It is well-known fact that television has an essential role in everyday life for the majority of people. It is also true, though, that watching television for long hours has several drawbacks, some of which should be carefully considered.
One of the main advantages of watching television is the opportunity it offers you to learn new things. A striking example of this are the educational, informative channels like discovery, history, animal planet, which provide us with current and old information at equal base. Another important advantage of television is the news, from all around the world. We are kept updated on whatever is happening with clarity and transparency. Moreover, television can be an inexpensive form of entertainment. The expenses of watching television are almost zero comparing to renting a dvd or going to the cinema.
The other side of the coin is that television exposes children and teenagers to a great amount of violence, especially in films. Experts support the view that this can be damaging to their mental health, leading to aggressive behavior; many crimes are being committed by imitating the crime movies on television. Furthermore, television can easily make you a passive viewer. In other words, people and especially youngsters accept everything they watch without thinking of the negative sides. In addition, you can easily get abstracted while watching television and as a result, many teenagers neglect their homework.
In conclusion, it cannot be denied that television has an informative and entertainment role in our lives. However, one should always bear in mind that it can have a detrimental impact on youngsters.