Television is a very powerful visual medium. Practically every household has one. Unlike radio the messages and ideas that are conveyed to the viewer are further reinforced by visual images that accompany these messages and ideas. It is a fast and inexpensive medium by which to communicate with the masses. Satellite dishes and all kinds of other receiving devices enables us to not only to receive news and programs from within the country but also transmissions from abroad. In some countries viewers may have access to a hundred or more channels through their televisions.
It is, however, important to note that communication in this setting is one way and not interactive. Considering that hardly a day passes without watching TV, it indeed has the potential of having a strong effect on us. For the discerning viewer being able to differentiate between which programs have useful content and which do not, this may not be a problem. However when we are dealing with impressionable young minds it may be difficult for them to separate reality from make believe.
Responsible censorship by the authorities and careful monitoring by parents is necessary to ensure that young people are not adversely affected by watching this medium. The phrase ‘couch potato’ has been coined to describe viewers who are constantly in front of their television sets. Their senses are continuously only subjected to the images they see sometimes for the better part of the day. Violence is a common feature in most entertainment programs to the extent that films have to be rated accordingly as most scenes are too horrific for younger viewers.
Television is not all bad as there are positive aspects to it. Educational programmes nowadays incorporate all kinds of ways to entertain as well as to educate. Programmes such as ‘Bal Hanuman’ have a large following among children. Documentary films are informative and instructional. The expression that ‘too much of anything is bad’ applies here. The idea is for viewers to have a healthy balance of the different kinds of programs available.
discerning showing good judgment, especially about style and quality
impressionable someone, usually a young person, who is very easily influenced by the people around them and by what he is told, and who sometimes copies other people’s behaviour
