Reality TV – Shaping the Minds of Our Children and Future Ge

In FOX’s network history “American Idol” posted the highest ratings of any show besides sports according to Business Week Online (America’s Reality-TV Addiction, 1/30/2003). “Dramalities” are in and the Walton’s are out. Reality TV has quickly taken over the network broadcast with shows like Joe Millionaire, The Bachelor, Fear Factor, Temptation Island, and Are You Hot. Reality TV is fast, cheap, and totally addictive (America’s Reality-TV Addiction, Michelle Conlin, Business Week Online 1/30/2003). Networks have addicted our children to this new form of drug and have left us to determine whether or not these shows are distracting us from our reality or quality programming.

Reality TV is having an influence on our children. Our children are learning about relationships and love by watching these shows. Temptation Island tests “committed” but unmarried couples by placing them on a romantic island, separating them on arrival, and tempting them

With the networks on a constant hunt for the new reality, it seems there’s no shortage of sequels in the future. But in case there are, we’ll have Blake Mycoskie and E! Entertainment TV founder Larry Namer to thank for “Reality Central, a 24/7 channel dedicated to America’s latest obsession” (Ronald Grover, Business Week Online, 4/28/03). This 24/7 reality TV channel will target the 18-34 year old audience that advertisers want. Our children’s future is being shaped one episode at a time. Networks seem to give no consideration to the way things will be twenty years from now, when the viewers of today will be the leaders of tommorow. As children learn the fundamentals of life from MTV’s The Real World, we are forever shaping future generations. Children no long run and play; instead, they are planted in front of the TV waiting anxiously for their next lesson on life. Technology has made this obsession easily assessable. Satellite and cable providers give our children several options, in several time zones. According to Michelle Conlin, “Critics call these shows weapons of mass distraction” (America’s Reality-TV Addiction, Michelle Conlin, Business Week Online 1/30/2003). Promoting the worst aspects of human behav

Some topics in this essay:
Joe Millionaire, Week Online, TV Conclude, Randolph Duke, Reality TV, Real World, Temptation Island, , Larry Namer, Michelle Conlin, reality tv, business week, week online, business week online, america’s reality-tv, michelle conlin, reality-tv addiction, america’s reality-tv addiction, reality-tv addiction michelle, online 1/30/2003, watching reality, conlin business, addiction michelle, addiction michelle conlin, conlin business week,