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Part One Personal Development
with this message?” “What kind of society would we have if everyone
agreed with this message?”
Finally, think about the amount of time you are giving to being
entertained and influenced by the mass media. Evaluate this time
commitment in light of your overall goals. Ask yourself, “Is this game
worth the time it is taking me to play it?” “Would I feel better about
myself if I were doing something else?”
Sometimes it takes willpower to turn off the TV or computer or to
walk out of a movie. People who do so are often pleasantly surprised
at how much they can accomplish toward worthwhile goals by putting
their time to other uses.
TV Violence: Its Cost to Society TV Violence: Its Cost to Society
By the age of 18, the average American youth has seen 200,000 acts of
violence and 40,000 murders portrayed on TV, according to some estimates.
Does TV violence promote violent behavior in real life? Many social scientists
think so, though others disagree. A recent national survey revealed that a
majority of Americans believe their TV entertainment is too violent and that TV
violence is harmful to society.
Television’s infl uence on children starts early. The average preschooler
watches more than 27 hours of television per week. Most children at this age
have diffi culty separating fact from fi ction. Therefore, TV violence may be very
harmful to their sense of what is normal or acceptable behavior.
To address TV violence, some concerned individuals and offi cials
advocate greater censorship of violent programs. Others fear that increased
censorship threatens fi rst amendment (“freedom of speech”) rights. One thing
is certain: Parents have the right and responsibility to limit children’s television
viewing to programs that are informative and wholesome.
Did You Know?