Firstly television informs us about what is going on around the world. There are over twenty five news channels on cable television which broadcast local and worldwide news continuously.
Additionally it has been proven by the center for promoting growth and achievement that 75% of children who do well in school started their education with television. Television programs such as sesame street and blues clues enhance children’s intellectual development. These programs teach children their A B Cs, help them develop their social skills, and introduce them to foreign languages at a very early age. Adults can even receive education from television by tuning into the history or national geographic channels. Therefore we have the right to say that television has and still is contributing to the development of our future leaders.
Furthermore, the British poet Alfred Tennyson once said, “death is the end of life, why should life all labor be.” Mr. Tennyson is saying to us that our lives should include some entertainment and amusement. I’m sure we could think of the many long hard depressing days, when we go home and enjoy a comedy movie, our favorite talk show or watch the news. Television helps us to forget about that depressing day and to relax. Without television life would be boring to many.
In contrast television promotes violence. This does not only mean dramatic consequences like bringing a weapon to school, but how children interact with fellow students, teacher’s parents and siblings. It has been proven that the average American child sees 200,000 violent acts on television by the time their eighteen. The relationship between what we see and what we do is very complex. When we watch so much violence on television we develop violent behaviors.
Moreover television exposes our children to inappropriate activity. 95% of teenagers have been exposed to pornography on television before they reach the age of sixteen as stated by the department of child care and development. Research has shown that when children are exposed to sexual activity on television they want to explore it themselves. As a result teen pregnancy rates are rising rapidly, and the amount of teens with STDs and HIV is unbelievable.
In conclusion, television was considered a huge step forward in technology and is continuing to progress but as it still stands all good things have a downside. Undoubtedly television can be considered as both a blessing and curse.
