I REMEMBER an interesting study made
some years ago in an
American paper about the effects of media on children.
Distilled from some 173 researches done over a period of
the past 30 years, the report said there’s strong and disturbing
correlation between children spending a lot of time with TV, video
games, Internet, etc. and a variety of negative health effects.
“In a clear majority of those studies, more time with
television, films, video games, magazines, music and the Internet was
linked to rises in childhood obesity, tobacco use and sexual
behavior,” it said.
“A majority also showed strong correlations—what the
researchers deemed statistically significant associations—with drug
and alcohol use and low academic achievement,” it continued.
The report is expectedly done in a language considered as
politically correct at the moment. When it said that children’s
overexposure to media can affect their brain development, I think they
mean it can deform their consciences. When it said such exposure leads
children to risky sexual behavior, I think they mean immoral, that is,
sinful sexual practices. But, ok, I understand.
Those behind the study vowed to continue monitoring and
studying the developments in this area of concern. One of them was
surprised to find an absence of research into the impact of new
technologies.
He said, “Media has evolved at a dizzying pace, but
there’s almost no research about Facebook, MySpace, cellphones, etc.”
It’s good that such concern is now being raised. Our challenge is how
to identify dangerous trends in things that offer many practical
advantages. And of course, what to do with it.
Pertinent to this observation, I have seen adults, not
just children, badly affected by these new gadgets. They show signs of
obsession and addiction, as they forget even to eat, they lose sleep
and neglect other duties to their families, not to mention the
spiritual ones, like prayer.
In short, many have become couch potatoes, glued to their
seats for hours, completely dominated by what’s before them on the
screen, disoriented and practically dead to the outside world and even
their immediate surrounding. They live virtual lives.
I myself am having difficulties in this area. I am now
tempted to declare for myself some email bankruptcy, since I receive
so many of them everyday, mostly spams, that just to erase them not
only wastes my time, but also raises my blood pressure.
It’s about time that we take serious steps to know more
about this trend and to do something, even something drastic, about
it. Our future is at stake. Our danger is not only from wars and
terrorism. It can come right from our own homes. These technologies
are notoriously treacherous.
This is, of course, a responsibility of everyone. Parents
have the primary and most direct role to play. Then the teachers and
other elders. But the government and also the media should do their
part.
And given the latter’s capabilities and resources, they
should do something massive and abiding to support the parents’
delicate duties in this regard. They cannot anymore be naïve and play
blind. They have to boldly face the issue.
Those behind the study are precisely recommending this.
And I’m very happy about that proposal. Alas, it seems the time has
arrived for this concern to be taken seriously, and not anymore
treated as an idea so wild it has to be chased away. I hope I’m not
wrong.
On many occasions, I get deeply but helplessly bothered by
what I see especially on noontime TV shows that are greedily lapped up
by the people, especially the young ones and those who are mostly
idle.
There’s so much inanity and frivolity, so much twisted
values being flaunted with almost total impunity. People are given a
daily diet of toxic entertainment. Sooner or later, the effects will
show. We are now building up a potential moral and social explosion.
We need to liberate ourselves from such foolishness,
hiding behind the excuse that people just want to have fun and
amusement. The idea is not to kill fun, but to make it fit for human
consumption.
Though things vary from person to person, family to
family, group to group, concrete plans of actions have to be made to
guide everyone for a prudent use of the new media technologies.
Schools should take active part in imparting the proper
guideline on use of these new technologies. We have to find ways of
how to effectively monitor the effects of these technologies on the
people, especially the young.
American paper about the effects of media on children.
Distilled from some 173 researches done over a period of
the past 30 years, the report said there’s strong and disturbing
correlation between children spending a lot of time with TV, video
games, Internet, etc. and a variety of negative health effects.
“In a clear majority of those studies, more time with
television, films, video games, magazines, music and the Internet was
linked to rises in childhood obesity, tobacco use and sexual
behavior,” it said.
“A majority also showed strong correlations—what the
researchers deemed statistically significant associations—with drug
and alcohol use and low academic achievement,” it continued.
The report is expectedly done in a language considered as
politically correct at the moment. When it said that children’s
overexposure to media can affect their brain development, I think they
mean it can deform their consciences. When it said such exposure leads
children to risky sexual behavior, I think they mean immoral, that is,
sinful sexual practices. But, ok, I understand.
Those behind the study vowed to continue monitoring and
studying the developments in this area of concern. One of them was
surprised to find an absence of research into the impact of new
technologies.
He said, “Media has evolved at a dizzying pace, but
there’s almost no research about Facebook, MySpace, cellphones, etc.”
It’s good that such concern is now being raised. Our challenge is how
to identify dangerous trends in things that offer many practical
advantages. And of course, what to do with it.
Pertinent to this observation, I have seen adults, not
just children, badly affected by these new gadgets. They show signs of
obsession and addiction, as they forget even to eat, they lose sleep
and neglect other duties to their families, not to mention the
spiritual ones, like prayer.
In short, many have become couch potatoes, glued to their
seats for hours, completely dominated by what’s before them on the
screen, disoriented and practically dead to the outside world and even
their immediate surrounding. They live virtual lives.
I myself am having difficulties in this area. I am now
tempted to declare for myself some email bankruptcy, since I receive
so many of them everyday, mostly spams, that just to erase them not
only wastes my time, but also raises my blood pressure.
It’s about time that we take serious steps to know more
about this trend and to do something, even something drastic, about
it. Our future is at stake. Our danger is not only from wars and
terrorism. It can come right from our own homes. These technologies
are notoriously treacherous.
This is, of course, a responsibility of everyone. Parents
have the primary and most direct role to play. Then the teachers and
other elders. But the government and also the media should do their
part.
And given the latter’s capabilities and resources, they
should do something massive and abiding to support the parents’
delicate duties in this regard. They cannot anymore be naïve and play
blind. They have to boldly face the issue.
Those behind the study are precisely recommending this.
And I’m very happy about that proposal. Alas, it seems the time has
arrived for this concern to be taken seriously, and not anymore
treated as an idea so wild it has to be chased away. I hope I’m not
wrong.
On many occasions, I get deeply but helplessly bothered by
what I see especially on noontime TV shows that are greedily lapped up
by the people, especially the young ones and those who are mostly
idle.
There’s so much inanity and frivolity, so much twisted
values being flaunted with almost total impunity. People are given a
daily diet of toxic entertainment. Sooner or later, the effects will
show. We are now building up a potential moral and social explosion.
We need to liberate ourselves from such foolishness,
hiding behind the excuse that people just want to have fun and
amusement. The idea is not to kill fun, but to make it fit for human
consumption.
Though things vary from person to person, family to
family, group to group, concrete plans of actions have to be made to
guide everyone for a prudent use of the new media technologies.
Schools should take active part in imparting the proper
guideline on use of these new technologies. We have to find ways of
how to effectively monitor the effects of these technologies on the
people, especially the young.
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