The television, often called the ‘boob tube,’ is frequently blamed for the demise of our society. For decades, anti-television advocacy groups have positioned themselves in a ‘save the world’ stance, arguing that television is ruining people’s lives. However, one key factor they overlook is that you, the consumer, have the most powerful control in the world when it comes to television: the off button. If you feel that television is ruining your life, perhaps it’s time to realize that you have more power than you think. It isn’t the fault of television stations or “evil networks” trying to brainwash you or your children. Instead, it’s about your lack of balance and self-control.
Is TV Really Ruining Your Life?
Seriously, is TV ruining your life? Is it truly responsible for turning North Americans into couch potatoes? Is the violence portrayed on television and the lack of censoring of the news and TV ratings responsible for “our youth gone wild”? The questions about the quality of television and the types of shows used for entertainment have long been used to refute accountability. And while the following statistics will show that television is a popular pastime, it isn’t exactly fair to say that it, as an entity, is responsible for ruining anyone’s life.
According to the AC Nielsen Co., the average American watches more than four hours of television per day. This equates to around 28 hours per week, or two months of non-stop television viewing per calendar year. 99% of all North American families, regardless of social standing, own a television set, and this TV set is on for approximately seven hours per day. Around 60% of North American families pay for cable television, and today, 66% of all families eat dinner with the TV on. As you can imagine, these numbers are drastically higher than they were just two decades ago.
For children, the changes in television viewing are the most pronounced. Over 4,000 studies have been conducted to determine the impact that television viewing is having on today’s children. Some studies have even linked violence and bullying to the lack of supervision when children watch television. Perhaps the most notable statistic about television viewing is this: According to Nielsen, children watch around 1,680 minutes of TV per week but only spend an average of 3.5 minutes per week engaged in meaningful conversation with their parents. This same study suggests that children in North America, who spend about 900 hours each year in school, spend around 1,500 hours in front of the television every year.
The statistics continue. Essentially, they all say the same thing: Today, the average person—whether adult or child—watches too much television. And this television watching has detrimental effects on our lives, such as introducing us to extreme violence and making us, as a society, lazier and unhealthier than we were decades ago.
For many families, television sits at the epicenter of a debate. Today’s parents, who were most likely raised without watching television during dinner and who didn’t have televisions in the bedrooms, are now caught in a battle over whether television viewing today is excessive. And since so many more shows are offered now—many of which are daunting educational experiences—parents are increasingly giving in to the television as a form of entertainment. The truth is that movie companies and television networks are multi-billion dollar industries, and it’s fair to assume that media advancements and entertainment are simply part of our cultural norm today.
The truth is, if you feel TV is running and/or RUINING your life, you have to realize that you have the ultimate power to choose. Even though television shows and entertainment venues have become less regulated and more accepted, the ultimate responsibility falls back on the viewers. No one is forcing you to sit glued to the television day after day, and no one is forcing you to keep your television on during dinner. The choice is yours, and each family must take accountability for what they feel is an acceptable amount of television viewing.
Blaming the demise of our youth, the demise of marriages, and issues like obesity on TV viewing is an absurd scapegoat. It’s like blaming McDonald’s for making people fat, or blaming Coca-Cola for diabetes, or blaming Mercedes-Benz for speeding tickets. Every individual has full responsibility to choose, and as of today, NO ONE has taken that choice away from anyone. The off button exists!
Here’s the thing: Society is constantly changing. Today, we live in a very connected, information-driven world. Every generation has faced its own global changes and advancements, and each one has been regarded as negative. This is simply how the world operates. Individuals and families must make decisions based on their own best interests, and individuals must be held self-accountable for the amount of time they spend watching the boob tube. It is easy to curse the networks and the creative minds behind shows that are so interesting, people don’t want to leave their couches to take a walk. But the real responsibility lies with the person.
If you feel that television is ruining your life, or ruining your child’s life, the best advice is to replace the habit of TV watching with something else. Go in the backyard and play, take a jog, or hop on the treadmill. Or sit down and schedule a family meeting every night so that your entire family continues to prioritize spending quality time together. The choice has always been, and always will be, YOURS.
