As I was sitting and watching Bad Girls Club the other day, I thought about how television shows have changed so drastically over the years. It kind of upset me how television has merged from popular shows like the Cosby Show, Facts of Life and Full House to shows like Secret Life of an American Teenager, The Game and Family Guy. It seems as if there is no positivity on television in today’s society. Teens have no positive role models on television anymore and it is a prevalent issue.
Television’s effect on teens is a subject that has been extensively studied in the last twenty years and whose impact extends farther than most people realize. The entertainment media is constantly changing our perceptions of who we are and is highly responsible for our changing cultural trends. People look at celebrities and completely change their own views and ideals in order to match what they see as perfection.
Reality TV is one of the main impacts of today’s society. Reality TV was first aired in 1973 and has been popular ever since. According to psychology student at Missouri Western State College, Erika S. Pontius’ article, many studies have focused on how television programs that appear to be “real” alter the viewers’ perception of reality (or social reality). Television show “America’s Next Top Model” makes teens, especially females; think that being thin, light skinned with long hair is the ideal woman. Teens dream to be like those women and are starving themselves, getting plastic surgery and trying to change their entire image because they think they are supposed to look like the women on Top Model. Here is a link that shows how television is affecting women's image and how it makes women think they're suppose to look a certain way. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnJQJFlyDGY&feature=related
Other shows such as: The Real World, Bad Girls Club, Basketball Wives and Jersey Shore are all shows that are full of drama, violence and sexual promiscuities that make the perception of what real life is all about; but Reality TV doesn’t really shed light on the positive aspects of life whatsoever.
In addition, Television shows like Family Guy, Secret Life of an American Teenager, Pretty Little Liars and The Game are other shows that aren’t Reality TV, but still have a negative impact on teens. They make cursing, having sex, getting pregnant at 13, drinking under age and fighting seem like it’s the right thing to do. There are no shows with substance on TV any more. No shows empowering our teenagers and portraying what they should be doin
Statistics show that the American youth spends 1500 hours a year watching TV compared to the 900 hours they spend in school.
All in all, television media greatly affects teens in our society. It changes our perception of which we are, the way we act and even the way we live. My question is, why are parents allowing television to raise their children and why aren’t majority of parents putting a limit on television watching? Also, why are teens so easily influenced? These are questions that have been asked, but still aren’t being answered and I believe can’t be answered honestly.
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