Does Reality TV Do More Harm Than Good For Kids?
Reality television has become very popular over the past decade with shows such as “Survivor”, “Big Brother” and “The Apprentice” attracting big audiences and making a lot of money for broadcasters worldwide. Typically reality TV involves a group of people who are not trained actors being filmed in unusual situations over a period of time. Celebrity versions of reality shows have made definition even harder, because they show the private lives of professional singers, actors, sportspeople, etc. as they cope with new situations.
Reality TV is often a hot topic as some believe it paints an unrealistic and inappropriate portrait and is therefore bad for our society and the children that make up the majority of the audience. Many have argued that the influence reality TV can have on children is negative for their behavior and can also cause significant drawbacks for how children interact with each other and adults. They call for a cut in the number of hours given over to reality programmes, or even to ban them completely.
Opponents meanwhile maintain that people should be allowed to watch what they like, and that reality programmes make good TV, as shown by consistently high viewer figures. They say that there are many positive aspects to reality TV, such as helping to educate children on the modern world and showing them how the world works today. Children will always prefer doing whatever they want, but as adults it is vital to always consider both sides of the coin.
Vocabulary:
past decade – a period of ten years that has just gone by, “Technology has changed a lot over the past decade.”
attracting big audiences – drawing or pulling in a large number of people to watch a show, game, or performance, “The championship football game is attracting big audiences this year.”
broadcasters – companies or organizations that send out programmes on television, radio, or the internet, “The broadcasters decided to show the news live.”
Typically – in a way that is usual, normal, or expected, “Typically, it rains a lot during the spring season.”
trained actors – people who have studied and practiced professional skills to perform roles in plays, TV shows, or movies, “The film used trained actors to make the story feel real.”
cope with – to deal successfully with a difficult situation, change, or problem, “She learned how to cope with the stress of her new job.”
hot topic – a subject or issue that a lot of people are actively talking about, interested in, or arguing about right now, “Climate change is a hot topic all over the world.”
paints an unrealistic and inappropriate portrait – describes or shows something in a way that is not true to life and is not suitable, proper, or polite, “The movie paints an unrealistic and inappropriate portrait of high school life.”
significant drawbacks – major disadvantages, problems, or negative points about something, “One of the significant drawbacks of living in a big city is the high cost of rent.”
interact with – to talk to, play with, or work together with other people, “Young children need to interact with other kids to build social skills.”
given over to – used, spent, or dedicated completely for a specific purpose or activity, “On Saturday mornings, the television is given over to cartoons.”
Opponents – people who disagree with an idea, plan, or law and speak out or vote against it, “Opponents of the new highway say it will destroy the local forest.”
maintain – to strongly state or believe that something is true, even when other people disagree with you, “The scientists maintain that their research is completely correct.”
consistently – happening in the same way or keeping the same high quality over a period of time, “He consistently gets top marks on his spelling tests.”
viewer figures – the total number of people who watch a specific television show, channel, or video, “The show was canceled because its viewer figures were too low.”
positive aspects – the good parts, helpful features, or advantages of a situation or thing, “One of the positive aspects of exercising is having more energy.”
vital – extremely important, necessary, or essential for success or safety, “It is vital to wear a helmet when you ride a bicycle.”
consider both sides of the coin – to look fairly at both the advantages (good points) and disadvantages (bad points) of a situation before making a choice, “Before you buy a cheap car, you must consider both sides of the coin.”