Examples Post

There are many who complain about the content that is being shown on television and there are also many who respond to this by saying, "If you don't like what's on TV, then don't watch it." This is mainly the response that is given by the television industry itself; however, this is not a feasible solution and there are many examples that demonstrate why simply not watching something or turning off the television is not the answer to not being affected by its material and messages.

For example, there are many who complain about television's violence and its influence on our society, especially on children. The response from the industry is for parents to not allow their children to watch inappropriate material and to turn off the television if they don’t like what they are watching. Some argue that it is the parent’s responsibility to raise their children and not the entertainment industry. Although parents can choose to not allow their children to watch certain shows on television or can choose to just get rid of television altogether, this will not prevent the children from being exposed to television's negative aspects. At home, a child may be prevented from watching certain things; however, once they get to school, there are many children who are not stopped by their parents from watching inappropriate shows. Their peers will still influence the child, even more so than they would be by watching television; and the method of turning off the television is not a solution because television does not just affect those who watch it, but it affects society as a whole. And although families and parents do have a strong influence on shaping their children's values and beliefs, their peers have a huge impact on influencing behavior and this is something that cannot be controlled by a parent's decision to not let their children watch TV.

There are also some studies which suggest that the many violent acts that have taken place at schools across the country can be associated with violent television programming and video games. For example, the Columbine tragedy was linked to The Matrix, due to the killers’ trench coats and behavior with the guns. This shows that even with the possibility of a majority of students not being exposed to violent content on television, they can still be affected in many negative ways. Although there are those who choose to protect themselves from the negative behaviors that television teaches our society by “turning it off,” it seems that they cannot escape it and turning off the television is far from a solution.

The media, especially television, is also criticized for its bombardment of perfect body image and its distorted definition of beauty. But again, choosing not to watch TV or "turning off the switch" is not the answer. For example, one might choose to watch Oprah, which usually has positive material. There is one episode that shows how her and her staff are helping children in Africa, which can be a positive influence on society by encouraging others to help those in need; however, there are then commercials during the show, such as weight loss commercials, those for plastic surgery, and Clean and Clear commercials suggesting that one must have clear skin and the perfect body to be beautiful. So again, turning off the television is not a solution. Even billboards, advertisements, magazine covers, and even the ways that many around us act are influenced by the entertainment industry, but these aspects are hard to escape since they are all around us. These aspects that are influenced by the entertainment industry cannot be escaped by simply choosing not to watch certain shows on television.