According to the Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, at least one-third of children younger than age 11 and at least two-thirds of children ages 11 to 14 have a bedroom television. Personally, I had one by the age of 10, after pleading with my parents and saving enough money to buy a cheap 13inch screen Broksonic television. 10 years later, I still have it in my room. It really didn't increase my television viewing that much, it just changed the location. It also lessened disagreements and conflicts over TV usage. Since I had my own, I could play videogames or watch TV at my own discretion. It has also been a helpful tool for falling asleep.
But the article gave the notion of having a television in a child's bedroom a much more negative connotation. Previous studies indicated that a child with a TV in his or her bedroom watches more television per day than one without a TV in his or her bedroom. As TV increasingly becomes a tool for socialization, "the process through which people learn specific normative beliefs, values, and behaviors," a TV in a bedroom gives a child more opportunities to learn vicariously and not by experience.
Several theories have evolved attempting to explain the role of media in socialization. One that is widely accepted is Social Learning Theory. In Social Learning Theory, "virtually all cognitive, affective, and behavioral learning from direct experience can also be achieved vicariously." Movies, videogames, and TV shows could all potentially contribute to this type of learning, which coincidentally all could involve the use of a TV set.
The negative connotation arrives when the subject of TV content comes in. If students are vicariously learning that smoking is cool, or violence is alright, then a TV in the bedroom allows children more opportunities to view the wrong messages. Of course, no shows condone children making bad decisions, but it's up to the parents to make sure what their kids are watching is suitable.
Personally, I don't feel that I've learned any different from having a TV in my room for the last 10 years. My TV watching did not change much from when I didn't have a TV in my room to when I did. That same learning described in Social Learning Theory, positive or negative, could've happened anywhere in my case.
Jackson, Christine, Brown, Jane D. , & Pardun, Carol J. (2008) A TV in the bedroom: implications for viewing habits and risk behaviors during early adolescence. Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, Television Report
21 comments:
I think this is a really insightful topic and you've made some good points/observations. Personally I think I had a TV in my room before the age of 10, and my younger brother who is 8 does as well. I had one for similar reasons, video games mostly. The comment you make about using the TV as a tool to fall asleep could warrant a study in itself really. The idea of some people requiring the TV to be on to fall asleep has always fascinated me and up until about 3-4 years ago I was guilty of the same practice. In the end though, I don't believe just having a TV in a child's room will create nearly as many problems as the potential questionable content they may observe on TV.
-martin.1580
I think there are many pros and cons about having a television in a kids’ bedroom. I had my own television in my room starting around age 7, and I think I can honestly say it decreased my television viewing as I grew up. It was the sure fact that I had it there anytime I wanted and I didn’t have to fight for it or have the feeling you always want what you can’t have. Throughout high school and college I have used the television for background noise while I’m doing homework and studying. Many children in today’s society would have a greater possibility of becoming addicted because of the various game systems that are on the market and the numerous amount of television shows geared towards kids.
Maupin.39
I think that this is an intersting topic, and is commonly discussed throughout society today. There are many studies that believe that children shoud not have television in their bedrooms. Also there are studies that believe that it is ok for children to have televisions in their bedrooms. I personally believe that their is an appropriate age where children should have TVs. I think that around the age twelve or thirteen is a good age to allow children to have TV, because by this age they understand that they have other responsibilities such has school. I believe that if children have television before this age they will tend to watch TV more instead of doing homework, because thats what they are used to doing in thier rooms.
I completely agree with you. I have a tv in my bedroom from a young age as well, and I don't believe it had any affect on me either. Besides that it put me to sleep, or I got to watch a particular show that no one else wanted to watch. I think the main part in a childs influence is the one they get from actually human to human interaction. If you're raised right, I know this isnt true in some cases, then you should know right from wrong. Tv can have bad messages, but I believe it's the parents duty to teach their kids right from wrong, ultimately.
I am a firm believer that a tv in a child's bedroom leads to negative consequences. If a child is watching television in his or her bedroom, who is there to monitor what is playing? Although a lot of kids have the discipline to screen their on television watching, most do not, especially at a young age. I believe that it is only promoting bad habits.
Secondly, bedroom televisions lead to isolation and less time spent with family. This isolation could lead to loneliness and other consequences, and as corny as it sounds spending time with your family isn’t that terrible of a thing to do.
pierce.289
I think this is a very interesting topic. Studies like this about televisions in kids bedrooms often feel very sketchy to me. I agree with you, because I have had a TV in my room since I was about 12, and it definitely did not affect me. I still got straight A's and participated in sports and activities outside of television. I believe that no matter how much parents regulate, if a child really wants to disobey them and watch shows not suitable for their particular ages, that they will find a way no matter what. I know that when I wanted to go see a rated R movie before I was 17 I always found a way and in no way am I messed up, and I certainly do not have psychological issues. I believe it is the individual, not the age, that matters when it comes to television content.
Legerski.3
I agree very much that the issue that most studies have about tv viewing effecting kids really has to do with content, which all comes down to the parental control. A lot of the studies show negative effects on kids, one blog saying that it showed an increase in violence and bad behavior. I don't know about a lot of families, but I was really only allowed to watch Nickelodeon and the Disney channel when i was younger, and even those shows my parents still monitored some.
So having a television in your room, I feel would effect kids differently depending on the content they watched. I personally was never allowed to have a television in my room growing up because my mom believed in all the studies and said kids studied more if they didn't have one in their room. However now that I'm in college and actually have a television in my room, I'm pretty sure I watched more tv when living at home and just watching television in the living room.
last comment by trout.54
I think the whole television in the bedroom debate is interesting. I have had a television in my bedroom since I can remember and I can’t see that it has any negative effect in my life. I don’t believe that I watch more television as an effect of having one in my room and I agree that it is a convenience. I also agree that the television is a social and learning tool as long as parents are monitoring content. Viewers can observe acceptable social behaviors while watching certain show as well as learn by watching channels such as History and Discovery. Overall, I see no reason why having a television in the bedroom is negative.
ruess.3
Having a television in the bedroom of a 10 year old, no offense, takes away from key family interactive time. I was the nerd 8 year old who would sit with my dad and watch the news with him. If I had a TV in my bedroom I feel as though I wouldn't have had that special time with my father. I still don't have a TV in my room and I never had (even in the dorms... my roommates were weird). Instead, I watch TV with a group of people all the time in a place other than my room. I feel like a bedroom is for sleeping and changing and a family room is for watching TV and interacting with other people. Besides, what does a 10 year old need to watch by themselves that other people in the house can't watch? I don't find it necessary.
samsel.6
As I have said before, though TV exposure can shape young minds, I don’t think it is the deciding factor in the outcomes of peoples lives. So to say that having a TV set in a child’s bedroom is going to lead them to be a less productive adult then the child without a television set, I’d have to disagree. Having the physical TV set in the room doesn’t change the child, the lack of 24 hour adult supervision, and what might be available for viewing when the parents aren’t around could possibly be harmful. On this issue I think there are good arguments on both sides as far as lifetime development go. However, I have read studies and heard from several pre-school teachers that kids who sleep with the TV on don’t get as good a night’s sleep. If that is true I say keep them out. But as far as development, aren’t there other horrible things in the world besides TV that can have negative effects on children that we should perhaps worry about and study?
Miller.3920
Very interesting topic. I too had a TV in my room at a very young age and I did not learn any habits from watching TV. But movies and TV episodes have changed a lot since we were young and impressionable. Now TV shows try to get the message across that the wrong things are the right things that cool people smoke, drink, cuss, or whatever else. Parents should defiantly monitor what their children are watching and set a limit to the time their children can watch TV.
-mackenzie.38
Many things positive and negative can come from such an argument. Personally, I feel that having a tv in a child's room puts a huge strain on the parent's control. First, they can not control as strongly and as easily what content is being watched by their child. I know when I was younger, it was pretty easy to figure out my parents password when they used parental control which was seldom anyways. Also, this becomes an issue in "grounding" or sending kids to their rooms for punishment. What type of punishment is it when they have access to television and video games. I tend to agree with the article chosen, it unfortunately is a little out of date but is attempting to point out the right arguments. I believe that there should be no tv's in any bedroom's of people's homes. It is bringing about too much laziness and added time spent in front of the tv. You said yourself it is a useful sleeping tool. So you in fact do watch more television than you would have without it in your room.
evans.871
Although I agree with this blog, I believe that the impacts of television viewing have different effects on different people. For example, I have had a TV in my room for most of my life. I have never been one to sit in my room for hours watching TV. In fact, the only time I ever watch it is to keep updated on Sports Center, to watch a game occasionally, and to fall asleep. My best friend, on the other hand, has had a TV in her room for the same amount of time and has it on constantly. No matter what she is doing, the TV is on as long as she is in her room. Despite different reactions from different people, I think it is important that parents do not allow their children to have one until they are a certain age. This age may vary depending on maturity, but children should only possess a TV in their room once they are able to understand the importance of prioritizing.
lehky.6
I really did not realize that many kids have TVs in their rooms, even though it is really not that surprising to me. I do agree that the TV is a very helpful tool when trying to fall asleep. As a kid I had much experience with this because of the fact that I stole an old black and white TV that was left over from the seventies (kind of like my parents) and had it in my room. Trust me it is very easy to fall asleep when watching old re-runs of star trek episodes. The thing is though if parents are really worried about their kids getting wrong messages from having a TV in their room, then I guess they should not allow them to have one.
dewey.27
I do not believe there are any severe negative effects for a child to have a television set in their bedrooms. As many people said, it is used as a sleep aid for some and for others it is used more for video gaming than actual veiwing.There are many doctors and pediatric associations that argue that children should not watch television at all or limit their viewing to approximately an hour per day. However, I think the problem comes not with having the television, but in the content that they watch and parents are responsible for helping their children decipher between good and bad content.
scott.917
I think this is an interesting topic. I also had a tv in my room from as long as I can remember. I do not feel as though I watched more tv because of it. As I got older, I did find myself leaving the tv on while I was in the room not to watch it but just for noise. I also used it to go to sleep. I do not feel that having a tv in the bedroom at a young age increases the hours that a child watches tv or really form their beliefs/values. I think that comes from a child's upbringing.
chung.286
Love the topic. I agree completely in regards to the fact that absurd behavior can be picked up by a child from anywhere it shouldnt be blamed on the fact that they watch tv. I have a younger sibling who isnt even in kindergarten yet and had a television in her bedroom. It is there simply for the purposes of calming her at bedtime and keeping her quiet at certain times during the day- Perhaps when mom is trying to nap. lol. Nevertheless, what the mom allows her to watch is whats important. As a parent you have to keep your child watching age appropriate tv shows that will help her to learn as well as other things. It cannot be blamed on the programming the blame lies with the childs surroundings and the rules they are given to follow.
caldwell.485
I agree with the points that you made with regards that televisions can be beneficial to children in their rooms. I received my own television in my room when I was eight and ever since then I have always had one. It was useful when my brother and his friends monopolized our house and I could escape to my room to watch my own programs and I also used it to fall asleep to. Also when my little brother has a sleepover now, he and his friends can go to his room to watch movies and play video games without disturbing the entire household. I do think that there are obviously some children who cannot be trusted with their own TV, but for the most part I don’t see any problem with kids having their own in their bedrooms.
Attewell.1@osu.edu
This was a great, and intersting blog. Being a person who always had/needed a t.v. in my bedroom growing up to not only fall asleep but keep me up. I think that having a tv has aided me into developing problems with going to sleep at earlier times. Even when sleepy the tv has kept me up due to the excitement of the show that's on. When i was younger i did think it was ok to sleep with the tv on, and it just would be background noise as i slept, which i also think has mad me the HARD sleeper that i am, so yeah tv for kids in bedrooms may not be a great idea.
A very interesting topic. I had a tv in my room from a young age as well and I doubt it had a large negative impact on me. With 3 kids in our family it saved us from the obvious fighting over the remote. I think you can't necessarily blame the vehicle cause the blame belongs more to the networks for content. Getting a content blocker for your child's television could be a start to weed out negative content.
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