Media Affects On America

4 Pages 904 Words

The only activities Americans spend more time doing than watching television are working and sleeping. With this in mind, it is understood that television plays a major role in majority of most Americans. Society reflects what is shown on television in a multitude of various areas. Three of the major areas in which television affects America and our children are in behavior, moral values, and social standards.
At least one television is found in every American home. The amount of television being viewed by children has risen. Children now spend about 25 hours a week watching television as compared to 10 years ago. By the time the average child leaves elementary school, he or she will have witnessed at least 8,000 murders and more than 10,000 acts of violence on television.
The average parent in America is a working parent. They become accustomed to coming home from work to see their child glued to the television not willing to move for anything. What these parents do not realize is that many problems may occur from their children watching excessive amounts of television. Problems such as loss of creativity, increased amounts of laziness, and sudden violent attitudes and actions may result.
Creativity is an important trait for a young child to have. When growing up it helps a child’s mind to develop, as they fantasize images of what they have experienced or are experiencing. When watching television a child is entertained but also not thinking. The television hands information to them on a silver-platter. Others see television as an unhealthy intrusion into a child’s learning process. They see television as an object that is taking away from the child’s ability to concentrate and learn by putting easy ideas and pictures into their heads.
Television violence can destroy a young child’s mind. The effects of this violence can be long lasting, or continuous. For some, television is an attack on a child’s mind; it is an...