Television addiction

Everyone is familiar with the luminosity of a television and the silence that it breaks, the comfort of it. When people think of television they usually wouldn’t associate it with addiction. Television has been a popular past time for the United States since the 50’s, but it can hold some rather serious consequences. “Watching television has many of the marks of a dependency like alcoholism or other addictions” (Goleman); it alters the mind state of anyone who watches. Copious amounts of television are addictive and harmful to one’s health due to the dependency it puts upon people, the emotional relief it brings, and because of the many adverse heath effects it can cause.

Television has been relieving the stress and concerns of real life for decades. Many people turn to television for comfort and alleviation at the end of the day. Overtime, this dependency for relief becomes an addiction. “Compulsive viewers turn to television for solace when they feel distressed, rather than only watching favorite programs for pleasure” (Goleman). Television can consume and destroy the lives anyone who becomes entangled by its warm consolation; nevertheless television can also be rather advantageous to one’s health. It promotes learning, assists in constructing critical-thinking skills, and helps form social connections with friends and family members. This is especially true in children, who have just started the educational process. According to Katharine Fitzgerald from the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington’s School of Medicine, a new study demonstrates that “television programs are successful in broadening young children's knowledge and increasing their imaginations.” It is true that numerous television programs displa...

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...it watches television. “You burn more calories sleeping”, says Rachael Combe from Elle’s Health and Fitness division. Even sleeping is healthier than watching television. This really shows how unnatural and unhealthy watching television really is.

Television can be a great tool, but controlling screen time is essential to a healthy life style. Without control, television can be devastating to society’s overall health. Its addictive properties are just like those of alcohol and can cause just as many damaging effects. There are so many other ways to deal with stress and obtain relief, such as talking to friends and family about issues, picking up a hobby, or even starting a new sport. Don’t be a statistic. Get up, grab that soccer ball, and go play with some friends. Overtime, television addiction can be stopped with help from a more caring and active generation.