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Youth and Television.

Youth and television has today become the hottest issue being discussed not only at the political levels in many countries, but also in the homes among parents and families in towns and communities.

This is because of the concerns or misgiving they have in the youth watching whatever is available in the Television programmes, which has also taken roots in Bhutan since the last three years with the installation of the cable TV networks almost in all major towns in the country.
Although, there might be various school of thoughts on viewing or watching Television, and therefore the benefit and effects it may have on the youth and the society.

But from the research carried out by John P Murray in USA on television and Youth, Perhaps we can learn a lot. Murray’s reference book, titled as; Youth and television: 25 years of research and controversy published in 1980s, sates that when we talk about whether or not the television has effect on the society, we should first try to ask many questions on the issue and try to answer them?

Some of the questions, which might help in revealing our doubts and misgivings on the youth watching television, are:
· Do children learn from TV?
· Are some children more drawn to TV than others?
· Do infants and toddlers attend to TV?
· Which TV formats are most effective with children?
· Does advertising on the TV affect children?
· Does the contents of TV entertainment affect a child’s conception of his/her own sex role?
· Does it effect his/her conception of other people’s sex roles?
· Do children obtain a “release” or “purging” of their emotions from their vicarious involvement in TV show?
· Which activities in the child’s life are displaced or replaced by TV watching?
· Does it affect his preference in reading?
· Does it affect the amount of time he usually spends with books?
· How does TV watching fit into family life?
· Within the family, who chooses the programs to be watch?
· Do children accept the racial stereotypes they see in on the program?
· Do they accept the national and religious stereotypes?
· Do children in different socioeconomic statues typically have different habits of watching TV?
· Do intelligent children differ from dull children in their use of TV?
· Which technique of TV production increases children’s interest and attentiveness?
· Can young people watch TV while simultaneously engaging in other works?



However, there are lots of benefits from the TV, if not used efficiently:

a) It becomes a curse when it interferes with the normal routine of our work.
b) When children neglect their books and homework’s, the TV could become a
Curse.
c) It is the source of the great temptation for children to watch a cartoon show or movie on TV rather than study for the next day if not guided properly.
d) Adults often become less social because of the TV, because they would like to tie themselves according to the timings of their favorite TV programme thus making themselves unavailable for the various social gatherings.
e) It can become a curse when the prorgammes are full of mindless sex and violence. This could colour the mind of the young if not taken care.

As we all know that anything done in excess or without limit is harmful, nothing should be done in excess.
Over exposure of children to TV is not only injurious to their eyes, but can affect their studies.

Well, in Bhutan at least half of the populations constitute youth. Their vast energies and enthusiasm must not go untapped.
Youth’s of Bhutan mostly spent their time with TV and most of the young people of Bhutan are influence by the TV and moving forward with the modernization, therefore, it has become must to educate our youth about the TV else we may loss our beautiful culture and good environment.




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