impact of television in the modern society

ABSTRACT
In today’s modern world television is the most popular and recognized form of media. Most homes in the world own a television, big or small they lay in their lounges connecting them to the outside world. It is a type of technology many of us cannot imagine living without. It has its advantages and disadvantages just like all other existing factors and this is illustrated in this essay. It can be an educational and a multi sensory communication devise that takes up our time and also contain of scenes that corrupt our young minds.
As the world’s greatest invention it is sad that it has been replaced by something resembling a computer but it is still indispensable in today’s modern world.

INTRODUCTION
Media refers to any kind of format used to convey information. Mass media refers to the means of public communication reaching a large number of audiences. The various types of mass media are:
Television which includes the cables, network and satellite
Radio
Film and Video
Print which includes the newspapers, magazines and direct mail
Photography
Electronic which include email and the web

All media produce a variety of genres which refers to a particular type of style or content. Mass media genres can be divided into four basic types. This are the informative media, educational media, persuasive media and entertainment media.

Technology is a major part of modern life. Some people feel that the contribution of technology has made a positive impact in the modern life and has helped improve the quality of life. Others see that the contribution of technology has negatively impacted modern life and it is a force that has escaped from human control. I believe that the contribution technology has made to the modern life is positive in the sense it has helped improved productivity in manufacturing, quality of life and the education. Television is one of the best scientific inventions that has been introduced to man all across the world. It is know spreading in all communities to the point where man accesses it in a daily base.
Winston Churchill once said’ the best things are either immoral or bad for you’ television is best in moderation. So next times when bored don’t turn on the television go out and play sports. Television has become a magnet to man. It’s affected the society making people to spend most of their time seated on a coach watching all sorts of programs introducing them to the world of laziness and pessimistic.
It has killed creativity because man watches it so recklessly. Most of the people who view television on a daily basis do not realize that they use more than one sense when viewing television. They use their eyes to watch the television screen and the visual on the screen. Compared to the other forms of media they usually involve only one sense like a book only requires only one sight. Television causes eyesight problems, a number of population in the society have vision effect or have lost their eye sight due to watching television close-up and for a long period of time. This becomes a disadvantage to man causing them to wear glasses so as to help them see what is far away.
Television has caused many to lose their sense of hearing. People tend to enjoy when the volume is high, they don’t keep in mind about the effects it comes with. People who tend to lose their sense of hearing cannot be cures. The effect is dramatic for they find it difficult to understand what other people are saying. The people around them have to speak loudly or shout to be heard and this causes frustration, embarrassment and annoyance for the person trying to emphasis on what they are saying.
Television has become a big threat in children’s lives. In the society children’s new hobby is watching television .Some parents have time to seat and supervise their children on what they watch but this society is full of busy parents who spend full time at work and when they on a break go out with their friends to have fun and call it going to chase away stress. The children are left not knowing the pros and cons of watching television and just flow with what the television offers.

Television offers a variety of programs which have a lot of immoralities. This immorality programmes have become big effect on children by violating and destroying their minds. The effects can be long lasting if not never ending. A program such as CSI Miami has brought the whole crime scenario right in front of the children’s eyes. Majority of the children are interested on getting ideas of how to become a thief. This is brought about by viewing how the bad boys have techniques of robbing a bank or stealing the most important documents of a big company and escaping the police drama. They are able to learn techniques such as: wearing gloves while on a mission so as one doesn’t leave there finger prints behind for evidence during investigation, picking locks with wires so as to trespass in someone’s property without making noises with machines so as to try and brake the locks.
It is shown that these criminals have a life that is extra-ordinary from theirs or the people around them. Children are shown that the afterlife of these thieves is a dream come true. Money comes in plenty, big houses and cars, the life of every dreamer gotten in an easy way.
Children don’t think of the after math, soon enough the thief’s will be followed up and caught by the specialist who involve in crimes. They are blinded by all these due to what they believe is in the television comes true but for the few children who get motivated by watching violence television because of the detectives who do good to the society get a good life for they get interest o helping the future later on.
On television, a program such as wrestling has lead to so much violence in schools and even at home. Wrestling has been participated by children all over the world. At first, children will put wrestling into action jokingly with their siblings while playing. In the progress, children will use the wrestling skills when one has annoyed them. It leads to damage and if it is really serious can cause death of the other.
Television immorality will not only affect the child’s youth but also their adulthood. Continued exposure of violence might unnaturally speed up the impact of the adult world on the child. This can force the child into a kind of premature maturity. As the child matures into an adult, he can become bewildered and have greater distrust towards others. For instance, if the child gets married and their spouse has gotten on their nerves the first thing that pops in their mind is violence and it leads to one getting hurt, a superficial approach to marriage problems and if really serious it can become a police case.
Some parents tend to blame the television for all this violence but it is clearly not their fault but the parents fault. It clear states when the show begins whatever is to take place in the wrestling ground should not be done at home. If the parent does not see it suitable for the child they should block the channel and warn them of the dangers it brings.

One other program offered is soap operas that plays the role in brain washing a child’s mind. It has introduced a new world to children. Soap operas have affected girls mostly. They want a world of love where they are the Queens who are pampered and showed affection. They want to experience what they see on television. This causes them to head out and look for a partner. They have no clue that their age does not allow them to adventure the world of love. They will fall in love so first and later get hurt because they don’t know how to deal with situations that will pop up. This will destruct them in every way making them too weak, crying every day, hating everyone around them and mostly forget about education.
This affects their education, forgetting that it be their first priority so that they are able to make a good future for themselves and then deal with the world of love, fun and independence later. This affects the child’s learning and thinking ability. If a child cannot perform well in school then their life is at great stake.
Children have the habit to put in action what they see. In the modern days a child would be commanded by their parents to perform a certain task and without hesitating would begin applying to the task. In this society television has taught children to walk away when been addressed to, not to do certain tasks but instead talk back and worst of all to use curse words.
We need to help our children for a better society for they are the next leaders of the coming generation. Dstv a multimedia choice has helped parents play a role in changing the society to be a better place for children. Parents are able to block some movies rated above their children’s age. This helps discipline the child allowing them to watch what is right for their age level. Parents also make rules whereby the child should watch the television for a period of hours then read afterwards or go out and play helping the mind be active.
Many people prefer to watch a favorite television show every day or week and neglect social commitments and therefore become anti social. Been social is one aspect that helps in business especially when trying to advertise about your company in a meeting.Television has made many people neglect their families so that they are able to watch television. A family may be assembled in a room but they will not be able to acknowledge each other due to the program running. Dinner conversations are lost due to the family eating in front of the television
Many people value their television shows over exercise or physical activity which can lead to obesity. A pediatrician and prominent obesity expert, William Deitz states that ‘Violence and addiction are not the only television related health problems. He says that 4.7 million children between the ages of 6-17 are overweight reasons been inactivity and high calorie diet. He elaborates more by saying during the morning cartoons which are usually on Saturday’s there are an average of 15 junk food advertisements which encourage children to take snacks during that period of time while watching cartoons. He quotes ‘The only way to reduce inactivity is by turning off the television set. Almost anything else uses more energy than the television.’
According to Nielsen Co, the average people of the world watch more than 4 hours of television each day. In a 65 year life, people will have spent nine years glued to the tube.He explains all this by the use of statistics:
In a family:
The percentage of households that posses at least one television is 99.
The percentage of homes with three or more televisions is 66.
The percentage that people regularly watch television while eating is 66.
The percentage of people who say they watch television too much 49
Children:
The effect of television on children is 4000
Number of minutes a child watches television is 1680
The percentage of day cares using televisions daily is 70
The percentage of parents that limit their children’s television watching is 73
The percentage of children who prefer watching television than spending time with parents is 54
The average hours a youth watches television is 1500

Violence:
Percentage of murders exposed on television is 79
Commercialism;
Percentage of commercials encouraging junk food is 92
General;
Percentage of stories devoted to crime, disaster and war is 54

On the other hand, television is a great educational tool. Parents should encourage their children to watch more of educational channels than the channels that offer music and movies. Education television helps in reinforce class work. There vast amount of educational programs available for viewing particularly on channels like the discovery channel and national geographic are really educative both to adults and children.
A child is able to determine the difference between a reptile and a carnivore and this can be of great help in science. It boosts their knowledge helping them understand clearly by the use of moving images. When the child has reached university level and the parents are not in the state to afford their fees or the child is not able to attend the night courses. They simply just get some basic knowledge of one particular subject using documentaries to quench their thirst for learning.
Television has brought imagination near. Children who are not able to read are able to see fairytales, hear bed time stories and watch cartoons in living colour, they are not left out.
If we consciously make decisions to use television responsibly then great things can be accomplished.
Television is a source of information that tops up our knowledge. Television has the ability to bring to people news as it happens. It is our first and only source of news and current events. Most channels have news updates up to six times a day and current affair programes which take a deeper look at news that has affected the world that day or week. Example is Citizen, a channel that offers all sorts of programs. It usually has news updates at seven in the morning, one o’clock in the afternoon, four o’clock in the afternoon, seven o’clock at night, nine o’clock at night and eleven o’clock. At one o’clock in the early morning it offers world news on Aljazeera. The news keeps people up to date about what happens in the outside of the world and the everyday incidents without even going outside.
However, these news shows can try and monopolize people’s opinions and be bias towards one political party or one side of a war. Either way it helps people to hear the point of view of all eminent persons helping them to have their own opinions. For example during elections one is able to make their own opinion on who they want to elected as the President, Prime Minister and Ministers and this they do by watching news and noting how they are putting to work.
Television helps remove the social and political evils from the society. It highlights the evils of casteism dowry, drinking, gambling and the likes so as to help people to remove them in the society. Similarly, the government programs like family planning and cleanliness of the cities can also be propagated through the media of television successfully.

Television plays an important part in educating people regarding the corruption, prevailing in the social and political spheres. People are able to be shown how there are so many men and women in the streets who make a living by bribing someone so one should be careful and ignore them. They are also advised on the means of helping the government in curbing blackmarketing, smuggling and hoarding.
Television has brought the light of sports and arts. People are able to view all types of sports like cricket, rugby, swimming, football and the likes. It gives us the privilege to watch a match that is taking place in a foreign country at a certain moment. In art, it gives us channels that offer documentaries that the viewer the possibility to enrich their culture in different domains.
Ever since television began appearing in people’s homes, advertising has been a popular way of selling products. It has helped business in the society grow by allowing customers to be aware of products by the creativity and catchy slogans used in the advertisements enabling them to buy the products. Unlike the newspapers and radios, television reaches a much larger audience making it more cost-effective. Through television businesses can show consumers how their products are used and packaged so that shoppers know what to look for exactly in the stores.
When viewing a coin one notices that it has two sides. One side is good and the other bad. It all depends on a person to choose which side they prefer. Television can be explained in this method.
The bad side of the coin states that television is an assault on a child’s mind. It is an insidious influence that upsets moral balance and makes a child prone to aggressive behaviors. It wraps the child’s perception of the real world and is unhealthy into a child’s learning process and transforming the young viewer into a hypnotized boon thinker. It kills the innocence of children by allowing them to mature early by seen unnecessary things. Innocence gives happiness but the children do not to seem to be enjoying the right type of happiness. It makes us not think and makes the brain to be lazy. It encourages us to buy things that are not necessary like some advertisements which advertise some products not worth buying but due to the like’s leads to spending money. It makes us unhappy in our lives by watching movies that show how prosperous live is for some of us and how difficult for others then confusion comes around on the unjust life for people. The good side of the coin states that television helps people learn about the world. It presents to us information in a more effective way than books do. It entertains man as it represents an enjoyable means of relaxation. It is the source of companionship and helps people to cope with the everyday life.

REFERENCE
‘Educational Television is not an Oxymoron’ by Anderson, Daniel
‘Children and Television’ by Sage Publications.
The educational television by Museum of Broadcast communications
Mass communication by Seema hasan