Honey Boo Boo: The Dark Side of Reality TV

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American actress, Lisa Bonet, once said, “What saddens me is the corruption of youth and beauty, and the loss of soul, which is only replaced by money.” Today’s television shows are decaying into more polluted and inappropriate ideas, which are then presented worldwide. This is a negative influence on not only young people, but also society as a whole. How can it be expected of youth today to be appropriate role models to future generations with such corrupt influences? With the filth, dishonesty, and abuse of freedom of speech, reality television ultimately does more harm on today’s society than good.
“’Jersey Shore’ Season 5 averaged 5.8 million viewers, including one million ages 12-17” (McKay). These one million teenagers who are viewing “Jersey Shore” and other reality television shows fill their minds with the idea that they cannot have a nice time without the consumption of alcohol (McKay). Sexual immorality, violence, and intoxication consume the cast of this reality television show, and unfortunately, most of society. Not only that, but also the general lifestyle of the girls is to compete with each other through materialistic possessions such as clothes, money, or even men (McKay). Another reality show that is affecting viewers, women especially, is “Are You Hot,” in which competitors submit to a panel of judges for appearance rating (Becker). Shows such as this reduce self-confidence in women, making them believe they should be taller, skinnier, tanner, or really anything other than what they already have. “’[The show] emphasizes that how you look is more important than who you are or what you do. It really narrows the worth of the individual,’ Flanery says” (Becker). The more important things about an individual are q...

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...hologytoday.com, 1 March 2003. Web. 24 January 2014.
Bentley, Paul. “Celebrity Culture ‘Is Making Educated Women Dim-witted.’” Dailymail.com, 15 June 2011. Web. 24 January 2014.
Bonet, Lisa. Izquotes.com, Web. 24 January 2014.
Camacho, Melissa. “What Parents Need to Know.” Commonsensemedia.org, 2014. Web. 5 February 2014.
“First Amendment and the Meaning of ‘Free Speech.’” Inclusion.msu.edu, Web. 5 February 2014.
Fraser, Christian. “Italian TV Bins Reality Shows.” News.bbc.com, 3 April 2007. Web. 24 January 2014.
McKay, Hollie. “Experts: Reality Shows Featuring Fighting Females Harmful to the Young Girls Who Watch Them.” Foxnews.com, 2014. Web. 24 January 2014.
Tauber, Michelle. “Much Ado About BOO BOO.” People, Academic Search Premeire. Web. 10 September 2012. Web. 5 February 2014.
“What Parents Need to Know.” Commonsensemedia.org, 2014. Web. 5 February 2014.

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