As has happened with all human inventions, there are advantageous and disadvantageous ways of using this medium. Generally there are three kinds of television programs: informative, entertaining and educational. Educational programs in my opinion were always positive. Informative and entertaining programs have many good values, but on the other hand they contain negative values too.
Whatever opinion on television is presented, we can talk about the big amount of time, which is spent on average on watching it. This habit has become a reason for: a passive way of spending free time, which often creates obesity, because, during sitting and watching people eat to much (couch potatoes), inability of the family to communicate and also with the other people, a decrease in reading books, newspapers, and participation in plays, concerts and etc.
There are other serious consequences for example: the illusion of bright general knowledge, which is in fact very poor. Television gives a lot of short information about everything, without deep analyses, examples, and polemics. Short information and quick changes from good to tragic without possibility to react properly create a personality unable to act and feel. However, quick and easy access to information from all over the world is undoubtedly an advantage; so is the possibility of seeing the world without travelling.
The popularity of television gives a chance to manipulate peoples’ attitudes and decisions; to keep political control over society: especially during election campaigns and to create acceptable images of the politicians.
The profits from advertisements are the base of existing commercial channels.
However, watching their programs is really difficult, because of the amount of advertisements in each of them. Entertaining programs are interrupted by advertisements and information to force viewers to notice them. That is why there are lots of serial stories and their main role is to keep people engaged in watching TV. To attract more viewers the creators are constantly balancing on the boundary, of what is acceptable and what is not. In consequence, it brings other problems such as: promoting aggression, violence, sex, bad language etc., which mainly affect children and youth.
In conclusion, I think people should be aware of all the advantages and disadvantages of television, and be careful in using it. Society should be using other sources of information and entertainment, which is more expensive but can give an independent and more active style of life.
