What is the Social Relevance of Television Today
Contents
Introduction3
Evolution of the Role of TV3
TV as a Pseudo-companion4
Educational Potential of TV4
TV as a Medium of Mass Communication5
Negative Effects of TV5
Conclusion6
References8
Introduction
Ever since the British Broadcasting Corporation initiated the first regular Television or TV broadcasting on 2 November 1936 from London, the television has made a remarkable journey through modern history and has had a profound influence on the society all over the world, both as a source of entertainment and an instrument of change. The TV has evolved remarkably with changing technology and forms a significant aspect of people’s lives even in the age of hybrid smartphones and hand-held multi-purpose entertainment devices. In the light of this significance, this paper will explore the social relevance of the TV in today’s world.
Evolution of the Role of TV
The role of the TV has evolved dramatically with changing technology. From the days of the black and white televisions to the modern day smart televisions, the television has stood as an insuperable medium for channelizing content to inform, entertain and educate viewers. It has adapted to the changing needs and tastes of viewers and has had carved its own space in the psyche of the people. Although modern day viewers consume content differently, for example, watch videos on their tablets and stream programmes on notebooks and smartphones, the television has not grown out of fashion.
In fact, the changing viewing patterns provide valuable insight into the role of the TV. In the earlier days, the entire household would gather around their TVs during their leisure time to watch their favorite programmes aired on a few networks. It acted as a means of family bonding and togetherness. However, with the advancement of technology, people had more channels, programmes and content types to choose from. Digital direct-to-home service providers heralded a new generation of programming technologies such as Digital Video Recording (DVR) and Video on Demand (VOD) allowing more flexibility of viewing, leading to drastic changes in people’s viewing habits. There are no family gatherings around the TV anymore. Rather, we have multiple screens and devices enabling people to view programmes of their choice in their own time and devices.
TV as a Pseudo-companion
In spite of such changing viewing habits, the TV continues to play an important role in society. For example, individuals who are socially isolated can seek company in characters from their favourite TV programmes, allowing them to deflect thoughts of loneliness and social alienation. This helps them lead a healthy social lifestyle. Butler and Pickett observed that people invest in the lives of TV characters and form a sort of pseudo-relationship just the way one would devote time to a real person sharing views and feelings (Butler and Pickett 2009). Such associations allow these individuals to fulfil their desire for meaningful companionship and helps them perform their role as responsible citizens in the society. Furthermore, studies suggest that many people consider watching TV as the most pleasurable time of the day. Robinson and Martin …
