If You Don't Like it, Turn it Off

"If you don't like what you see on television, then turn it off." This is a phrase commonly heard by numerous television and entertainment networks; although it seems as if it is a simple solution, I can't help but to disagree. Yes, people do have a choice as to what they watch and how much television they watch, but television is also responsible for influencing many aspects of society, which are not so easy to escape. Many also say it is the parents responsibility. I do think that parents play a vital role in shaping the attitudes and actions of their children; however, this is not a simple solution either.

Television and movies seem to influence everything around us, which is why simply, "turning it off," is not a simple answer. For example, advertisements, billboards, magazine covers, and even the ways that some people act are all influenced and shaped by the entertainment industry; however, these aspects are not so hard to escape because they are all around us. Even though people have a choice as to which shows they watch, they do not have a choice in the commercials that they are exposed to or the ways in which society as a whole is influenced. For example, one might choose to watch an episode of Oprah in which she is showing how her and her staff are helping children in Africa, which is a positive influence; however, they then might be exposed to a commercial about weight loss or a Clean and Clear commercial suggesting that one must have clear skin to be beautiful. So no, turning off the T.V will not solve many of the problems that it is creating.

There are also those critics who argue that it is solely the parents' responsibility to raise their children appropriately and it is not up to the entertainment industry to raise them. The parents do have a huge responsibility to raise their children to know right from wrong and to help them have high self-esteem, but this is also not a simple answer. Families do have a huge impact on their children's ideals and values; however, so does the child's peers. Once parents send their children off to school and to hang out with friends, the parents no longer have much control as to what their children are being exposed to. Young people are highly influenced by their peers, who are usually highly influenced by not only their parents, but also by what they see on television, hear at school, and see everyday in advertisements and in the media. So although parents do play a highly significant role, there are many other factors that have influence over our society's children.

So since these are not idealistic solutions, what are proper the solutions? This questions is not so easy to answer; however, I do have some ideas for good starting points. Television networks do not need to completely change their content or goals because ultimately, their goal is for entertainment, which many of us rely on, on a day to day basis. It allows many people to relieve stress and unwind after a long days work; however, the entertainment industry does need to realize that what they show and the things they promote do have a huge impact on issues taking place in our society. Showing more diversity and hiring more actors and actresses with more average body types and appearances is a start. Also, if television networks and writers would cut back on reinforcing negative stereotypes, this could also have positive effects on society. I must also point out that it is not only the responsibility of the entertainment industry, but of all of us. As individuals in society, we must not allow the entertainment industry to drive our trends and influence our lives. After all, the entertainment industry's main goal is to make money so they show us things which that feel we want to see and things which our society finds sexy and beautiful. If our society could change its perception of beauty, then the entertainment industry would be forced to change its content to match our ideals.

My ultimate goal would be for society to have control of the entertainment industry, instead of the entertainment industry having control over our trends and culture. I know that this is much easier said than done, but society must start realizing that television and movies are only entertainment. Those who advocate simply, "turning it off" or those who always blame the parents need to look deeper into the issue and understand the many other factors that come into play.