Did you know that over 60% of teens regularly watch reality TV? In recent years, reality television has been gaining popularity with all ages and has now grown into a multibillion-dollar industry. These shows often range from talent shows, to lives of celebs and dating shows etc. Some examples include, Dance Moms, Keeping up with the Kardashians, America’s Got Talent, and more. Although you probably don’t believe watching a reality TV show can have such a massive impact on us, studies show that reality TV shows do make long lasting psychological and behavioural effects, shocking right?
Some negative effects of watching reality TV shows include constantly comparing your own life to the lives of people in reality TV shows, encouraging aggressive behaviour, and addiction to watching reality TV shows. This can be seen from the show Keeping Up With the Kardashian’s. They live luxurious lives having everything a person could possibly want in life. After watching many episodes, it misleads us to think that wealth is the most important part in life, which isn’t, there are other values that hold more importance. This is extremely misleading to teens who still need guidance with their actions and need advice from trustable adults. The beauty standards in the show may lower our self-esteem and create body dissatisfaction among us teens, which can lead to us falling down the rabbit hole of dieting, having eating disorders etc. According to a survey conducted in the UK four in ten teenagers said that images on social media made them worry about their body image. Another example can be seen in Dance Moms, where the well-known Abby Lee Miller swears, shames the young girls’ body and constantly displays aggressive behaviour towards them. A research paper from Central Michigan University found that people were more aggressive after being exposed to a reality TV show that included verbal and physical aggression. Which is why we should always think twice before watching a show. The toxic relationship and constant arguments between the competitors in Dance Moms could possibly influence how we treat our peers/friends, we might subconsciously say something rude without even noticing. Lastly, watching reality TV shows takes up a lot of time since there are often many episodes and seasons, it can distract us from studying, hanging out with friends or doing other activities, which should be prioritised over watching reality TV shows. Since studying and getting good grades are the stepping stones to whatever we want to do in life. Staring at our screens for too long also isn’t beneficial to our eyesight. You might be wondering, “Why are we so addicted to reality TV shows?” The reason is due to the dopamine and serotonin released when we watch these action-packed shows.
On the other hand, reality TV has its own benefits such as inspiring people to pursue their own goals and passion, entertaining us when we are bored, encouraging social interaction etc. After watching an episode of America’s Got Talent, do you feel inspired to try something new? Such as singing, dancing, puppetry, sand painting etc. Watching talent shows can expose us to unique talents which we probably never knew were a thing and encourage us to try something new, which is beneficial to our mental health. Seeing ordinary people achieve remarkable achievements can inspire us to work harder to reach our ultimate goals. Moreover, reality TV shows can be a good source of entertainment especially during typhoons, or pandemics. It can also be a source of comfort during hard times in life or relaxing after a long day of work. Furthermore, watching reality TV shows can strengthen bonds between you and your friends/family as it creates a topic to discuss about, you may talk about the competitors or teams that you think will win. Shows like Survivor and Amazing Race which take place outdoors also tend to encourage the audience to go out and explore the world with them as well. After watching the show, maybe you might be inspired to join the show as a contestant, who knows?
In conclusion, reality TV shows do provide entertainment, insights into different people’s lifestyles, and more. However, the drama and competition that happens in these shows may encourage negative behaviours. It is essential that we understand the negatives and positives of watching different types of reality TV shows and decide what is best for us. Will you think twice before watching some reality TV shows now?
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