Effects of Watching Reality Tv

Aaliyah Tate English 105 Ms. LoBosco Effect of Reality TV Shows on Teenage Girls
The beginning of reality television started in the 1940s. Allen Funt's Candid Camera went on air in the year 1948. Candid Camera was a hidden camera television series, which record people who are placed in embarrassing, ridiculous, and hilarious positions, and show their reactions. When people watch reality TV, they tend to think that what they are seeing is a true depiction of reality. Because of that, they tend to believe that what they see on TV is how life really is. Many reality TV shows are created without thinking about its consequences on the mindsets of viewers, especially young viewers. Media companies accept that they make these shows for profit and they do not care about the effects on people. The target audience for most reality TV shows is teens, mostly young girls. These shows have a positive or negative effect on the many viewers and participants.
Reality TV didn’t really become popular until the early 2000s. Since reality TV is becoming more popular, girls are turning to these shows for entertainment value and life lessons. There are some positive effects of watching these shows. Girls who watch more of this genre of TV have more confidence in themselves, and also consider themselves mature, smart, funny and outgoing, and a good influence (http://technorati.com). Many viewers think that they can relate to the cast members on these shows. Girls receive inspiration and comfort from reality TV. Most teen girls are obsessed with being beautiful and getting a boyfriend. The way the women look on the shows is how girls want to be and look like (http://www.dailyherald.com). Cast members may be their selves but the things they do are scripted by producers that get teenagers attention. The drama, relationships, partying, and glamorous lifestyle that they portray is entertaining. Reality TV shows expose bad behavior, which make viewers think that what they see is acceptable. In reality, it’s a false reality.
Keeping up with the Kardashians, Bad Girls Club, The Real Housewives: The Series, Teen Mom, and Jersey Shore are the main reality TV shows that teens are watching. Most young viewers prefer to watch reality TV shows like those. Each of these shows portrays something which is unrealistic and unaccepted, but audiences don't realize the impact of these shows (http://www.deseretnews.com). Reality TV is not exactly just real life on camera. Although there are some shows that are more realistic than others, all of them are edited. Scenes are shot over and over for better effect. The shows are edited to make them more interesting and exciting. When viewers watch this sort of show, they believe that reality is filled with conflict and other negative events. The viewer may see exciting things happening to people in these shows and compare those things that are happening to their "normal" lives. Viewers often make a connection with the actors on screen, and then decide to act as the people they admire. The producers of these shows don’t care how they affect or impact on a person’s life. They try to make these shows look real as possible, even though they are scripted. They shoot scenes over and over until they are satisfied. Reality TV show producers are motivated by money and attention-grabbing drama. They fire cast members who don’t appeal to the audience as well as others. In result, they plot scenarios that will result in over-the-top arguments. “Bad Girls Club” is a perfect example of this. There is a house with seven girls who don’t know each other and they see what happens. The cast members usually have many arguments and fights. After the fight the girl who threw the first punch gets sent home. They are mostly the girls who do not appeal to the audience. The shows exhibit all the qualities that entertain young girls, and also those that can easily influence them. Young girls tend to think that what they see on TV is how their relationships and lives should be.
Reality TV shows give a false image of reality. The people watching them are thinking that everything happening in the show is real. Reality shows show real people and how they react to different situations. Many people are fascinated with watching how people react to different environments and different people. It is unpredictable and surprising. Every episode people are tuned in and curious as to what is going to happen next, which keeps them watching week after week. They only show the glamour and success, but not the hard work and sacrifice that is put into achieving all of it. Most adults are able to distinguish reality from fantasy, however most teenagers are incapable of doing so. Reality TV is like passing a car wreck on the highway- we have to look.