Like any other type of addiction, TV addiction is a disorder that compels a person to participate or do something that detracts time from doing something productive, healthy, or beneficial. The problem lies within the fact that a person’s mental state may be altered to some extent. In relation to television, if a person has the compulsion to watch TV even when he or she is not watching it, this could be a clear sign of TV addiction. Another sign of this type of addiction may be thinking or obsessing about watching television so that even when the individual is not watching, it detracts from a productive or beneficial lifestyle.
At-Risk Groups
Generation Y is growing up, and along with it, the habits that were instilled with children of this group and TV addiction is one of them. Teens stare complacently and emotionless into a tube that blasts commercials of sugary cereal and high carbohydrate, fatty foods. This is the message, along with violence, that has been belched across the airwaves and into the television sets across the nation. Young children are also at risk. The patterns of active living are created early in a child’s life. If the message, “an overabundance of television is ok,” is instilled at a very early age, the chances are that the child who eventually grows into an adult will develop this addiction.
Again, TV has been a part of most adults’ lives from an early age to today. Spanning a vast age range, 21-60, it is not unusual to find a large survey of adults in this range who have succumbed to this addiction.
Causes
TV watching habits of individuals are the main reasons for developing this problem. If the television is present at the infant and toddler level (0-36 months), then it is a pattern that may consistently remain with the child through adulthood. Factors that encourage this are using the television as a babysitter, always having it on, lack of proactive activities, and lack of schedule. With teenagers and adults, this issue can be tied to some mild to heavy forms of depression.
Effects
It is proven that those with TV addiction are prone to unhealthy diets and obesity, and it is highly likely that they are unhappy. In turn, the lack of motivation coupled with a poor diet creates a higher risk for diabetes. Another concern that has been recently revealed is that those who watch television for prolonged periods of time are at a greater risk for epileptic seizures.
It is obvious that no one is immune to the possibility of this issue, regardless of age, gender, and race. Television is a major aspect of the entertainment industry and will continue to be a part of the culture of current generations and the generations to come. With so many problems tied to it, the best solution is to simply either turn it off or at least reduce viewing time. In some cases, it may be necessary to seek professional help.
