Shows are typically entertainment, though some are educational and informative and can influence humans, especially little ones. I remember saying that movies have sharpened my life, learning a whole lot from film, learning to speak English by watching Hollywood movies, and learning about so many histories and happenings in the world from watching movies. It has become a part of me so much so that I prefer watching movies that depict a life event than reading about it in books. I understand better by watching movies and hearing people's thoughts on something than by picking up a book to read.
But when it comes to reality shows, I find it absurd and unreasonable that people will display their private lives on a public screen. To what ends? For entertainment or for educational purposes? What is the main motive behind reality shows?
The most annoying of these shows to me used to be one in which housemates, male and female, live in the same space, living, eating, and even sleeping together. People spend their time watching this programme, even children, and I wonder why. Every time people talk about this show, the only interesting thing to me is the prizes won during and at the end of these shows, but people still go as far as looking at these individuals like some sort of celebrities.
Growing up, there used to be other reality shows that were educative, informative, entertaining, as well as rewarding, but connecting to the outside world has brought in shows that are time-wasting and show more how myopic some individuals can be. You find individuals in these reality shows doing everything to be liked by the viewers, while the viewers not only waste their time watching these things, but they also contribute their funds towards the success of these shows.
The ban of these shows is not a permanent solution to these shows since nothing can be completely banned, you can find them on other platforms that there targets are focused more on the number of visits to their platforms than what is best for the coming generations. Having these shows banned will only make people want it more; a better solution will be to inform the kids about the harmful effects of some of these reality shows, as kids it is usual for a kid to take the meanings of what they have watched on its face value without interpretation and understand that some of these things are acting and not truly reality as it is tagged, I can remember thinking the wresting entertainment was all real and no acting until I was grown enough to understand.
The elderly ones could ask the kids follow-up questions after every show they watch, like what they think about the show, and if they think these individuals acted the same on screen as in real life, ask them what they learnt from having material purposes, like are these items the way to happiness, or is it just another addition to living. Make them understand that the so-called reality shows are not a reflection of the reality of everyday life, but just acting towards television ratings for business motives. The organiser of the show to which I talked about organises these shows only because money is to be made, not because he has something tangible to teach them.
Thank you for reading. My name is@rishagamo, and this is my response to the Hive Learners weekly Featured Content Week 201 Episode 03: “REALITY TV”.
