Most of us grew up with a television. We’d watch cartoons in the morning before school, while we ate or before we went to bed. It was part of our daily routine and we couldn’t imagine living without it.

T.V. is entertaining and relaxing, but it is also time-consuming and can project specific and sometimes negative images about society and social norms onto its viewers. It can occasionally stereotype different groups and shows gender bias, causing some viewers to internalize these stereotypes and believes such prejudices to be true. Children, who are extremely impressionable, often take stereotypes at face value and accept them as reality.

According to the University of Michigan Health System template, “Children learn to accept the stereotypes represented on television.” The template explains that “when non-whites are shown on T.V., they tend to be stereotyped,” and also that “a review of the research on gender bias shows that the gender-biased and gender-stereotyped behaviors and attitudes that kids see on television do affect how they see male and female roles in our society.”

In the Museum of Broadcast Communications article “Gender and Television,” Mary Desjardins discusses how women today lack representation in many sports programs and newscasts.

“Broadcast networks rarely cover women’s sports,” she wrote, “and when they do, media scholars have noted that the sportscasters call female athletes by [their] first name and use condescending or paternal adjectives in describing them.” Additionally, she discusses how female T.V. news journalists are often judged by their appearance and have more trouble securing airtime.

Throughout T.V.’s history, producers and programs have tended to depict negative images of minority groups, portraying them as lesser people than heterosexual white males. Usually this discrimination occurs subtly, in a way such that the viewer fails to realize stereotypes are even being perpetuated.

For example, the Internet Journal of Criminology states that on the show COPS, 92 percent of the police officers are white males and 62 percent of the offenders are non-white males. This almost inherently sends a subliminal message of white superiority to viewers and causes them to associate individuals of color with crime.

Children also tend to copy the example set for them by T.V. characters. The informational site “How T.V. Affects Your Child” discusses the importance of explaining to kids that it’s not okay to discriminate against people, even if discrimination is depicted on T.V. “If certain people or characters are mistreated or discriminated against, talk about why it’s important to treat everyone fairly, despite their differences,” the website explains.

The problem is, however, that a lot of parents don’t take this extra step. Failure to explain the inequalities shown on T.V. programs causes children to absorb the racism and gender biased messages they see on the screen.

Additionally, too much time in front of the television can lead to a myriad of problems, including obesity, violent behavior, fear of the outside world, increased drinking, smoking and, as stated before, discrimination. Children who grow up viewing violence on T.V., or shows that depict “cool kids” smoking and drinking, are statistically more likely to emulate such behaviors. This has the potential to alter their perspectives, making them think these images are acceptable. T.V. also takes away from time spent socializing, going outside and playing. It takes away from children’s imaginations and keeps them from exercising enough.

But it is not only the shows that affect children; it is also the commercials that flash across the screen every 10 to 15 minutes that have serious impacts on impressionable viewers. The amount of commercials now on T.V. has increased significantly over the past couple of years. Since children are spending hours in front of the T.V. each day, watching these commercials has a large impact on them.

Commercials specifically are marketed towards young children. They make certain toys appear essential to a child’s happiness. Often, a commercial will prompt a child to ask his or her parents for the advertised item, and frequently parents will grant their child’s wish. Is this kind of advertising fair? Should companies really prey on young children?

Additionally, there are countless commercials that aren’t designed for children that they still soak up. According to The American Academy of Pediatrics’ “Children, Adolescents, and Advertising,” article, “Young people typically view 2,000 beer and wine commercials annually,” in addition to the fact that “two unique and large longitudinal studies have found that approximately one-third of all adolescent smoking can be attributed to tobacco advertising and promotions.” Given all of this information, should children really be watching commercials telling them about drugs and alcohol?

But the advertisers aren’t the only ones at fault; it is a parent’s job to monitor what a child is watching and for how long. The problem is that many parents don’t. What are parents doing while their children are spending so much time sitting? Why aren’t parents playing with their children, taking them outside, or participating in any other activities with them?

Too many parents use T.V. as a crutch. Parenting is about teaching children about life and spending quality time with children, not about letting them waste their days watching pointless and meaningless shows that in the end have a considerable (and negative) impact on their judgment and perspectives.

Amanda Dennis is a Collegian columnist. She can be reached at [email protected].