The Impact of Television From the beginning, there have been mixed reactions to television and it was EB White who wrote "I believe that television will be the text of the modern world, and in this new opportunity to see beyond the field of our vision, we will discover either a new and unbearable disturbance of the general peace or a saving splendor in the sky. We will stand or fall in front of the television, of this I am sure , would be beneficial or harmful to society. Since the first television station was authorized in 1941, our lives have been affected by the presence of television. However, this effect is not negative as it is used as a simple means of entertainment to a source of widely used and invaluable information. It is also an excellent aid in preparing children for school and assisting in the education of children after they have started school. Every day millions of people watch television as a form of escape from the pressures and stresses of everyday life. Television, for them, is meant to entertain them for half an hour or an hour at a time. This is the purpose of sitcoms, such as the popular NBC-produced shows Friends and Fraiser, each of which appeals to different audiences, but both are comedy-based. for entertainment purposes. Humor is not the only approach used in television entertainment. Shows, like NYPD Blue, use thick plots and heavy drama to draw the viewer in. Entertaining society through these media has become a multi-billion dollar industry. Major films like Jurassic Park, which grossed $390 million, bring millions of people to movie theaters, which are basically large televisions, for the spiritual purpose of entertainment. Movies are not just limited to movie theaters as they are available on videocassette and even played in millions of homes every day. The privilege of television as entertainment should be used, but not abused. For example, watching six hours of television every night, stopping only to eat and sleep does not promote an active lifestyle, however, on the other end of the spectrum, never watching television does not expose a person to a wide range of entertainment and information. able to show different roles in society and therefore people are able to improve u...... middle of paper ...... more educational and informative programs for children. Society has been influenced and will continue to be influenced, not only by television, but by the media in general. Television is a constant form of entertainment and an excellent source of information valued by millions of people. The educational content of children's television is beneficial to both preschoolers and students. However, television has been responsible for many defects in society because it is easy to contribute to violence and lack of social initiative. Television is such a small part of a much bigger picture and its benefits far outweigh its flaws. The idea of ​​television as an information and educational medium will have to be embraced in the future to reap its full benefits. Even the thought of a society without television is incomprehensible to many. Bibliography "Background: The Impact of Television on Children's Education." http://haas.berkely.edu/~atham/ background.html (October 21, 1996) Murray, John P. "Children and Television Violence." Kansas Journal of Law &Public Policy, 4, No. 3 (1995), 7-14 "Top 50 films, 1993." The World Almanac and Book of Facts. 1995