Indonesia Television Disturb Family Values

In my observation, Indonesian televisions are being used more for entertainment than to educate people. It shows from their types of broadcast. We could observe the Indonesian private TV broadcast more on entertainment program than news. Most programs are now made locally by Indonesian production houses, and many of them are of low quality.

Television entertainment program would certainly have unconstructive impact on the younger generation if it is not guided properly by their parents. For adult viewers with not enough education background the programs would also mislead. For example, the “sinetron” prefer to shows stories related to affluent which is unrealistic condition, especially for a nation which have millions of people below the poverty line. Music program now is dominated by instant talent seeking shows; imitate similar shows abroad like “American Idols”. Even children, by the ambition of their parents, will spend more of their time to be selected in the program to pursue their dreams as an Idol base on viewers’ selection through “short message service”. The worst but popular TV programs are the celebrity infotainment. Most of them gossiping celebrity’s marital and love problems.

We then hope that the news program would balance the situation. Unfortunately, the news program seem using Principe of Bad News is Good News. Therefore we would easily find information about conflict, crimes and disasters. Some of TV programmer even shows their creative to have a scary information show about crimes. Less news on success stories of common people.

Those above programs would certainly direct viewers, in this case family, on the way of having inappropriate values in this life. Wealth “sinetron” picture will give the wrong impression about life. Ideal life would only achieve with material goods. The idol type shows will give “idea” to viewers the shortcut to be popular despite of tough normal process. It will certainly have an impact on the parents and their children to struggle professionally to shape their talents.

Considering quality of the program in our television nowadays is inadequate to learn proper values since the programs are more entertain and less educated, i think television does disturb family life and any sense of community. People tends to watch various kinds of entertainment on television rather than to socialize more with their social environment, for instance their family and friends. Meanwhile, spending quality time like having family dinner together may have better and more educated values of life and strengthening family ties.

Siti Amalia Hasnida

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Television : Dangerous or Beneficial?

Topic: Television is dangerous because it destroys family life and anysense of community; instead of visiting people or talking with our family we just watch television. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Personally, I do not agree with that statement. Nowadays, television, which has become one of inseparable parts in life, has a lot of advantages.

First, some television programmes, for instance news programmes, provide us latest news and information about national and international events. Some other television programmes also tell us about reality in everyday life, for example “Reportase”, which often expose crime in society. Moreover, television programme such as science and animal life programme, could expand our knowledge and mind about scientific processes or wild animal’s life in their habitat.

Second, watching television enables us to get the information we needed faster than by newspapers or magazines, because television uses satellite to send information, so it is such an effective way to get information, together with sounds and pictures.

Third, by watching television with interesting and enlightening programmes, we could discuss some topics with our family members, for example we could ask for opinion about a political or social issues, government, art, music, and so forth. Thus, variety of those television programmes could enrich us with other people’s opinion. We could talk with our close relatives and that make sense of a small but very essential part of community, that is, a family.

Although some argue that television is dangerous, bad for children, and so forth, in fact, because of those advantages, television still play an inevitable role in our world society today. If we use this electronic appliance wisely and properly, we could get more benefits than disadvantages in watching TV. In accordance with children’s purpose, parents could choose and switch suitable programmes for their children, based on their age.

Finally, because of the above reasons, I conclude that television has a lot of advantages, so I do not agree with the statement.