Watching Television And People's Quality Of Life - Case Study Example

?Introduction Whether watching television is harmful or not has been a controversial issue for so long. However, it is safe to claim that excessive and uncontrolled watching of TV and unregulated media content can be detrimental to our lives. It may even be more disastrous to young children. On the other hand, regulated and organized watching of television can be of benefit to everybody including children. Although there are many aspects of television-watching that may be detrimental to our wellbeing, it is claimed that watching unhealthy content on the media carries the greatest weight. It is therefore the responsibility of the heads of the family to ensure that the family watches the media content responsibly. The television-watching behavior of the children should be monitored closely and potential problem dealt with early enough before it goes out of control. Otherwise, the family set up may be carried away by the wave of “cultural invasion.” It can be claimed that television is a double-edged sword. This is because it can expose people to unhealthy media content but it can provide useful material at the same time. Certainly, there are many tv programs that present information that is culturally and ideologically beneficial. Does TV Teach Violence? In 1996, the law was passed in U.S requiring TV sets in future to have V-Chips that would allow parents to block out any unhealthy program they do not want their children to watch. Research shows that some of TV program teach children violence and affect their physiological cognition mechanisms. In a given village in Canada, people did not have television sets until 1973. Currently, they number has doubled. For the first time the rate of aggression among first and second grade boys and girls has increased as compared to the time before television came. After two years of television in the village, the rate of violence increased by 160% (Hogue & Oshima, 1997). David R. Rosenberg, M.D claimed that children watch television nearly three hours every day, which sometimes includes two hours of violence. According to American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children older than age two should watch no more than one to two hours a day of quality programming, and children under age two should have no “screen time” (TV, DVDs or videotapes, computers, or video games) at all. He also cautions parents not to allow children under the age of two to watch TV. He claims, “It is a critical time for brain development. TV can get in the way of exploring, learning, and spending time interacting and playing with parents and others, which help young children, develop the skills they need to grow cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally.” Resenberg recommend parents to watch TV with their children to help them to not watch any violent acts, and turn off the TV at times, to spend time talking and playing with them instead. Besides violent media content, there are cartoons programs that may not be suitable for young children. These cartoon programs should also pay attention to the ideological and moral issues that they portray to the children. Some uncensored satellite TV, satellite channels, may broadcast unhealthy media content that may be of harm to the society. It is thus important for us to view and gauge materials on any media platform before we allow our children to watch. Otherwise, we risk exposing the children to violent, sexually explicit, and non-educative media content. Does Television Improve Our Quality of Life? According to a National survey (1998), the average American watches 3 hours and 46 minutes of television each day. That same survey states that 98% of U.S households have at least one television. Sixty six percent of Americans regularly watch TV while eating dinner, 49% of Americans say they watch too much TV, and average number of hours the TV sets is on during the day is7 hours and 12 minutes (Hintz, 2009). From the book “Introduction to Academic Writing,” there is an interview with Americans, which the issue of television watching was discussed. Harry Wong, a grocery store manager, claimed that sometimes TV could be good for our lives. For example, educational channels are very good. From TV, it is possible to learn about foreign cultures and wild animals. It is possible to learn and do a lot of research on virtually anything whilst sitting down with your laptop. There are also educational programs that can help children learn basic knowledge such as the alphabet. On the other hand, Jessica Wang, a housewife, thinks that TV is destroying family life. By making families just sit in front of the TV instead of playing or talking to each other. That makes the communication between parents and their children become constrained. Angela Russell argues that TV improves the quality of life through entertainment and companionship especially for old people. Jacques and George agree with the same sentiments. They feel that television is helping people to learn quickly (Hogue & Oshima, 1997). I did a questionnaire-based study on 16 students in Walsall College. I found that 69% of the students watch TV every day. This shows that TV greatly affects their life. The study also indicated that 63% of the students spend one to two hours watching TV. One independent study claims, “The risk of dying from heart disease increases by almost a fifth from each hour of a day spent watching television” (Hough, 2010). What Are the Positive and Negative Effects of Television? There is overwhelming evidence that TV has several disadvantages. Some of these negative effects include direct health damage, obesity, and irregular sleeping patterns. It also has a negative effect on the level of intelligence, and contributes to the erosion of human capacity to develop social skills. Many people believe that the presence of television has a negative effect on concrete shrinking social activities especially in interpersonal relationships. According to BBC News Online, Dr. Darren Huggits, a lecturer in Media Studies and Communication, Department of Social Psychology at the college, said that the TV does not diminish the need for people to form friends and prevent them from social relationships with them.it is also possible to look beyond the screen. Indeed, television "can be turned into a place or site of the ritual people gathered around it to share ideas, express their feelings and good friendly towards each other" (BBC News Online). Dr. Huggits has completed the process of publishing a study recently about the benefits and positive effects of television on mental health for men, by strengthening their attachment to each other as they watched sports in one place on the screen. However, fear remains in the medical community due to other problems that can result from addiction to television, and most notably overweight and obesity. Researchers believe that taking time off the TV and other media content can directly contribute to the alleviation of the problems of obesity and weight gain. People should find themselves other work to do to be more active than just sitting or lying down in front of their television sets. It also accuses the television as a main reason behind the decline and reduction of one's ability to improve the level of intelligence. Spending too much time on the television sets makes the brain less active and more passive. Other researchers such as Professor Sonia Livingstone, professor of social psychology at University College London, have been looking for the effects of television and the Internet on children. He says that there should be nothing to cause much alarm. He emphasizes that as long as TV is watched in moderation and discipline is observed when children are watching television, there would be no reason for concern or fear of its effects on them. He claims that results can be positive and not negative in terms of communication and social interaction. Other Negative Effects to Children Deprives the child of actual life experience since most of focus is directed towards TV. Steals valuable child playtime, which is essential for physical and mental growth Disruption of child's imagination because of excessive exposure to virtual and unrealistic world as presented in the media Consumes the child’s mental energy which would have otherwise been used in other activities Watching violent TV programs can cause aggressive and deviant behavior Deprivation of reading and dialogue time with parents Raises brutality instincts and child's early sexual drives before natural maturity takes place resulting to mental, psychological, and physical developmental problems Influences young people to alcohol, smoking, and addiction Positives Aspects special programs aimed at children enriches the cultural aspect of children Children learn how to live and interact with people since some of the programs and TV shows depict social interactions Increases vocabulary, and meaning of difficult terms and phrases Encourages sense relationship with different personalities within the society and how to acquire good habits Developing of talents and views (discoveries, inventions, creativity) for example, choice of future profession Keep up with the Renaissance eras and scientific excellence (studies, research, etc.). To raise awareness of cultural, social and religious Conclusion In conclusion, it can be said that the media has its good and bad sides. Indeed, parents need to take a lot of care to ensure that discipline is maintained while watching TV. It is important to make follow up on children to make sure that they are viewing the correct content. Additionally, the amount of exposure to TV content should also be regulated. Otherwise, children will grow with developmental problems and therefore may not be useful to the society. References Hintz, Dave, 2009, “Does television really improve your quality of life?” http://www.flinthillschristianchurch.com/blog/month/december-2009 Accessed 2 January 2012 Oshima, A.and Hougue, A, 1997 Introduction to Academic Writing. Second Edition, New York: Longman. Rosenberg, David 2007, “Does TV teach violence?” http://www.childrensdmc.org/default.aspx?id=1163&sid=1 Accessed 2 January 2012 Hough, Andrew 11 Jan 2011, “Every hour per day watching TV increases risk of heart disease death by a fifth.” http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/6962438/Every-hour-per-day-watching-TV-increases-risk-of-heart-disease-death-by-a-fifth.html Accessed 9 January 2012 Read More