Ever since its inception in the 1920s, and its surge in popularity after World War II, television has played a vital role in the distribution of information and media around the world. While it certainly has its place in our society and homes, there has been an ongoing debate as to whether the television brings more benefits than harm, especially to younger audiences.
Nowadays, with so many advancements in technology, television has become more integral in our society’s media than ever before. It’s no longer just a source of entertainment, but also a medium and tool for marketing, learning, and even instruments for government agendas.
This brings us to the question, in this day and age where information is readily available everywhere, are there still any benefits of watching television?
In this article, we’ll be going over the different pros and cons that television brings in the household. In particular, its impact on the development of our children. To be as objective as possible, we’ll be highlighting both the pros and cons of watching television.
Benefits of watching television
So what are some of the benefits that we can gain from television? Perhaps the most fundamental benefit of watching television is that we’re able to stay up to date with the latest current events happening in the world.
This has proven especially vital in 2020 with the widespread COVID-19 pandemic. Television has become one of the main platforms to keep people informed and up to date with the latest status of the viral pandemic, as well as educate the public on the best practices to prevent the further spread of the virus.
Other beneficial aspects of television are its inherent entertainment value. Television provides a source of unlimited entertainment. Whether that’s sporting events, movies, documentaries, music, or anything in between. Some studies have even shown that television provides a type of psychological social surrogacy, where television makes one feel less lonely by filling in the empty space for those who live on their own.
Cons of television
As with most media consumption, it is best to curate and moderate the content that we choose to digest and expose to our children. Longitudinal studies in psychology indicate that children have a natural tendency to imitate what they see, influencing their understanding of the world, as well as their perspective.
As we mentioned above, television allows the widespread distribution of information to the public. This same benefit also happens to be one of its downfalls. Violence and illicit content are commonly portrayed in television, which can be detrimental for underage audiences.
To summarize, there is no denying the inherent value in information and educational content that is available on television. And while it is true that television can also be detrimental, it can also be mitigated through supervision and moderation by parents and caregivers.
What are your thoughts on the impact and benefits of television?
We hope this article has been insightful. For more insights and tips regarding academic tips, child development, and more, stay tuned to our articles at IPEKA Christian School.
