The Impact of Television on American Society Essay

The Impact of Television on American Society What role does television play in society? For decades we have seen many parts of our world rapidly going through changes in technology. Today’s society has been transformed by means of communication and the available information through mass media. Most Americans rely on television for news, sports, and entertainment. Television is just one of the many examples of how technology has changed our lives. Since the invention of the television in the early 1900’s, it has played a very important role in our lives. Having a television set in the home has become very essential in today’s society. We depend on it to entertain us with its sitcoms and to inform us about current world issues. The†¦show more content†¦Another way television misleads its viewers is by the way that they present candidates for an election of politicians. They spend all their time and money trying to put together a commercial that only puts down the other candidate. How are voters supposed to know whom to vote for if all they are presented with is negative ideas about each candidate? Television also tries to persuade us to vote for a certain proposition. Voters are also lured into voting for or against a proposition by listening to the music being played in the background of the commercial. An example of this type of situation may be the campaign on proposition 5 dealing with the Indian Casinos. They play sad, and convincing, music in the background of their commercial so the viewers can soften their hearts and vote â€Å"yes† on their proposition. Television is powerful enough to make our shopping easier. Actually, it is making us lazier. TV stations such as the Home Shopping Network make shopping as easy as dialing some numbers on a touch tone phone. People are also convinced to buy a certain product because a celebrity is presenting it. For example: if supermodel Cindy Crawford presents make-up, ladies will buy it and wear it because they believe th at it will make them look like her. As a television viewer myself, I believe that television has us all trapped in a world where we believe everything that is being said. AsShow MoreRelatedThe Impact Of Television On Society1614 Words   |  7 PagesSince the 1950s, television has had a tremendous impact on American society. We have come to depend on it for many reasons including entertainment, learning, and even background noise. Television has many positive benefits to offer as well as a lot of negative implications. Americans have also witnessed historical events on national television that has affected them in one way or another. In many ways, television shapes American values and also reflects these values as well. 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