Violence on TV has a Negative Impact on Children
Children today are being exposed to too much violence on television. Programs shown on TV these days are full of characters trying to be heroes by resorting to violence. Children on an average watch about 3-4 hours of TV everyday and are exposed to all sorts of fighting tactics and moves. Continued exposure to such programs makes the children resort to violence in their everyday lives, for they are made to feel as if violence is the best way to resolve an issue.
Violence is considered exciting and entertaining by most people. Inspite of knowing the effect of TV programs which contain violence on children, people still want to watch them. Lesser people now want to watch morally correct but slow shows on TV. Fast paced action-packed shows containing violent scenes is the order of the day. Some people even claim that TV violence has no negative impact on the child. This is, in fact, not true as children exposed to too much TV violence are found to be more aggressive and violent in nature themselves. They sometimes even try and imitate their action heroes and act as they would have in a TV program.
Academically, as well it has a negative impact on children, as they start getting the feeling that studies are not as important to them; it would be easier to push their way around instead.
Parents can play an extremely vital role in ensuring that their children see the right programs on TV and not the ones that send out wrong messages to them. Since this is not a full proof solution to this problem as in this day it is impossible to completely shut violence out of our lives, it becomes the parents' duty to discuss with their children the virtues of non-violence and how violence is not the right solution to any problem.
Call me a little old fashioned in these matters but I ensure kids just don”t watch a lot of TV. Of the programs they watch, I make it a point to see its either cartoon network, or Animal Planet or Nat Geo. Very rarely do we sit down together to watch a movie with bloodbath and mayhem. Lets face it, we are not going to be able to control the fights and the sleaze on TV for the simple reason they sell. So only other way is to protect our children. The same applies to Internet too. If children are left unmonitored, they will soon be regular visitors at adult sites. A good thought provoking post which is needed in today world where both parents work leaving the kids with maids and aayas.
I agree with you -too much violence on TV is not the best medicine for children. In the US the cable/dish services have parental locks on them using which we can lock out shows that we deem are not advisable for children to watch. I am sure in India too you have that. Schools challenge kids to forgo watching a week of any type of TV show and parents are requested to sign off attesting the kids have not watched TV.
More than TV -now it is the video games that more dangerous - there are a lot of violent video games out there -where kids can play the characters. Having said that nothing can be done till adults collectively voice their reservations about violence.
A very good post.
Moe:)
Can”t really avoid the realities of changing times… watching violent scenes on TV does not necessarily makes a person violent… Mankind’’s history is full of blodbaths, TV came into picture only in the last few decades. having said that, I think parents need to encourage kids to take up outdoor activities, sport etc and discourage long hours in front of the idiot box.
in todays violent world,this trait has already crept into chldren so much that they use force and threats to get approval of their wants……..tv,cable,mobile are all responsible for this….so GOD SAVE US FROM VIOLENCE…BB
Rightly said. As a matter of fact, yesterdays Gulf News (one of the leading newspapers in UAE) has listed out the ill effects of TV on children. And these are scientifically proven too…
I do agree with u. It’’s definitelyt affecting children. I”ve a 12 years old cousin….and he’’s crazy abt some stupid show called power rangers. It’’s getting difficul for his parents to prevent hi fro watching it…he’’s totally drowned into it. Very nice post….kudos to u for coming up with this topic…cheers
Mini, it is really true what you have said. Now a days negative impact is being created by media especially TV. Last example I can tell is after watching Saddam Hussain’’s hanging scenes, altogether 10 children imitated the scene and died all over the world. See how cruel we are even though infotainment is the new technology but not to make a frankeinstein out of that. Well said with great objective….keep it up.
Mini, I am not so sure if violence of the type shown on cartoon network and pogo are harmful for kids. Yes, watching adult content is dangerous. What about all the soap operas that are meant for women at home during prime time. Most of them are depicted as evil or victims. I guess it is a question of choice and upbringing. Cheers for a thought provoking post.
It’’s a vicious circle. Violence exists in society and TV and movies portray it and then people who watch such stuff are more inspired to be violent… and so it goes. I think we need to be more aware of what we are doing, of how we feel and our reactions. Just to ban certain programmes doesnt seem to be the answer.
Very true, this is the case with the present day movies also!!
Well, my 1.9 yr old demands “TeeVee”….!!!! Thanks God she watches only songs (as of now), and is afraid of violence..
Good post..
Yes Mini, you have a strong point there. the problem is that though parents know that the idiot box is playing havoc with their children’’s lives, they continue to watch TV instead of disconnecting the cable. They expect the children to study while they themselves watch the tube all the time and all the serials. They themselves are the wrong role models and the blame goes to the kids and the tube. Just look around - how many parents read at home, even a news paper? How do we expect our children to read, when they have never seen an adult read?
True try to protect but…
Food for thought. TV is really a menace. Whether it is during study or food, once TV is switched on, my daughters run away leaving halfway what they are doing - Hence TV is banned for me too by my wife on such occasions. Not only violence, but anything is absorbed by kids from small screen (like 5year old saying she needs high heeled shoe!!!).
Kudos for this well-written blog, and we expect more!(thanks for your thanks to me!)
things are bad aren”t they? parents need to allot quality time to their children!
it is smtimes GORY violence on tv……..
this is so true and v as parents find it so difficult to prevent our children from watching this kind of stuff, coz even cartoon channels are full of violence…
As u rightly said, Violence has become the order of the day. Even cartoon shows arent spared of it. Parents ought to monitor and control the TV viewing pattern of their kids. Appreciate ur concern. Keep up the good work.
you are absolutly correct. Not only violence but every thing else shwon on TV has an impact on the imprressionable mind. Today our life styles are being guided by the demnda s of the market but that is detrimental to the health of the society. decadence set in so called advanced economies is ajn ample proof of that. We got to draw the limits.
hi! mini i read ur blog. but it is demand of changing test of audience. in this compition if u to servive u have to do they have want. so i dont think so.
please send your tv to me.good post
Very well said….about the idiot box….mini…kudos…;-))~~GIFT~~
very rightly said….