What was the social impact of TV?

Television had a unique impact on society.  The effects were both positive and negative and at times even baffling.

One of the more baffling effects of television on society was the impact it had on women’s relations.  The early on-set of the television craze took place before women’s rights had fully been explored.  Although women could vote and those struggles were gone, a woman’s place was still seen doing household tasks.  One of the concerns of having televisions in the home is what effect it would have on women.  Members of the community actually questioned if women would still be able to perform household chores and duties if a television was in the home.

Television had a positive influence in the post-war era.  The television brought families together to watch shows.  This meant family time was happening.  In fact television deserves some credit in the coining of the term “family room.”  Aside for the togetherness, news from around the world was readily available at speeds never before seen.  The families watched together and stayed informed.

The television did have negative effects.  Other mediums such as reading traditional books took a backseat to the new love obsession of America.  Reading novels has importance, and simply cannot be forgotten.  Television presented a challenge to keep America reading.  Television also changed how society wants to receive information.  Society tends to like the ease and manner in which television is used to communicate with us.  This leads to a bias to other forms of media which hold just as equal importance.