bad effects of watching television essay

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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 .

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New study suggests that too much TV really can rot your brain

By Brennen Jensen

Ryan Dougherty, a postdoctoral fellow in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, has a warning for those zoning out in front of the boob tube: Excessive TV viewing might shrink your brain. Literally.

Drawing on data spanning 20 years, he led a study published in the September issue of Brain Imaging and Behavior suggesting that greater amounts of TV viewing can lead to reduced amounts of cranial gray matter—home to the neurons that perform the bulk of our mental processing.

"Individuals who watched, on average, about an hour and a half more daily television than their peers throughout mid-to-late adulthood saw their brain volume reduced by approximately .5% ," Dougherty says. "That percentage may seem small, but prevailing scientific thought says preserving our brain integrity can prolong the time until we notice age-related cognitive decline."

Working in the Bloomberg School's Department of Epidemiology, Dougherty calls himself a "physical activity and exercise scientist" interested in how walking, biking, swimming, and other aerobic activities support brain health and delay age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. (Exercise boosts blood flow to the brain, and theories suggest this may bring benefits, such as removing toxins and releasing hormones that trigger the creation of new neurons.) And unless your TV is mounted in front of a stationary bike, watching TV is a sedentary behavior—the pastime of proverbial couch potatoes.

His research utilized the ongoing longitudinal study Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults, or CARDIA , launched in 1985 by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and involving more than 5,000 participants from four U.S. cities. Although it was designed to study how lifestyle choices can impact long-term cardiovascular health, aspects of the sizable and evolving study are of interest to cognitive health scientists as well, particularly a substudy of 599 participants who were given MRI scans in 2010. Every five years, CARDIA participants are asked to report the average number of hours of TV they watched daily over the previous year. Participants in the substudy were also given MRI scans when they reached age 50.

These participants reported watching a daily average of 2.5 hours of TV, which held steady across 20 years. Dougherty and his study colleagues analyzed the data to find that those engaging in 1.4 hours of additional daily viewing, or more, had a half percent reduction in gray matter on the MRI scan performed at age 50.

Curiously, while earlier research has established that regular physical activity can slow cognitive decline, those participants who reported engaging in both above-average TV viewing and regular exercise showed the same gray matter reductions. "It would suggest that just becoming more physically active alone is not going to negate the negative effects associated with television viewing," Dougherty says. (While the study wasn't able to determine what programming people watched, he hypothesizes that documentaries might be less brain- shrinking than reality TV or other fluff.)

Too much TV may be bad for your long-term brain health

The proof is in: tv really does rot your brain.

Mindful of his study's limitations, including its reliance on self-reporting, Dougherty isn't ready to definitively say binge-watching shrinks your brain. Still, he says, his findings contribute to a growing body of research warning about the dangers of excessive TV watching and echo research done by others using the longitudinal study's data that points to a correlation between excessive TV viewing and poorer performance on cognitive tests.

"We should be conscientious about our behaviors and try to decrease sedentary time and increase physical activity," Dougherty concludes. "Television viewing is just one type of sedentary behavior, but it's an easily modifiable one." (Indeed, recent studies suggest that other sedentary activities, such as board games and puzzles, might help preserve gray matter—put down the remote, pick up some crosswords.)

Just don't expect Netflix to make a documentary about all this. "No," Dougherty says with a laugh. "I don't think that would be good for business."

Posted in Health

Tagged brain science , neuroscience , television , cardia

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Television Effects on Society Essay

Introduction, whom does television affect, how does television affect the public, suggestions for reducing the time spent in front of screens.

Can you imagine our life without television? Modern technologies allow people’s watching programs and shows with the help of a lot of devices, and it is rather difficult to imagine the day without watching TV or using it as the background noise while being involved in the other activities. Today, a lot of people spend their spare time sitting in front of screens and watching many programs which are really not necessary to be watched because they do not include any useful information.

Furthermore, they can have even harmful effects on the public’s consciousness. Television is one of the most influential aspects of the modern life because it is actively used to influence the people’s attitude to this or that situation or phenomenon, and many persons become the victims of the television impact.

Thus, television has negative effects on society because it influences the individuals’ psychological state and mental abilities, their emotions and feelings, attitudes and vision of the moral values, the capacities to make the independent decisions and effective choices.

There are few people who do not feel the impact of television on their life because even when the public is not interested in programs and shows, commercials seem to follow us in all the aspects of the life with affecting the tendencies and fashion and influencing our choice every day. Television affects all the age categories of people. Nevertheless, the impact of television on children is the most dangerous because children have no abilities to assess the information presented in TV programs and shows critically.

Many parents are inclined to use television for attracting the children’s attention and entertaining them without concentrating on the fact that the impact of television on the children’s brain and emotional state can be negative. Moreover, today it is possible to notice a lot of toddlers who spend their time in front of the screen without their parents’ control. Thus, the impact of television on children is the quite controversial question.

However, adults also feel the great impact of television on their lives because there are tendencies to watch TV while having a rest, eating, communicating with friends, and completing different everyday activities ( Television , n.d.). That is why, it is necessary to mention that television affects the majority of people without references to their age and even without focusing on their social status because now television is the most available way of entertaining and getting the information.

What is the difference between the negative impact of television on children and adults? Today, many researchers and doctors pay attention to the fact that children are more influenced by the information presented in TV programs because of their limited possibility to distinguish between fantasy and reality.

The most problematic issue is the impact of violence depicted in TV shows on the children’s minds and psychological state. The violent actions presented in TV programs are perceived by children as real, and they can consider them as possible to follow ( Television , n.d.). Thus, television can change the peculiarities of the children’s perception of moral values and definite virtues.

Violence in TV shows and cartoons can provoke the children’s brutal actions and conflicts in their relations with friends and classmates in reality because children are inclined to reflect those behavioral patterns which they observe. Moreover, not only the character of information can be influential for children.

The practice of spending many hours in front of the TV screens can affect the children’s performance at school and their classroom engagement because the habit of watching TV provokes children’s being passive, their lack of interest in school activities, and reduces the concentration of attention ( How to promote good television habits, 2008).

The impact of television on adults and their emotional state can also be negative. Focusing on the character of the information presented in TV news and shows, it is possible to note that people receive a lot of information every day which stimulates their negative reactions, different types of emotional downs, apathy and pessimism. Commercials which are used on television can have a lot of negative effects on adults.

Those persons who are influenced by commercials are inclined to buy a lot of unnecessary products. They also can feel dissatisfaction because of the impossibility to follow all the tendencies and buy all the products promoted with the help of commercials ( Television , n.d.). However, many persons use television in order to entertain themselves. In this case, TV shows and entertaining programs make people be passive and contribute to developing the habits of the sedentary lifestyle.

The family tradition to watch TV in the evening can be discussed as good only when the process is not passive, the choice of a program is relevant, and the members of the family have the opportunity to discuss it. That is why it is also important to concentrate on the negative impact of television on the people’s health, especially on their eyes, which is affected by the usage of different technological devices.

To reduce the negative effects of television on society, it is necessary to cut the time which people spend in front of their TV screens. The practice of limited watching TV is important for children who should watch TV programs less than two hours a day, and it is more useful not to watch TV during the week days and reduce all the screen-based activities which are harmful for the children’s health. Children reflect the behaviors of their parents.

That is why adults should also have the special schedule of watching TV with choosing mainly the programs about nature, history or science. The negative impact of television can be effectively reduced when people do not watch TV while eating and communicating. Moreover, to have TV sets in bedrooms is also the harmful practice. The habit to watch TV in order to spend spare time can be successfully changed with the habit to walk with friends and children ( How to promote good television habits, 2008).

Thus, television can influence our attitude to life, our choice, and our decisions without our awareness of the fact. People can react to the information presented in TV news and TV shows consciously as well as unconsciously. That is why it is almost impossible to predict the effects of television on the next actions and behaviors or our emotional state.

The impact of television on the people’s minds and health is often negative because of the lack of controlling the time in front of the screens and the choice of programs and shows. Nevertheless, it can be reduced with decreasing the role of television in the people’s everyday life.

How to promote good television habits . (2008).

Television . (n.d.) Web.

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Home Essay Samples Life Watching TV

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.
• Valkenburg, P. M., & Peter, J. (2013). The differential susceptibility to media effects model. Journal of Communication, 63(2), 221-243.
• 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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Home — Essay Samples — Information Science and Technology — Effects of Watching too much TV

Essays on The Effects of Watching Too Much Tv

Dive into the complex world of media consumption with our collection of essay samples on the effects of watching too much TV. As television remains a central part of many lives, understanding its impact is crucial. These essays serve as a guide for students to explore the various dimensions of TV's influence on individuals and society.

Physical and Psychological Effects

Our essays examine the comprehensive effects of prolonged TV watching, including potential physical health risks such as obesity and sedentary lifestyle habits. Psychological aspects, including impacts on attention span, aggression levels, and academic performance, are also explored, providing a holistic view of the consequences.

Social and Cultural Implications

Beyond individual effects, our samples delve into the broader social and cultural implications of excessive TV consumption. Essays discuss how TV shapes perceptions of reality, influences social behavior, and impacts family dynamics. The role of television in perpetuating stereotypes and influencing public opinion is also critically analyzed.

Moderation and Media Literacy

Acknowledging the pervasive nature of TV, our essays also propose solutions and preventive measures. Discussions on the importance of moderation, the role of parental guidance, and the critical need for developing media literacy skills among viewers offer constructive pathways to mitigate negative impacts.

Future Trends and Digital Consumption

In recognizing the shift towards digital platforms, some essays explore the evolving landscape of media consumption. The comparison between traditional TV viewing and the rise of streaming services, social media, and online content highlights changing patterns and their potential effects on viewers.

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Paragraph on Bad Effects Of Watching Television

Students are often asked to write a paragraph on Bad Effects Of Watching Television in their schools. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 200-word, and 250-word paragraphs on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

Paragraph on Bad Effects Of Watching Television in 100 Words

Watching too much television can be bad for you. It can make your eyes tired and hurt. It can also make you less active. When you watch TV all the time, you might not play outside or do your homework. This can make you unhealthy and not do well in school. Also, some shows on TV might show things that are not good for kids to see or learn. So, it’s better to watch TV for a little bit and spend more time playing, reading, or doing fun things with your family and friends.

Paragraph on Bad Effects Of Watching Television in 200 Words

Television, when watched too much, can have some bad effects on us, especially for kids. It can affect your eyes, making them tired and sore. It can also make you less active, as you sit for hours without moving much. This can lead to gaining weight and becoming unfit. Too much TV can also affect your sleep. The bright screen can make it harder for you to fall asleep at night. It can also fill your mind with scary or upsetting images that can give you bad dreams. Sometimes, TV shows and ads can make you want things that you don’t need or can’t have, which can make you feel sad or upset. It can also take away time from other important things like studying, playing outside, or spending time with family and friends. So, while TV can be fun and educational, it’s important to watch it in moderation. Remember, too much of anything can be bad for you. So, let’s keep our TV time balanced with other activities.

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Paragraph on Bad Effects Of Watching Television in 250 Words

Watching too much television can have harmful effects, especially for young students like you. It can lead to problems with your eyesight because the bright screen and close viewing distance can strain your eyes. If you spend hours sitting in front of the television, you might not get enough physical activity, which is important for your health. It can also lead to weight gain because often, we snack on unhealthy foods while watching TV. This sedentary lifestyle can lead to obesity and other health problems. Additionally, television can interfere with your sleep. Staying up late to watch your favorite show can make you tired and affect your performance in school the next day. Too much TV time can also affect your studies. If you’re always thinking about the next episode of your favorite show, you might not focus on your homework or lessons. This can lead to poor grades. Moreover, the violence and negative behavior often shown on TV can influence your thinking and behavior. You might start to believe that what you see on TV is normal or acceptable in real life, which is not always true. Lastly, watching too much TV can make you less social. Instead of interacting with your friends and family, you might choose to watch TV alone. This can affect your social skills and relationships. So, it’s important to limit your TV time and balance it with other activities.

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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
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• Corporate Research Department
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• Flannery DJ ,
• Frierson T ,
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• 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 ,
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• Colditz GA ,
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• 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 ,
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• Essay On Advantages And Disadvantages Of Television

Essay on Advantages and Disadvantages of Television

500+ words essay on advantages and disadvantages of television.

In today’s world, communication is a crucial aspect of life. Technological advancements made communication more accessible and cheaper. Among all the communication devices such as smartphones, radios, and emails, television is the prominent and common medium for communication. We get to see television in every household. It is an integral part of our society that significantly impacts our social, educational, and cultural life. It reaches a mass audience and provides information about the daily happenings in the world. Furthermore, it is a common source of entertainment among family members.

John Logie Baird invented the television in the 1920s. The word “tele” means distance, and “vision” means to see, which means to watch it from a distance. When television was invented, it showed only pictures of low resolution. But, later on, televisions were modified with the latest technologies. Televisions that we purchase today come with multiple features. We can connect our phone, laptop, tab, and internet access various online apps, HD/UHD quality pictures, 4k-8k resolutions, etc.

We can also watch various educational channels on television. It also keeps us updated by providing news about the world through different news channels. Along with information, it also entertains us with movies, serials, dramas, reality shows, music channels, yoga channels, etc.

So, having a television at home seems to be a great advantage, but the disadvantages are also threatening. The time it consumes from our day-to-day life is more. You can see people going out of routine or postponing schedules if they become addicted to watching television.

Here, in the essay, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of watching television.

Advantages of Television

Television comes with enormous advantages. The most important is it gives us information about current affairs and events across the globe. This information is broadcasted through various news channels, which helps us to keep ourselves updated about recent happenings. It also shares information about multiple programmes or facilities launched by the government. The government also take the help of news channels to communicate with the mass.

We can watch daily soaps, reality shows, music channels, movies, etc. We can also watch food channels and try out recipes at home. During the morning time, if you switch on the television, you will get to watch telemarketing ads. Specific channels broadcast only ads for multiple products, and people can also buy them.

Children can watch various cartoons on the television. Some cartoons teach children about moral values and lessons. It also keeps us informed about the economic condition and the stock market. We also get to watch various fashion shows and keep updated about the latest trends on television.

Earlier, television was costly, but now it comes at an affordable price with multiple features. Now, we get the option to subscribe to our favourite channels and only need to pay for those channels. Educational programmes are also available on television. We can also watch live cricket shows and cheer for our country. Television also telecasts interviews of various political leaders, celebrities, influencers, famous personalities, etc. We can also gain knowledge by watching various quiz programmes.

Television provides opportunities to spend time with our family and friends. We can enjoy watching a movie together. Various channels telecast comedy shows that help us keep positivity in our lives. We also watch movies in different regional languages like Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, etc. It helps us connect with people from diverse backgrounds.

Nowadays, we can also play games on the television and watch agricultural programmes specially designed for the farmers. It promotes national integration.

Disadvantages of Television

There are advantages of watching television, but it also comes with disadvantages. Watching too much TV affects our mental and physical health. When we watch television continuously, it affects our eyes and makes us lazy. Even there are some programmes which are not suitable for kids. We even compromise our sleep to watch TV. Children lose their concentration on their studies by watching too much television. Children prefer to watch TV over reading books to spend their leisure time.

Conclusion of Essay on Advantages and Disadvantages of Television

There are advantages and disadvantages of television. If television is helpful, it is harmful too. One should not watch television excessively.

We hope you found this essay on the advantages and disadvantages of television helpful. Check BYJU’S for more such CBSE Essays on different topics. You can also find CBSE study materials and resources for Classes 1 to 12.

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Home / Essay Samples / Entertainment / Television / Positive And Negative Effects Of Watching Television

Positive And Negative Effects Of Watching Television

• Category: Information Science and Technology , Social Issues , Entertainment
• Topic: Effects of Watching too much TV , Media Influence , Television

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