefs. 25 , 26 Teens rank the media second only to school sex education programmes as a leading source of information about sex. 26

Nutrition and obesity

Over the past three decades the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents has increased and fitness has decreased. 27 Television viewing affects both fatness and fitness and multiple studies point to television viewing as one cause of childhood obesity. 28-31 Two primary mechanisms for this relation have been suggested: reduced energy expenditure from displacement of physical activity and increased dietary energy intake, either during viewing or as a result of food advertising.

The association between television viewing and food consumption can be explained, in part, by the frequent references to food or the consumption of food that occurs during both commercials and programmes. 11 Breakfast cereals, snacks, and fast foods are among the most heavily advertised products on television programmes aimed at children, and tend to have higher energy density than other products such as fruits or vegetables which are less frequently advertised. 30 The amount of time spent viewing television directly correlates with the request, purchase, and consumption of foods advertised on television. 11

Furthermore, obesity occurs among televised characters far less frequently than in the general population. Because the characters on television eat or talk about food so frequently, the implicit message may be that it is possible to eat frequently and remain thin. 32 Likewise, the almost exclusive presence of very thin, particularly female, television characters may contribute to the notion that the ideal body type is that of the women and adolescents shown; this may contribute to the culture wide obsession with thinness.

Tobacco and alcohol use and abuse

Increasingly, media messages and images, not necessarily direct advertising, are normalising and glamorising the use of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs. Tobacco manufacturers spend $6 billion per year and alcohol manufacturers $2 billion per year to entice youngsters into consuming their products. Content analysis has found that alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drugs are present in 70% of prime time network dramatic programmes and half of all music videos. 33 The prominence of alcohol in prime time television applies to all characters, including adolescents, where negative characteristics are often applied. However, many adults shown to consume alcohol have positive personality characteristics. 34 Popular movies, frequently shown during the “family hour”, often show the lead or likeable characters using and enjoying tobacco and alcohol products. 35 , 36 In addition to programming, children and adolescents view approximately 20 000 advertisements each year, of which nearly 2000 are for beer and wine. 37 For every public service announcement, adolescents will view 25–50 beer commercials.

Research indicates that the combined 8 billion dollars which the tobacco and alcohol industries use every year to pitch their product to the American public has a significant impact on adolescents' beliefs and attitudes about smoking and drinking and may actually influence their consumption as well. Correlational studies have shown a small but positive relation between advertising exposure and consumption. 38-41 Furthermore, advertising exposure appears to influence initial drinking episodes which in turn contribute to excessive drinking and abuse. 39 The evidence, however, to increased consumption, is strongest regarding cigarette advertising and promotions. 42 , 43 A recent longitudinal study found that an estimated one third of all adolescent smoking could be causally related to tobacco promotional activities. 44

Recommendations for parents and paediatricians

As has been shown, there is a significant amount of literature to support the connection between adverse outcomes and exposure to television. There are ways to help attenuate the effects of television “promotion” of harmful activities and substances. They range from controlling the way children and adolescents view television to more effective office counselling and public health activism. The American Academy of Pediatrics, through its policy statements has taken a leadership role in making recommendations for both parents and paediatricians. 5 , 6 , 45 , 46

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PARENTS

Parents are often not familiar with what their children are viewing on television, nor do they control the television which they watch. 47 In addition, parents generally underestimate the amount of time their children spend viewing television. A recent study found that 32% of 2–7 year olds, 65% of 8–13 year olds, and 65% of 14–18 year olds have television sets in their bedrooms. 3 Furthermore, two 1997 surveys, with a sample size of nearly 1500 parents, found that less than half of them report “always watching” television with their children. 47 Co-viewing is thought to be an effective mechanism for mediating untoward effects of television viewing: an adult, watching a programme with a child and discussing it with him/her, serves simultaneously as a values filter and a media educator. 35 Based on this information, and the data available, the American Academy of Pediatrics 5 , 45 recommends that parents should:

Participate in the selection of programmes to be viewed

Co-view and discuss content with children and adolescents

Teach critical viewing skills to their children and adolescents

Limit and focus time spent viewing television to less than one to two hours per day

Be good media role models for their children and adolescents

Emphasise alternative activities

Remove television sets from children's and adolescents' bedrooms

Avoid using the television as an “electronic babysitter”.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PAEDIATRICIANS

With the known unhealthy effects of media on children and adolescents, it is crucial that paediatricians are aware and become knowledgeable about the media's influence on their patients. 9 Paediatricians need to be able to educate their patients' parents and advocate for improved, healthier media. 5 As part of health supervision visits, paediatricians also need to begin taking a media history and using the media history form developed by the Academy (table 1 ). 45 , 48 This tool enables young people and parents to examine their media habits and allows paediatricians to focus on areas of concern and offer counsel and support. 45 In addition, paediatricians can work with patients to help them understand that what they view on television is not “real” and that the purpose of advertisements is to sell them products. These premises of media education have been implemented in programmes with documented success. 49 , 50 Review of the available literature has enabled the Academy to make the following recommendations for paediatricians 5 , 45 , 47 :

Become educated about the public health risks of television exposure and share this information with their patients, families, and the community

Incorporate questions about television use into routine visits including use of the Academy's media history form

Include anticipatory guidance about television to their patients and their families at health supervision visits

Encourage parents to avoid television viewing for children under the age of 2 years

Serve as role models by using television sets and videocassette recorders in their waiting rooms for educational programming only

Advocate for improved media by writing to local stations, national networks, Hollywood studios, and the Federal Communications Commission

Promote media education as a means to help mitigate some of the unhealthy effects of television

Advocate for mandatory media education programmes with known effectiveness in the schools.

• View inline

Media history form: television focused questions 1-150

Conclusions

Although this review primarily focused on the unhealthy effects of television viewing on children and adolescents, some television programming has been shown to promote prosocial behaviours and have positive educational effects in young children. However, these programmes are in the minority and are mainly targeted to very young children (3–5 year olds). There are effective methods which can be used to lessen the negative influences of television. The primary method, besides turning off the television, is the introduction of media education to patients and their families. This introduction can be accomplished through many settings including the paediatrician's office, the school, and the community. The Academy's Media Matters Campaign is an example of such an integrated initiative to disseminate media education. It is important that paediatricians and parents jointly implement prevention campaigns and strategies. The effect on both children and adolescents, and the community will be much greater with a joint effort.

• Strasburger VC
• ↵ Nielsen Media Research, New York, 1998.
• Roberts DF ,
• Rideout VJ ,
• American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Communications
• Gerbner G ,
• Signorielli N
• Friedrich LK ,
• Corporate Research Department
• DuRant RH ,
• Singer MI ,
• Miller DB ,
• Flannery DJ ,
• Frierson T ,
• Chachere JG
• Harris L and Associates
• ↵ Parents Television Council. The family hour: no place for your kids . Los Angeles, CA: Parents Television Council, 8 May 1997.
• ↵ Kaiser Family Foundation . The 1996 Kaiser Family Foundation Survey on Teens and Sex. Menlo Park, CA: Kaiser Family Foundation, 24 June 24 1996.
• Troiano RP ,
• The Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania
• Gortmaker SL
• Gortmaker SL ,
• Peterson K ,
• Colditz GA ,
• Robinson TN
• Hammond KM ,
• ↵ Gerbner G, Ozyegin N. Alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs in entertainment television, commercials, news, “reality shows”, movies and music channels. Report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Princeton, NJ, 20 March 1997.
• Mathios A ,
• Bisogni C ,
• Goldstein AO ,
• Robinson TN ,
• Centers for Disease Control
• Institute of Medicine
• Pierce JP ,
• Gilpin EA ,
• Farkas AJ ,
• American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Public Education
• Strasburger VC ,
• Donnerstein E
• Anastassea-Vlachou K ,
• Fryssira-Kanioura H ,
• Papathanasiou-Klontza D ,
• Xipolita-Zachariadi A ,
• Matsaniotis N
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• Austin EW ,

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Essay: Television’s Positive Effects on Society

• Essay: Television’s Positive Effects on…

According to Marie Winn and her essay “The Plug-In Drug,” television has various negative effects on our society today. In her essay Winn explores the ways in which television has harmfully caused disruptions with the quality of family life, rituals, and values. She recognizes there is a problem with our society and the way in which it is consistently influenced by television.

I am able to agree with Winn on this point, but I do not feel that the totality of the influence is negative. Television today has a lot of positive effects and influences on our society and our American culture. Television gives us helpful information, various forms of education, and entertainment which are all a part of the positive effects that television has on our society.

On a day-to-day basis, the television keeps us informed with plenty of helpful information. We are informed through the television of the latest news, weather, and information which are important in our daily lives. The television often acts as an almanac, dictionary, and an eye into the world around us. It informs us of the most recent happenings around the world within seconds.

Such as the O.J. Simpson trial, the Oklahoma City bombing, and the wars taking place in the Middle East. Through TV we can be warned about almost anything from a hurricane approaching to the fact that the stock market is falling. Television in today’s society has become one of our most basic resources for information. We use the TV as a convenient way to find out some of the simplest information such as the date, time, and what is going to be on channel 11 at 9:30. Our American society has designed its lifestyle around the convenience of the TV and the fact that it is so easily accessible.

The television has other purposes besides convenience. It is a great way of educating the people throughout society on the important issues that affect our everyday lives. Be it social, political, economic, or medical, there is always something new to be told, and the television is the quickest way to get it out to the people.

Not only is the television fast, but it is also very accurate and in-depth as well. Television takes the time to do the research that most Americans are too lazy to do themselves. Through various news programs and documentaries, television keeps us educated, and on the right track so that we as Americans are not left out in the dark when it comes to the current events around the nation.

For example, being that it is an election year, we are constantly being informed about the candidates, their whereabouts, and the debates. The reason for this is because this is an important piece of education when it comes to the American people. We need to know these things, or we along with our government will suffer.

Along with informational and educational purposes, television serves as an entertainer as well. When television was first developed, entertainment was not one of its main purposes. As time went on people began to sit and watch the television for that reason. Soon after came the development of sitcoms, and special programs which served as entertainment purposes.  

Throughout the years, entertainment on TV has become much more popular among Americans. Television has become an important part of our entertainment today. Not only is it more convenient than going to movies, plays, concerts, or sporting events but it is also a lot cheaper. With modern-day television, people do not have to leave their houses and get dressed up to drive to see what they could be watching on their own TV sets at home.

This is why the television companies have adapted to meet the needs of the American people by supplying access to movies, plays, concerts, and the most popular sporting events. This past summer the TV proved it’s convenient for entertainment. Many Americans were able to sit back and watch the Olympics in their own homes, and still be able to get the feel of being there in Atlanta.

Throughout the years, the American people have come to rely on the television and all it has to offer. The television with its multi-purposes has positively affected our society through its means of information, education, and entertainment. We as Americans have become a part of a society that is greatly influenced by television.

Although, this influence has been proven to affect the quality of family life, as Winn mentions in “The Plug-In Drug.” The positive effects of television on our society as a whole and the knowledge it provides is far greater than this quality of life that she mentions. I must admit that there are both positive and negative aspects that come out of our televisions today, but I feel that the positive effects definitely outweigh the negatives when it comes to the importance of information, education, and entertainment for our society.

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Essay on Impact of Television on Children’s

Students are often asked to write an essay on Impact of Television on Children’s in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Impact of Television on Children’s

Introduction.

Television is a powerful medium that can greatly influence children’s minds. It can shape their thoughts, feelings, and behavior.

Educational Influence

Educational TV shows can foster learning. They can improve children’s language skills, creativity, and understanding of the world.

Exposure to Violence

However, exposure to violent content can make children aggressive. They may imitate harmful behaviors seen on TV.

Health Impact

Excessive TV watching can lead to sedentary lifestyles, causing health issues like obesity.

While TV can be educational, parents must regulate viewing to prevent negative impacts.

250 Words Essay on Impact of Television on Children’s

Television, a pervasive form of media, has a profound influence on children’s cognitive and social development. Its impact extends beyond mere entertainment, shaping perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors.

Academic Impact

Television can both positively and negatively affect children’s academic performance. Educational programs foster intellectual growth, enhancing language skills and critical thinking. However, excessive viewing can lead to decreased academic performance, as it reduces time for homework and reading.

Social Development

Television shapes children’s socialization process. It introduces diverse cultures and societal norms, aiding in broadening their worldview. Conversely, exposure to violent or inappropriate content can lead to aggressive behavior and distorted social perceptions.

Health Implications

Prolonged television viewing has been linked to sedentary behavior, contributing to childhood obesity. It also disrupts sleep patterns and can lead to vision problems.

The impact of television on children is multifaceted, influencing their academic, social, and physical health. As such, it is crucial to monitor and control the content and duration of children’s television viewing, promoting a balanced and healthy media diet.

500 Words Essay on Impact of Television on Children’s

Television, an omnipresent medium in our society, has a profound impact on the development of children. The effects of television on children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development have been a subject of extensive research and debate.

Cognitive Development

Television can significantly influence a child’s cognitive development. Educational programs such as “Sesame Street” and “Dora the Explorer” can enhance children’s learning abilities, improving their language skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities. However, excessive viewing, particularly of non-educational content, can lead to attention problems and hinder academic performance.

Children learn social norms and values from their surroundings, and television is a substantial part of that environment. Positive portrayals can foster understanding and empathy, while negative or stereotypical depictions can influence children’s perceptions about gender roles, racial and ethnic groups, and societal norms.

Emotional Development

Television programming can impact children’s emotional development. Shows with violent content may induce fear, anxiety, and aggressive behavior. On the other hand, programs that promote kindness, cooperation, and conflict resolution can support emotional growth and prosocial behavior.

Excessive television viewing is associated with sedentary behavior, which can contribute to obesity and other health problems in children. Advertisements for unhealthy food and drinks can influence children’s dietary choices, further exacerbating these health issues.

Parental Role and Regulation

Parents play a crucial role in mitigating the negative effects of television. By monitoring content, limiting viewing time, and encouraging active engagement, parents can ensure that television serves as a positive tool for their children’s development. Furthermore, regulatory bodies should enforce strict guidelines on children’s programming and advertising to protect young viewers from inappropriate content and harmful influences.

In conclusion, while television can be a valuable educational and entertainment tool, its impact on children’s development is complex and multifaceted. It is crucial to strike a balance between viewing time and other activities, and to ensure that the content viewed is age-appropriate and beneficial. As television continues to evolve with the advent of streaming services and smart devices, understanding its impact on children is more important than ever.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Disadvantages of Television
• Essay on Bad Effects of Watching Television
• Essay on Mobile Games

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Harmful Effects Of Television

Watching television is among the most popular leisure activities in the world today. Most people, if not all, start watching television before they begin school. Television is among the most used technologies in today’s world and is considered a good friend in many homes. Some people even slip out of bed at night to watch a program that they adore. Even though watching television has its pros, it also has its share of cons. Some programs are educational and hence they are good not only to the adults, but also to the children. Even though watching television is important in numerous ways, it is not good when it is done for long hours. On top of that, majority of television programs are a ‘trash’ and have no positive impact on our lives.

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To begin, watching television for a long time can be harmful to one’s health. People should not think that it is a wonderful life being in front of endless shows and movies on TV. Watching for a long period of time has been linked to obesity and numerous other heart diseases. This is due to the fact that sitting for a long period reduces the physical activity of an individual. Research has also shown that too much watching of television can increase one’s chance of acquiring type 2 diabetes. Moreover, watching for a long time can also cause an eye condition called shortsightedness. This is a condition whereby a person is able to see far objects but cannot view near objects clearly. Additionally, most televisions involve bright colors and this is likely to worsen this condition (Judith, 2004).

Secondly, most television programs feed us with false information. Even though most television programs appear to report reality, in most cases it is distorted. Action movies for instance are full of fantasies and children might be made to believe the lies in them. Although such movies and programs are very entertaining, they are filled with lies which can adversely affect children. Some advertisements that are done on television too are untrue and their prime aim is to increase awareness of the products without focusing on other fundamental aspects like health concerns. There are very few products, if not non that explain the negative effects of their consumption (Lawrence, 2005).

Also, spending too much of your time watching can make you dumb. Majority of television programs are a ‘trash’ and have no positive impact on our intelligence. Some programs and shows can be very educational to all of us. However, some programs can be harmful not only to the general development of a child, but also to adults. Some movies too can be harmful to the kids. Most children acquire negative behaviors from what they watch on television. In addition to that, too much watching can affect a person’s concentration capability. Most people who spend too much time watching lack concentration. A person who spends too much time watching television lowers his or her attention because most movies and television programs switch from one topic to another fairly quickly. Lack of concentration can also be attributed to the combination of both visual and audio media that affects the senses of a person thus affecting his or her concentration capability. On top of that, most children have learnt violent behaviors from watching action movies. If one looks closely at what too much watching of television has brought to his life, he will realize that he is influenced by the aggressive behaviors of movies and shows (Lawrence, 2005).

On top of that, too much watching of television can be a real waste of time. Most of the time that is spent on watching of television could be used for other productive activities. We all need to place food on the table and that cannot be done by spending too much time in front of our televisions. In fact, no one has ever been paid for watching television. By watching TV programs of people doing thing instead of us doing them, we are wasting a lot of time living passively. A survey carried out in the United States revealed that most people spend five to ten hours a day just watching television. This is a real waste of time and it can lower the GDP because less time is spent in productive activities (Shalom, 2004).

Too much watching of television is a bad idea. Some programs and shows can be very educational to all of us. However, some programs can be harmful not only to the general development of a child, but also to adults. Some movies too can be harmful to the kids. Most children acquire negative behaviors from what they watch on television. Parents should have a say in not only the amount of time their kids spend watching, but also on what program, show or movie their children watch. In conclusion, watching television has more disadvantages than its advantages. Parents should be there to control the amount of time their children spend on television. Adults too should be prudent enough to avoid spending too much time on television. Even though watching television can be important in numerous ways, it is not good when it is done for long hours. Spending too much time watching television is harmful because it is bad to our health, it feeds us with false information, it makes one dumb and it wastes one’s time.

• Judith, V. (2004). Television and Child Development: The Good and Bad Effects of Watching Television. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press
• Lawrence, E. (2005). Advertising to Children on TV: Content, Impact, and Regulation Princeton, NJ: Princeton University press
• Shalom, M. (2004). Children Learning from Educational Television: Seseme Street and Beyond Mason, OH: South-Western Cengage Learning.

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Short Essay on Bad Effects of Watching Television [100, 200, 400 Words] With PDF

Everything in this world has both good and bad side effects. Watching television is not an exception too in this context. In the session today, I will discuss how to write short essays on those bad effects of watching television. 

Short Essay on Bad Effects of Watching Television in 100 Words

We all love to watch television. Adults like to watch news, sports, movies and dramas, while children love watching cartoons. But watching too much television has many bad effects. Watching television for too long can put pressure on the eyes and cause eyesight problems. People who watch television for long hours have a tendency to overeat and can easily become obese. This can in turn lead to several health issues like diabetes and heart diseases.

Most of the content shown on television is for entertainment and does not add any value to our lives. They also show violence, criminal activities and mature content which can harm children if they are exposed to such things. Watching too much television can also kill creativity and imagination, cause a lack of focus and promote negative behaviour in children. 

Short Essay on Bad Effects of Watching Television in 200 Words

Watching television is a favourite pastime of many people. Some adults like watching the news and sports while others like watching movies and dramas. Children, on the other hand, are most interested in superhero shows and cartoons. Although watching television is fun, sitting in front of the television for long hours is not a healthy habit and can cause a lot of issues.

Watching television continuously for several hours can strain our eyes and lead to eyesight problems. It is also linked to obesity as it is observed that people who watch too much television have a tendency to overeat. This can cause health issues like diabetes and heart diseases in the long run.

Most of the shows on television are for entertainment and do not add any value to our lives. Instead of spending hours watching such shows, we can use that time to learn new skills, exercise, read books or catch up with our family and friends. Many programs also show violence, criminal activities and mature content which can harm children if they watch it. 

Watching too much television kills creativity and imagination as well as alters brain development in children. It can also cause a lack of focus and lead to poor work performance. 

We should not watch television for long hours and should stay away from negative, violent and graphic content. Parents should also monitor the content that kids consume. Television is for entertainment, we should not let it negatively impact our health and well-being. 

Short Essay on Bad Effects of Watching Television in 400 Words

Television has become an important part of our daily lives. Be it, children or adults, everyone likes to watch television. Some people watch news and sports while others watch movies and dramas. Superhero shows and cartoons are what most children love to watch. Watching television is not necessarily bad, but today, many people spend several hours a day in front of their television screens. This is not a healthy habit. Watching too much television has many bad effects. 

Most dramas and shows on television are for entertainment and do not add any value to our lives. We spend hours watching such shows and waste our precious time which we could have used to learn something new, read books or catch up with family and friends.

Manny of those contents also contains acts of violence, illegal activities, use of alcohol, drugs and other addictive substances. Exposure to such content is not good for children who are very gullible and can be easily misled. Many shows feed us false information and are harmful not just for children but also adults as they distort our sense of reality. 

People who spend a lot of time watching television, live passively. Watching too much television kills creativity and imagination as our mind is unable to come up with new and unique ideas. It can also cause a lack of focus in children as well as adults and thus, lead to poor work performance. Watching too much television also puts pressure on our eyes and causes fatigue.

The continued strain on the eyes and eye muscles can damage them and cause eyesight problems. Watching television has been linked to obesity and it is observed that people who watch television for long hours have a tendency to overeat. Without physical activity and exercise, it can quickly lead to health issues like diabetes and heart diseases. 

Research has shown that too much television can alter brain development in children and promote aggression and violence. It can also make young people feel inadequate by showing fake picture-perfect realities and cause self-image related issues.

Watching television is additive and not knowing when to stop can negatively impact our lives. We should not watch television for long hours and should stay away from negative, violent and graphic content. Parents should set a time when the children are allowed to watch television and always monitor what content they are consuming. Television is meant for entertainment and we should not sacrifice our health and well-being because of it. 

That was all about writing essays on the bad effects of Television. If you still have any doubts in this context even after going through this session, post them in the comment section below. To get the latest updates on our upcoming session, don’t forget to join us on Telegram .

Thank you. See you again, soon. 

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