Television Effect On Society

Television like other inventions affected our society and our daily habits since the day it was invented till now, it affected people from all ages and cultures from different nations.  It was invented before the Second World War and was too expensive, it stopped production because of the war, but after 1946 it came to production again and number of sets rose dramatically by years. (Linder, 1998). This invention broadcasts to millions of people around the globe, it affected the way we live our lives, the way we speak and talk to people, the way we spend our time. It can be thought of as it united family and friends as they sit and watch television all together, which builds a common interest for a group of people, however people talk less when they watch TV’s.

Linder said that huge number of Americans left newspaper for televisions, and their source of national and international news became the nightly news. The advantage of the television being visual led to the fact that who controls the television network might control the audience, as the visuals, words and tone of the announcer influence the understanding and analysis of the story. As well, TV commercials have a great impact on people; they get motivated to shop for certain goods. In addition to that, it affected children, lots of parents leave their kids in front of TV’s even before that start talking, it resembles way of entertainment, for youngers and kinds get addicted to watching TV’s, they receive information without effort, this might become harmful if there is no guidance for them while they are watching, as they might model real life based on what they watch.

Television benefited lots of people, different industries and sports as well it brought losses to some other. TV offers easier way to learn, as well exposure of different cultures, it makes it easier to understand and memorize that reading books, especially for Youngers, as well it offers entertainment to people. Sport business in general, like football benefited a lot from the television, the fact that we can watch a football match-taking place in a different continent increased number of audiences, companies that can advertise over television benefited a lot because number of sales increased for them. Movie making industry benefited a lot from television, as people can watch movies at home with friends instead of going the cinemas, it increased their profit. Governments can benefit from the use of this medium in broadcasting specific news or preventing others, with specific point of view to influence its people.

Television came with dangers and bad effect on people as it came with benefits; people become passive think and talk less when they watch it, people tend to buy things we don’t need, it decreased the time spent for reading and other activities. It gives not real picture about the society, as movies may show life in easier than real life and more or less criminal than it really is.

References:

Coffin, T. (1955) ‘Television’s Impact on Society’, [Online], Available from: http://psycnet.apa.org.ezproxy.liv.ac.uk/journals/amp/10/10/630.pdf (Accessed 19 March 2011)

Davies, D. (1997) ‘The Press and Television, 1948-1960‘, [Online], Available from: http://ocean.otr.usm.edu/~w304644/ch5.html (Accessed 19 March 2011)

Scannell, P. (2009), ‘The Dialectic of Time and Television’,

The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, DOI: 10.1177/000271620933915 [Online], Available from:

http://ann.sagepub.com.ezproxy.liv.ac.uk/content/625/1/219.full.pdf (Accessed 19 March 2011)

Linder, D. (1998), ‘The Message of Television’, [Online], Available from: http://edweb.sdsu.edu/Courses/EDTEC653/EDTEC653s98/TVMSG.htm (Accessed 19 March 2011)