Although we see TV as the means of mass communication, it sometimes creates a sense of violence in the younger minds
Quest asked students of Mumbai schools: Is TV a cause of violence in today’s society?
There has been overwhelming evidence that suggest viewing violent and aggressive behaviour on television does indeed directly affect children. Children are great imitator’s of imaginary plays and their favorite characters. This is commonplace among the young minds. It is often seen these days that children imitate stunts, actions shown on TV screens. Although we see TV as the means of mass communication, it sometimes creates a sense of violence in the younger minds as they are unable to distinguish what is good and bad.
More murders are happening because of the ideas we see on TV. People in this age just have no self control. People watch too much TV and I believe that it is the leading cause. If television series were less violent children would grow up to be less aggressive.
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So, in today’s generation, children are glued to the TV. Rather than studying or playing, they are busy seeing television. This can have a deep impact on the children’s minds and can cause a big hazardous impact on their lives.
-Diya Deepak Kamble, VIII-F, St. Xavier’s High School, Borivali (E)
TV has bad impacts. As we all know some TV programmes are educational. They open our minds by providing information that are unlikely to be taught in schools and other places such as home schools. But there are also some programmes that are not so educational, which could affect us. Also some programmes that are not so educational could affect us physically and emotionally. According to a research, it was said that television has a high level of violence. In most of the cases, these programmes are being watched by young children and can have a negative influence on them. These can affect children’s grades, sleep and daily activities. Kids are small and their minds haven’t developed yet. So when a child watches a show or a movie, they usually copy everything that is done on the screen, not even caring whether it’s good or bad. As I said, when a child watches violence on TV, they repeat what is being done, thinking that their action will not be punished, which means they are being persuaded to believe that crimes and violence don’t cause any harm. For example, 47% of violent television programmes show the victim unharmed, especially in cartoons and television shows. Characters get blown by others and they get back up without being harmed. This makes children believe that violence doesn’t really hurt anyone. If we watch too much TV, we will begin to ignore the outer world and most of all, we will begin to have diseases such as refractive error.
Hence I believe that TV may be the cause for increase in violence in today’s society.
-Heta Shah, VIII, E, St Aloysius High School, Nallasopara
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The debate over whether or not violence on television causes aggressive behavior in children has often been discussed. Many studies have been done to determine the extent to which violent television programmes affect the behavior of children. For example, here’s the scene —Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, and a well-armed Elmer Fudd are having a stand-off in the forest. Daffy, the rat-fink, has just exposed Bugs’ latest disguise, so Bugs takes off the costume and says, “That’s right, Doc, I’m a rabbit. Would you like to shoot me now or wait until we get home?” “Shoot him now! Shoot him now!” Daffy screams. “You keep out of this,” Bugs says, adding, “He doesn’t have to shoot you now.” “He does so have to shoot me now!” says Daffy. Full of wrath, he storms up to Elmer Fudd and shrieks, “And I demand that you shoot me now!”
This is an example of the violence on television that ‘experts’ are talking about. We believe that violence on television does not lead to aggressive behavior.
-Imran Khan, IX, St. Xavier’s High School, Kashigaon
Television is the leading cause of violence in today’s society — the sentence is absolutely true. We see many children who are watching TV programmes. When we look at these children, they imitate the adults who are watching programmes or the news bulletin or movies. Because of television, children are becoming bad or doing bad things. Nowadays, entire TV programmes are on violence or crime reports. The children are getting spoiled because of the television serials. Children and adult eyes are getting damaged. At the age of 2 to 3 years, some children are getting spectacles. Thus, it says that television is the leading cause of violence in today’s society.
-Khushi Sanghvi, VII-F, St. Xavier’s High School, Borivali (E)
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Every action has a reaction. Human brain is the origin of all actions. This is influenced by surrounding facts. What we see and hear does affect, at the same time, it remains in the brain for long duration and it encourages another action. Social media, internet, entertainment do effect our daily lives. In this technology-rich, modern age, all are busy in their own schedules. Media and television are the centres of attention for a common man too. And the news channels spread both positive and negative news. This inspires us in one or other way. In this competitive age many of us need shortcuts. Modern cinemas too guide our society. People need a platform to show their talent, this creates violation, but nobody bothers about the effect. People act according to their minds in all circ*mstances.
-Kritik Gambhir, IX-H, St Joseph’s HS, New Panvel
Violence is what we build up within ourselves due to the way we’re brought up. Why do people say television is a source of violence? Television does have many violent shows and watching is believing. Today’s generation is glued to TV despite existing outdoor activities.
Balanced advantages and disadvantages lead to confusion. Violent games are bigger reasons of violence. But if we get frustrated with someone, then we just don’t go and kill that person, what we have to do is just have control over the mind. Anything that goes beyond the limits becomes harmful; the stress of anger gets its vent through games.
Actually TV is not a source of violence in our society. One more reason for violence is bad parenting. Some parents fulfill every wish of their wards immediately. That needs to be stopped.
-Ksh*tij Patil, VIII-A, St Joseph’s High School, New Panvel
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Communication is part of our life. It is a skill which can be developed and established through our relationship with another person. Communication can also be defined as a tool which is used for our professional, interpersonal growth and development of the person through internal analysis and comprehension of things around of us. Everything has a positive and a negative aspect. In the same way, television also has advantages and disadvantages. There are some cases where children believe that television shows the real world, and they want to imitate their favorite artistes, therefore they get addicted to the television. Children who observe violence on television is likely to act out like what they see, and to think, that violent acts are acceptable. For this and other reasons, the supervision of the family is really important.
-Nandini Yadav, IX A, St. Mary’s HS, Mira Road
The sounds of a fight scene rage on. Many have fallen in this particularly bloody battle. The good guys have taken their losses but struggle on to what is seemingly a victory. Their aggression is fierce and helps them. Fires consume the background; men and women lie on the ground in pain. Even if it weren’t for the bombs, missiles, bullets, etc that are flying around, hand-to-hand combat would have got the better of them. It was a classic battle scene, a true testament of blood, hell, and gore. This may sound like a heroic made-for-TV movie shown only on primetime in the hopes of recruiting a mature audience. But it is not. We were religious followers of the show, tuning in every week to see how Sergeant Slaughter, Duke and the rest of the gang would handle the likes of King Cobra and his cronies. The truth is, violence on television is on every single day. It takes its toll on society, especially children. The damage done by violence on television is detrimental and confirmed by statistics, case studies, and personal experiences.
-Pallavi Khetre, IX-B, St. Mary’s HS, Mira Road
Television is there in each and everybody’s house. We watch television when we feel bored or to entertain ourselves. We get to learn many new things from television by watching discovery channel, national geographic. On the other hand, television is destructive too. Children learn many bad things like about fights, troubling someone etc. Nowadays, rather than playing, children are watching television. As a result, children do wrong things. It should not happen. Children should not be under the influence of television. They should play. Playing is the best exercise. It refreshes children and makes them strong. But television, is destructive. Children have now started to walk in the path of violence, it should not happen. Because if it happens, our country will be nowhere.
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-Pratik Tambe, IX B, St Xavier’s high School, Kashigaon
Television brought the entertainment revolution and opened up communication specially in the field of education because through it, we can get the daily news, global information of the world, learn some values, how to prepare the dinner and a lot of things that can have negative and dangerous effects. In other words, everybody knows that everything has a positive and negative aspect, thus it is important to know these aspects to make use of positive things and reduce use of the bad things.
-Rahul Nair, IX, St Mary’s HS, Mira Road
