Reality show and its influence on teens: What can parents do
In recent times, TV reality shows have become extremely popular among adults and youngsters alike. However, these shows impact youngsters significantly as they get intrigued by the entire pomp and show of it all, though most adults are aware that there’s very little of “reality” in reality shows. This is why parents often worry when their kids get obsessed with a reality show. How much of reality TV is good for teens? Are there any value of reality shows in the real world? Above all, are these shows affecting young minds negatively, impacting their self-image, behaviour, beliefs and attitudes? We are here to clarify some of these queries.
How reality shows affect teens?
Your youngster may be an audience or a participant of a reality show. The impact varies depending on the role.
As audience: Teens who watch reality shows regularly are often prone to its ill effects from viewing superficial contents. In fact, experts have stated that adolescents who are reality TV addicts often show signs of dissatisfaction and unhappiness because their lives are in no way similar to what they see on these programmes. They start associating factors like beauty, wealth and popularity as the pre-requisites for a happy and accomplished life. In fact, teenagers tend to lose all track of reality and frequently get carried away to the extent of holding these values in high regard. What’s worse is that young adults often try and imitate the acts they see on TV and fall prey to unhealthy and dangerous habits in absence of proper guidance.
As participants: Teens participating in reality shows often suffer from negative impacts, thanks to the stressful environment they are in. Overexposure to cameras often leads to both overconfidence and under confidence. Moreover, adolescents often tend to become overtly competitive and suffer from toxic body-image issues. The never-ending sense of rejection and pressure situations further make it challenging. On top of these, youngsters also often fall victim to peer pressure and bullying off-screen as well as on-screen embarrassment and criticism (in front of live audience).
How parents can help
Here are tips for parents to help their kids breeze through the negative impacts of reality shows.
Limit watching of reality shows: The best way to control overexposure to reality TV is to straightaway limit watching it. For this, parents need to set time boundaries and TV rules. Discourage your kids from overindulging in talks about reality shows at home or during get together with friends. This will prevent the passive influence of these programmes. Experts also suggest parents to verify the contents before determining whether they are suitable for their growing kids or not.
Clarify about the ‘reality’ of these shows: Parents need to clarify to their teenage kids that what appears to be the “reality” in the reality shows is in fact, more often than not, far removed from “reality.” Instead, it is a sensationalized and far-fetched reality of the television viewing culture. They also that these shows are made to look like real life but are actually as fictional and scripted as other shows. While at this, parents may also determine what shows are really appropriate for the age and maturity of their kids.
Identify the impact: Reality shows and other popular shows on television and web often have the tendency to draw kids away from their roots and make them strive for things out of their reach. Teenagers particularly may suddenly develop the urge to be, look and sound “cool” as shown on these programmes. They try to imitate whatever they see on screen and make perceptions in their minds about what it means to be more accepted and how to become mainstream. If your teen suddenly wants to colour her hair blue, chances are she is trying to emulate the lifestyle and choices of her favourite participant on TV shows. They may also develop the tendency to use pop languages instead of sticking with the family dialect. Parents need to look out for these signs and take constructive steps.