Television Addiction: Only a Part of a Bigger Problem

 

Watching TV has become one of today’s biggest pastimes. Almost every household across North America is suited with a television. Is it possible that the actual act of watching TV can become an addiction? The essay Television Addiction written by Marie Winn attempts to prove this point, by backing up her ideas with some convincing arguments. Many people would not associate the word “addiction” with their countless hours spent watching TV.  Winn points out that this is because people don’t relate watching TV with negative feelings, as they would with drugs or alcohol, but rather they see it as a normal activity. People are not used to hearing the words “addiction” and “television” together, but the definition of addiction is the state of being confined in a habit, which can easily be related to television viewing. She explains that watching TV is a mindless activity, saying that; “these do not provide the true nourishment that statiation requires, and thus they find they cannot stop watching”.  Her points have good merit, however this essay was written in 2002 so is it still relevant in today’s society?

I would argue that it still is relevant however that the addiction has spread to a broader category of electronics. This including television, cell phones, computers and hand held devices (i.e. tablets). While new technologies have taken up some of the average TV watcher’s viewing time, the whole idea of “television addiction” as explained by Marie Winn, has not subsided. The television experience has continued to be enhanced. Bigger and better TVs produce a higher quality picture for the viewer.  Millions of shows air every day, aimed at various audiences. Starting at a very young age, small children are participating in the act of watching TV. They become mesmerized at the sight of The Wiggles, Barney, Caillou or whatever show it may be on the big screen. However, in the teenage years they start to move on, spending a large amount of time focused on the screen of their cell phone. Many teens engage in hours of video gaming and texting and spend less time watching TV. With new technologies and advancements, such as PVR and On-Demand, people can record their television shows and watch them when they want. This means they can fast forward through commercials, be less inclined to continue watching other shows and as a result spend less time actually watching TV.  

For these reasons, television addiction still exists, but now plays a less significant role in society’s obsession with electronic devices.