What is Addiction to Television, the Issues and How To Quit

Addiction to television is a problem worsening with time, probably exacerbated by pandemic isolation, as people have more time to watch TV and fewer chances to get out of the house.

By David Stone

Assorted Ideas, Large & Small

Addiction to Television and Its Hazards

Many dangers and risks are associated with addiction to television. For example, television addiction can lead to obesity because people idle and snack while watching, some for hours on end. It can also lead to sleep deprivation since watching often happens in the late evening, leaving exhausted people too nerve-jangled for sleep.

Making matters worse, mainstream media virtually promotes binge-watching as a way of passing hour after hour of streaming programs. But is that link-baiting healthy? Or does it promote bad habits yielding few real benefits? It’s unlikely that headline writers care as long as enough readers click to please advertisers.

Depression is another risk, as television watching often occurs at night, leading to feelings of loneliness and isolation. It also leads to poor social skills, since television watching encourages anti-social behavior with minimal human contact.

Another less recognized danger of television addiction is television rage. When people have their television viewing habits interrupted by others, they become angry and take out this anger on those around them. This can lead to abuse or even violence towards family members or peers.

Television addiction also promotes anti-social behavior, because television encourages isolation rather than group interaction. Watching television can also result in lost productivity, as people spend more time in front of the television than working.

Identifying the Problem: How much television do people really watch?

The average American watches 5 hours of television a day, which is around 35 hours a week. This number is even higher for teenagers, who watch an average of 9 hours of television a day (or 63 hours a week).

Numbers vary among different resources, but A.C. Nielsen has long been recognized as the best reporter of all things TV in America. Here’s what they say: Television and Health

How Television Addiction Affects the Brain

When people are addicted to television, they are usually in a state of continuous partial attention. This means that they are not really paying attention to anything in particular, but their minds are just going from one thing to the next. This can be very dangerous because it leads to a lack of focus and can cause people to miss important information.

Television addiction also reduces brain activity, which can lead to problems with learning, memory, and creativity. And be especially wary with kids. TV violence can stimulate anger in children who watch excessively.

• ‘Sex addiction’ isn’t a justification for killing, or really an addiction – it reflects a person’s own moral misgivings about sex
• The Homeless Crisis in America. Some Possible Solutions
• RIOC, Asleep at the Wheel, Welcomes Monday Morning Parking Chaos
• 46,218 news transcripts show ideologically extreme politicians get more airtime
• NYC Things To Do Now, With or Without Kids: Little Island

How Television Addiction Affects the Body

Television addiction can lead to several physical health problems, including obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. It can also lead to sleep deprivation, which can cause several other health problems.

It also affects social skills, because people who watch a lot of television tend to develop more antisocial or narcissistic personalities.

How to Stop Addiction to Television

Fortunately, television addiction is not a lifelong problem. There are ways to break the addiction and reclaim your life. The following are some tips:

• Set rules for television watching and enforce them. For example, setting a limit on the number of hours that can be watched in a day or week.
• Replace television watching with other activities, such as reading, going for walks, playing sports, or interacting with friends and family.
• Find out what is causing the addiction and try to address that issue. For example, if loneliness is the cause, find ways to connect with others.
• Seek professional help if necessary. Many therapists specialize in television addiction.

Wrap up

In conclusion, television addiction is a problem that is worsening with time. It can lead to obesity, depression, poor social skills, television rage, and lost productivity. Television should be used in moderation to avoid these dangers.

More from Assorted Ideas, Large & Small

• 
  The New RIOC Passion for Self-Promotion Embarrasses Gretchen RobinsonFebruary 3, 2023
  What Chief Counsel Gretchen Robinson did may not embarrass her, but it should. Fifth in a series of what look like Jobs Wanted ads, Robinson snags space on a website set up for… wait for
• 
  Are New York City Streets Getting Filthier? The Numbers Aren’t So ClearFebruary 3, 2023
  Mayor Eric Adams’ war on trash and rats has led him to increase funding for more litter-basket pickup and lot-cleanup programs — but his office is at odds with New York’s Strongest about how they
• 
  Motorgate Rate Increases, As Foolish As They Are UncaringFebruary 3, 2023
  Sometimes, you run out of words. Describing RIOC’s heartless and thick-headed Motorgate rate increases backs us against the wall in frustration. Already grossly incompetent, management under Governor Kathy Hochul and CEO Seldom Seen Shelton J.
• 
  How To Make Your Small Business MemorableFebruary 3, 2023
  Become a familiar business in your community. Discover how to make your small business memorable and make a lasting impression on consumers.
• 
  Common Testing Doctors Use To Find CancerFebruary 3, 2023
  If your doctor’s worried that you have cancer, there are specific tests they’ll order. These are a few of the common tests doctors use to find cancer.

davidstone1313

See author's posts