“TV will never be a serious competitor for radio because people must sit and keep their eyes glued on a screen; the average American family hasn’t time for it.” – Author Unknown, from New York Times, 1939
Life is meant to be lived, not watched. To get started living your own life rather than watching others live theirs, consider its impact on your life.
Ten Reasons to Watch Less Television
1. It is influencing your worldview. Anybody who has ever been a policeman, a lawyer, a psychiatrist, an ER doctor, or an FBI agent will attest to the truth that television does not accurately portray their life. In almost all aspects, television rarely depicts the world and life accurately. Too much television results in disillusionment about what to expect from the world around us. This can most commonly be seen in people’s expectations of love, romance, and sexuality.
2. It is influencing your spending habits. If you think you are immune (or too smart) to be influenced by the power of advertisements, you are wrong. Corporations do not spend trillions of dollars in advertising hoping to influence you. They spend trillions of dollars because they know they will influence you.
3. It is taking you away from the real people all around you. The characters on television are not real. They are thought up in an office building and given life on a piece of paper. In contrast, you are surrounded every day by real people living real lives. These real people are facing real problems. They need you. And you need them. Limit your kids’ screen time.
4. It is robbing you of precious mental energy. When your television is on, your concentration is held hostage. Your mental energy is drawn into the screen and your ability to control it is given up.
5. It is costing you money. Americans spend over $6 billion per year just paying for the electricity to power their television sets. Add in the cost of cable/satellite bills, dvd’s, movie subscriptions, peripherals … and we’re starting to talk about real money.
6. It impairs your capacity for rational thought. TV oversimplifies reality. It presents subjects in a matter of minutes and everything is nicely wrapped up at the end. This harms clear thinking by conditioning you to expect that most problems have a simple, clear solution that can be implemented in 60 minutes or less.
7. It is bad for your health. Numerous studies draw direct parallels between excessive television watching and obesity.
8. It results in less satisfaction with life. According to the Journal of Economic Psychology, TV viewers report lower life satisfaction, higher material aspirations, and more anxiety.
9. It results in less sex. Couples who keep a TV in the bedroom have sex half as often as those who don’t. And if you ask me, that should be reason enough.
10. Its opportunity cost is too great. The average American watched an average of 5.1 hours of television per day in 2009. That’s time you could have spent exercising, eating a meal together, entertaining, enjoying nature, meditating, enjoying a hobby, reading a book, or fulfilling a dream.
will says
When you have burned out all the opportunities and you’re starving and have no gas. And stuff sucks, and no one looks at your job apps or resume attempts and everyone talks trash about you in a 30 mile radius.
You don’t have to worry about tv causing anxiety or obiesity or those things, you have plenty of places that can cause many of those things aside from obiesity.
When no one is on your side or in your corner and your wondering when your gonna eat, but have tv and videogames. I think your not mentioning the real issues.
I’m worried more about, how to avoid gangs or ways to get a job or win a fight and when your alone sometimes tv is there.
David Carradine saved my life off his lessons, dozens of times. Kungfu, even if it is from a tv is better then avoiding problems.
Ellen Scott Grable says
Will, they are called books. Perhaps the Art of War or the Tao te Ching are good ones to start…or you could study Confucius and the lessons direct…just a thought to deepen your understanding of those lessons. Learning martial arts at a community center is even better. : )
Saffron says
So, you have tv and video games… but no food? Seems like someone’s priorities are a little out of wack..
Oh please...... says
This is a flawed article that simplifies the issue. The real problem isn’t how much you watch but what you watch. There are many great tv shows, movies and documentaries that can help entertain, inform and broaden the mind.
The Big Pill says
It’s not “flawed.” You do offer a different perspective that presents a middle ground of some sort — limiting viewing to the kind of programming a person values. While I am not “ready,” to drop all TV viewing, this article reminds me that I can be more mindful of how I use my time.
lecy thawee says
the reasons are so true… be like the people in the pacific there is so much of socializing and getting together….. well can’t say much its a free world anyone gets to do their own thing…eh!!
Sheena says
I LOVE this article. It’s exactly everything my husband and I have been saying for years! We have two little kids, and have taken some criticism about how they won’t know what “everyone else” is talking about. Our hope is that they will be able to deal with this in productive ways because they know how to think and solve problems, not just tune them out in front of a screen. I feel like I could go on and on about this, but (probably fortunately for anyone reading this) bed calls – I’ve been living all day and I am appropriately wiped! =) Thank you, thank you, thank you for this article, the great quote at the top, and this whole website.
mike says
Sheena dont doubt yourself. Five years ago we cancelled all our TV subscriptions due to circumstance, the result – my two girls are voracious readers, we eat dinner as a family at the table every night, my wife and I have proper conversations. No one misses the tv. We have movie nights as treats its awesome
kris says
That sounds terrific.
Leslie A says
Amen! This post goes perfectly with my post over at growing4life.net –10 things to do (instead of watch TV). I posted your post to my Growing4Life Facebook page, since it goes with it so perfectly. Thank for a great post! :)
Ellen Scott Grable says
Excellent points! I haven’t owned a television since 2004 and I still watch too many movies (even if they are documentaires) on my computer! Real life is to be lived. Polo keeps me far too busy to watch someone else playing sports and making new friends…I am making friends, playing and bonding with the horses and people all around me. it is hard to snack when you are out living and moving about. I gave up a “networking” group I belonged to because when they made small talk it was about television shows and characters. I chose to spend more time doing what I love and I have met amazing people who share my passion!
Keep up the good fight! Simple living is truly living.
James says
yeah
will says
ok we should stop a
Bill says
I truely understand what T.V. can do to a person, couple and family. How about “Candy Crush” or what ever its called. It has to be as bad or worse the any drug out there.
lin says
I think anything can be used as an addiction to an abusive level. its like letting your kids watch tv in the car. seriously> every time they sit down we shove a device in their face. at least it cant kill your body……….., just your relationships! LOL.
Jen says
I figure there are appropriate uses for tv, even in a car. My sister has a tv in the van, but my nieces only get to use it for road trips. Last I went on a trip with them it was a 10 hour drive with a 10, 7 and 5 year old. While many parts of the drive were spent looking out the windows, lets face it, there’s large sections of highway with nothing of notable interest. So for a trip to NYC, the movie playlist included The Smurfs, Home Alone 2, etc.
alysha says
No! At 7 my family took a long trip and we talked, sang, played games. I read the map. Not jokingly. I read the map and could tell you where we were at all times. You’d be shocked how many young teens can’t do that and soon those kids will be driving. If their eyes are glued to the screen, how will they know anything about their surroundings?
Julie says
I agree with Alysha. I have four children, ages 25, 22, 6, and 5. I have always traveled with my children without a TV in the car. Books, games, maps, etc. are all they need to keep them occupied. If you train them to shut the world out, that’s what they’ll do. Then what will the next generation be like?
dantriel williams says
suck my dick first ^
Vincent says
I am 33 years old, when I was 16 I left home and I have never owned a TV. I don’t watch it, or miss it. But I don’t think this article will get anyone to stop watching TV, they love their TV. And I guess that’s OK. Sometimes we live however we want.
carl says
Good take. Live and let live.
shweta says
watching TV makes us to wear glasses and hate those !
reigy says
It’s only bad if it’s all you do. So, if you only watch , Television but you’re also not working or taking care of school work , not getting some exercise, getting fresh air, etc., it could be bad for you.
sharon says
If you live a balanced life, it’s not a problem.
aron says
TRY NOT TO WEAR WATCH TV…………………………
shweta says
watching TV makes us to wear glasses and hate those ! TRY NOT WATCH TV ………………………………………
Robert Newbery says
Great food for thought, I think it comes down to limiting the amount of TV one watches and being selective in what one watches…as for myself I Love PBS for everything it has to offer, even its news is not sensationalized like regular TV…just the facts from a global perspective. I refuse to watch most of the “junk” that is out there. Would rather read. I also limit myself to only a little news daily. Enough to be informed then off it goes. News is presented in a way that it is mostly distressing and so less is better, especially in the morning as it prefaces the day. Love this website!!!! Changes lives…
carl says
Nice.
Ant says
its because people get addicted to tv that is the problem its not because tv is bad it just when you are doing all these have you ever missed fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!! look up 6 reasons why tv is good for you and you will know why
kamala says
Good
Good
Anna says
5 hours a day?? How on earth do people have time for that?? I haven’t owned a TV for the past 4 years, and never miss it – even when I did have a TV I didn’t have cable/satellite. And now I don’t even have Netflix.
But I do have time to exercise, read books, and make all my food from scratch. Coincidence? :)
Poop says
no, just no.
marine says
Hi this is my first time and you got some good information and is very insteresting
thanks marine
carl says
Also you have time to be self absorbed.
Jan says
Ha ha – that’s what I was thinking. :)
Anna says
Me, too! We got rid of our TV a few months ago after not having cable for a year. We do still have Netflix but barely watch it. I find that I feel SO much better when I’m not under the influence of television. I don’t want material things that I don’t need and I have time to exercise, read good books and spend time with family. I don’t think I’ll ever own a TV again.
James says
yes i say we shoul watch less fu
Ant says
its because people get addicted to tv that is the problem its not because tv is bad it just when you are doing all these have you ever missed fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!! look up 6 reasons why tv is good for you and you will know why
Ant says
Anna you were proboblly addiccted to tv as a kid until the day your parents kicked you out and you couldnt afford a tv
Adam says
Anna’s points are valid and true for her, they don’t have to be true for you. Ant, go and voice your thinly veiled financial and personal insecurities somewhere else.
Andrew says
Why reply? Why answer to his antics?
#ssAyracSoYhtiW
Alice says
I think this is rather hash thing to say ant should be allowed to speak her mind and receive only gentle comments back but what you put was rude and cruel.
Sylvia says
Thats really something i am struggling with at this time.
I try but end up on watching youtube videos for so many hours.
Kt says
Okay first off, you have very valid points Anna. And secondly, what you said was very immature and rude. You honestly sounded like a five year old.
Kt says
Okay first off, you have very interesting points Anna. And secondly, what you said was very immature and rude. You honestly sounded like a five year old.
Kt says
Ant’