reality tv versus children

THE DARK SIDE OF REALITY TV SHOWS
In the 21st century, reality television has dominated our screens ambiguously. It is has become an essential part of our lives and entertainment. Reality television can make our culture become worse. It negatively impacts the viewers of the new generation when limited “reality” is present that occasionally is scripted and edited for entertainment purposes. But what is reality TV actually? Reality TV is a kind of television programming which consists of people appearing as themselves in a range of different contexts such as competitions, game shows, dramatic or humorous situations, makeovers, and others. The reality TV shows may or may not involve celebrities. Mostly unscripted, reality shows rely on creating entertainment from uncertainty, shock, awkwardness and unusualness (Sue Ann, 2004). Some examples of popular reality TV shows that achieve higher rating in television like American Idol, Fear Factor, Jersey Shore and many more. Many of these are shows which have children participating as and if children as their viewers, automatically their rating or the real. While reality shows featuring children may cause television ratings to go up, there is another grim reality. Reality TV can give bad effect to the children like children seem to be spending more time in front of the TV then they are doing school work (Wilson,2008),their reaction to social situations in school ( Gavin,2008), and the worse effect is it give health effect to the children ( Viner,2005).
When watching reality TV show, it will make children waste their valuable time by only watch the television rather than do their school work or do some benefits activity. They more likely to watch reality TV shows compared the other story or channel. This is happen because their parent did not control what kind of program their children should watch. Based evidence from some researcher, two-thirds of infants and toddlers watch a screen an average of two hours a day, kids under age six watch an average of about two hours of screen media a day and kids to teens ages eight to eighteen years spend nearly four hours a day in front of a TV screen and almost two additional hours on the computer (outside of schoolwork) and playing video games. This leads to more homework being done in front of television or multitasked with something else and mostly the children did not focus on their homework which is leads to low academic scores ( Wilson,2008).
Other dark side when watch reality TV is can affect the children reaction to social situation in school. For example, if they had just been watching a reality TV shows that have violence scene the night before school it may leads them to do the same action to their friends without think it is wrong action. Strong evidence shows that violent television programming contributes to children 's aggressive behavior (Gavin, 2008). Children believe that whatever they watch on TV really happen in the reality world. No matter what their parent tell them like parents teach their children that it is bad to hit, bite, pull hair and other bad behaviour, but when a child sees it on TV and it is being done by a “good guy,” then they view the violent behavior as okay. This can lead to confusion when kids try to understand the difference between right and wrong. And even the "bad guys" on TV aren 't always held responsible or punished for their actions. Children are going to school thinking that they can be superheroes and solving their problems with violence and it will give bad influenced to their friends and problem become worse.
The other negative effect and it is become the worse effect on reality TV shows among children is it give health effect. Which mean that, children have a high risk to be obesity and overweight because they watch much television but less in do the physical activity like jogging, and others. The children more tend to be inactive which is can cause overweight and obesity to some of them. They are also be influenced with advertisement that encourage them to eat unhealthy foods like potato chips and empty-calorie soft drinks that often become preferred snack foods. Studies from University Michigan have shown that physical activity and TV viewing are most associated with overweight risk. Watching the television was a bigger factor to get the obesity rather than diet. Inactivity and TV became stronger predictors as the children aged (University Michigan). In conclusion, reality TV shows give a lot of drawbacks compared the benefits especially among children. This is because one of the biggest audience or viewers is children. So that, if the reality TV shows improper value to them, it will gain risk the children get negative effect.
References:
By Sue Ann Vaz (Guest Writer & Media Observer) 2004, Reality TV and Children.
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.(2001). Children And Watching TV Facts for Families No. 54 Retrieved from, http:/www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Children+And+Watching+TV§ion=Facts+for+Families.
MD Gavin, M. (2008). How TV Effects Your Child. Kids Health Magazine
Wilson, B. (2008). Media and Children’s Aggression, Fear, and Altruism, Journal Issue: Children and Electronic Media Volume 18 Number 1
Viner RM, Cole TJ. Television viewing in early childhood predicts adult body mass index. JPediatr. 2005 Oct;147(4):429-35.

References: By Sue Ann Vaz (Guest Writer & Media Observer) 2004, Reality TV and Children. American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.(2001). Children And Watching TV Facts for Families No. 54 Retrieved from, http:/www.aacap.org/page.ww?name=Children+And+Watching+TV&section=Facts+for+Families. MD Gavin, M. (2008). How TV Effects Your Child. Kids Health Magazine Wilson, B. (2008). Media and Children’s Aggression, Fear, and Altruism, Journal Issue: Children and Electronic Media Volume 18 Number 1 Viner RM, Cole TJ. Television viewing in early childhood predicts adult body mass index. JPediatr. 2005 Oct;147(4):429-35.