Television, is it good or not?

I try to write an essay to develop my writing skill, hehehehe :D

 

Do you like watching TV?

 Picture source: http://ciricara.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/19/Nonton-TV.jpg

Basically, television as a means of electronic mass media is used by owner to obtain some information, entertainment, and education. However, in this era, it seems that television has lost the main function as medium which gives a lot of important and invaluable information. There are many programs in television that provide more entertainment than world’s news, such as education, culture, sport, politic, economy, etc. Broadcasting or show time of entertainment program is more often than news program.  For example, in one of national private television stations, show time of news is about 4-5 hours/day, and the other time is for broadcasting the entertainment program. It means that the ratio of entertainment program is higher than news program. Television is more often used as entertainment media than as news source.

As an entertainment medium, television provides many programs such as drama series, film, music, reality show, singing competition, comedy, music, etc. Unfortunately, there are some programs that do not educate for children. For example, some of drama series tell the teenager’s love story of student of junior high school or primary school. Then, some of drama series also tell a story of school children that live in luxury and against their parents. Even, there is a program that includes pornography in its story. Furthermore, the frequency of broadcasting of cartoon films is very rare. Consequently, children watch drama series more often than cartoon films.

Children are easily affected by television programs. According to TV today magazine, about two-thirds agree that children are influenced by things which they see on television. Children usually imitate the life style of their favorite actress and actor in drama, such as their fashion style, speaking style, and attitude. If their favorite actress and actor give bad examples, automatically children will imitate the bad styles too in their life. It’s not good for children life. Another example, in a drama, almost junior students are allowed to carry a smartphone for communication. In real life, children as viewers ask their parents to give them a smartphone too. They do not think weather their parents have money or not. They just think having smartphone will make them more contemporary. That is why television is a bad teacher for children (TV today magazine).

Another entertainment program which does not educate children well is a comedy program. Currently, most comedy programs show some scenes which do not educate, such as joking coarsely and insulting people, religion, even country.  The television station just thinks how to get much profit and a high rating in their film. But, it’s not good if those programs are watched by people, especially children.

Not only have children lost much time in watching television and reduced their study time, but also mothers have lost their time in watching television. Most televisions compete to broadcast drama series not only Indonesia productions but also overseas productions, such as from India, Turkey or Korea anytime and everyday. Some programs have become a favorite of mothers. Even, mothers snatch away a television with their children to watch their favorite drama. Mothers spend much time in watching television rather than doing home activities, such as cleaning home, cooking, and sweeping floor.

            However, currently, television also has positive sides, such as displaying of advertisement of some products. It can help many companies or factories in marketing their products. People also know some information of household products, electronic products or meal products, so they can buy them. Moreover, if there is a natural disaster, government can warn people quickly to be vigilant and cautious, in order that people can be avoided from a natural disease.

            Actually, television has functions to obtain some information, entertainment, and education for people, but currently, it seems that television is more often used as entertainment media than as news source. There are some programs that display a broadcasting which does not educate for children. Children are easily affected by television programs. However, television also becomes an important role for many companies or factories in marketing their products. It gives high profit for their companies. Because television has some advantages and disadvantages, parents should be wise in choosing programs for their children and had better accompany their children in watching television and choose the well educated program. Parents also had better manage their time in watching television.