Americans spend about one-third of their free time watching television, more than the next ten most popular leisure activities combined,. The average American teen spends about 20 hours a week watching television, with the most viewers coming from low-income households. Because television viewing increases in pre-teen years, adolescents are the most vulnerable of them all to exposure from inappropriate sexual content, if not monitored carefully by adults.
Baby boomers were the first people to really benefit from the introduction of television in the 1950’s. However, at that time, there were only three major networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) in existence, and those networks typically aired local and national news, game shows, and soap operas. If other TV programs aired, such as westerns and medical dramas, the programs were family-oriented and sexually explicit content was not allowed. The influential difference from then and now was the tight control of content and limitations placed on the few networks available for individuals to watch. Early on, networks were careful to center programs around the family, and it was known to top level executives that parents would be concerned with content children adolescents were allowed to watch.
Studies show that television affects adolescent sexuality and social development. In a Kaiser Family Foundation study, 76 percent of teens said that one reason young people have sex is because TV shows and movies make it seem normal for teens. TV programs should provide sexual knowledge and awareness of the risks involved by being sexually active, but it should not support heavy exposure to sexually oriented television where young teens mimic the sexual themes from the shows they watch. –Katie Staggs
I agree with your opinion that television matters. As you mentioned, television has definitely changed the way society views politics, entertainment, technology, and family values. After reading your blog, I developed a strong opinion. I believe that if people are willing to change their morals easily due to what they observe on television, they should monitor the content of what they watch/not watch those programs or movies at all.
ReplyDeleteTelevision is one of the greatest communication inventions that has ever been created. Because of it we are able to know what is going on all around the world and have expanded art forms drastically. But, you are right in saying that it has a large negative affect on the development of adolescents. It is the parents' job to filter what young minds see and learn from. Parents need to be aware of what their children are taking in and make sure that it is benefitial to a healthy sexual and social outcome.
ReplyDeleteI agree that television is a large influence and a way to inform many people. I believe television is a great way to inform many people in the world today. However, it also can be a huge influence on many teens in the world today. As Katie states in the post many teens feel like certain activities are normal just because it is on television, which can be extremely harmful to many teens in today's generation. While television is a great way to connect and inform people it can also have a negative effect on peoples lives.
ReplyDeleteTelevision is a great invention that not only provides entertainment but also connects us to the world by keeping us updated on current events. However, like everyone has mentioned, television has had a negative impact on people's behavior. There are very few shows that don't have some form of sexual content and even some shows that are made for children have inappropriate innuendos. There needs to be a limit on the amount of sexual content in television shows, especially programs for children.
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way! the things that air on the television today are totally different from the way they were when it was first invented. Back then shows were very family oriented and any talk about sex was highly looked down upon. Also in some shows if they showed a bedroom or the parents they slept in different beds. Most shows aired now show some sort of sexual content and the ones that don't people tend to not watch. That's the honest truth. Yes television shows have made it look normal these days for adolescents to have sex outside marriage is completely okay. Television is important and needed in learning situations but now a days it has been corrupted and used mostly only for entertainment.
ReplyDeleteTelevision definitely does matters. It seems almost seems superficial to admit that it does matter. I do not know what I would do without Friends, the news, reality shows, or Saturday cartoons. Not only does television bring hours of mindless entertainment, it also informs the general public with up-to-date broadcasts.
ReplyDeleteAlong with movies and music, this form of entertainment is tremendously important. We receive a majority of our news because of television. It influences our view on politics and sports. It is crazy how much more we watch TV as oppose to every other activity. I guess its because sometimes the things on TV are more interesting than our everyday life. Sometimes its just the opposite though, if we need a break from reality, TV is always there.
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