Reality TV

Reality TV is a genre of television that seems to be taking over the airways and peoples minds. Every season there is some new reality show that is described as “the must see of the season.” The MTV Channel seems so focus exclusively on this genre. This was the network to launch the idea of Reality TV. As far back as I can remember they were airing The Real World and Road Rules. Two shows where they placed dramatic and horny twenty-year-olds in the same house or RV and let them at it. Nowadays, their shows consist of My Super Sweet Sixteen, The Hills, Laguna Beach, Shot of Love with Tila Tequila, Rock of Love with Bret Michaels, and Flavor of Love with Flava Flav, just to name a few. They continue to push the boundaries of the genre now that other networks have followed their lead. The New York Times has an article that talks about many different types of the reality shows on television. All of these show epitomize what is wrong with Reality TV. I researched what Millennials were earlier. They are one of the largest generations with 80 million people between the ages of 28 and 13. These shows target this generation and it does have an influence on them.
Although there is no actual proof or studies of the effects of Reality TV on young viewers, reality shows are nothing but “reality”. They completely distort what the ideas and morals of real life should be. There are a lot of people our there that are not media literate. They do not realize what is seen on TV should be taken with a grain of salt. For example, WWF wrestling is not Reality TV, but many young adults are greatly influenced by what they are watching. (Watch Youtube video) This video shows what kinds of things people are willing to do for entertainment. They take it too far and cause serious injury. If people are willing to throw out rationality when it comes to physical pain because of what they see on TV (even though their conscious tells them it’s wrong), what’s stopping them from throwing out their morals and ethics as well. Wouldn’t that be easier? And less painful? Why not take advantage of people and stab them in the back like they do in The Hills and Laguna Beach? That’s what it takes to be popular, right? Why not be as promiscuous as possible like they do in Flavor of Love, Shot of Love, and Rock of Love? That’s what I should do to find love, isn’t it?
One can conclude that these shows will have an influence on young generations. It is visible without scientific studies of the effects of Reality TV on viewers. Watch the video again and try and explain how WWF wrestling was NOT an influence. The same will soon be said for the rest of the “reality” TV.