Glued to Thetube

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The negative effects of television on social, medical, and physical aspects far outweigh its positive effects. Television is linked to obesity, low self-image, social deterioration, violence, and decline in education. As television viewing increases the problems stated increase also. Do not be fooled television viewing problems are nothing new. Extensive research has been done finding television to be a damaging tool in society.

Television may not be harmful in small doses, but in today's society excess rules. Perhaps the uses of television lead to its harm. The "boob tube" is commonly used as a babysitter, an outlet to spend quality time with family, an educator of what is morally right and even Sunday mass. Why would anyone chose to leave the house when the whole world rests in one little screen? The problem with this little screen is that its viewers have and increased level of inactivity that could lead to obesity.

An astounding one in three Americans are overweight (Facts and Figures 1). However, TV viewing is not entirely to blame it plays a major role. A simple look at time ratios proves this. If the average person spends over four hours a day watching TV, gets the recommended amount of sleep a

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night, and has a full time job, the person simply has no time to exercise. All it takes to forget about that exercise is to gaze at the TV for a few moments- an experiment done proves this. Scientists measured the alpha brain waves of television viewers with an EEG (electroencephalogram). The study found that people watching television had a lowered alertness level but a higher sense of pleasure. As soon as the researcher turned off the television set the pleasure dissolves immediately, but the lowered alertness continues for a period of time (Kubey 48). This leaves the viewer feeling sucked of all energy and completely unmotivated. The viewer feels drained with the same or worse mood before watching television. By comparison, after playing sports or reading a book, a person has an improved mood that stays with the viewer. People feel that they should watch TV to relax and relieve tension, but what they are really doing is masking tension with lethargy. Add advertisement and a deadly mixture is made. The viewer is sucked into the television viewing countless advertisements, which could lead to over consumption.

Advertisement is the heart of television. At age sixty-five, a TV viewer has seen two million commercials (Facts and Figures 2). Advertising is most harmful to the younger area of

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society. Research shows that children under the age of eight are unable to understand that advertisements are misleading, and therefore accept them as true (Kunkel and Wilcox 1). The APA (American Psychological Association) now recommends that advertisements targeted to children under eight should be restricted. These ads instill a need for a particular toy into the child's head. Using clever angles and various effects, the child has unrealistic view of this toy and demands it causing "I want" tantrums. "Television has spread the habit of instant reaction and stimulated the hope of instant results." -Arthur Schlesinger Jr. Children expect to get what they want when they want. The child that gets toys advertised on television is now looked upon as "cool" with their peers leading the child to depend on TV to tell them what is cool Children have lost a sense of individuality and only look to what is cool, and the TV is telling them what is socially acceptable. This would not be a problem if TV was sending positive messages. At the age of nine children have viewed numerous beer commercials during sporting events and have formed a brand familiarity (Kunkel and Wilcox 1). This causes the child to form positive attitudes towards drinking. Could this lead to teenage drinking? Most likely. Teens are also heavily involved in the damaging effects of

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advertisement. Advertisements lead to an increase in teen depression. The teen feels the need to "fit in" TV ads tell the teen what they need to be socially acceptable. Some teens may not have the money for designer clothing, leaving the teen to feel as though they simply do not belong. Even more hazardous to our youth is the image of beauty that advertising and television instills.

Today's TV shows tells American society that all the attractive girls are under a size ten. Even actors that portray "the fat girl" are not considerably overweight. Thin is in and sex sells, but with a price. There has been a massive increase in anorexia, bulimia, depression, and self-mutilation in the past twenty years, and the numbers are not going down. Since the arrival of the television in Fuji the amount of girls with eating disorders has increased dramatically (changingchannels.org). One third of girls in grades five through eight have admitted to dieting (Facts and Figures 2). Can this increase in eating disorders be linked to television? There is no scientific proof but the facts speak for themselves. Teenagers look for the feel good message in TV, but TV only causes a sense of isolation and a lowered alertness. This problem is the most overlooked and certainly causing a big

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problem. Society needs to turn away from the opinion that only skinny girls are pretty.

MTV is a major culprit in the misjudgment of sex by teens. Shows with girls in barely there outfits, constant pushing of what's "in," and the most casual sex around. An actual television show, Your Face, or Mine..., has the audience rate the appearance of a couple. The show, being brutally cruel, makes the teen feel as though they must be attractive to gain approval. MTV attempts to reach our teens with positive messages such as "Rock the Vote" (encouraging teens to vote), and an aids

prevention week (mtv.com), but neglects promoting a life without sex. Instead of promoting respect for sexuality, MTV teaches that casual sex is okay as long as a condom is used. MTV is partly at fault for low self-esteem in many teens. Young girls watch these shows and inspire to be like the entertainers promoted starting the cycle of dieting and low self-image.

It is impossible for teens to not view sex as a casual thing in this society. The most popular shows today are completely sex based. TV normalizes sex and encourages sex. Considering two thirds of television shows have casual sexual content then it is impossible for teens not to be misled about the negative effects of sex. TV is adding to teen pregnancy,