Thursday, September 14, 2006

Is television a good or bad influence on children? by shinta

At the last 20th century, we see how the matters pertaining to television of Indonesia grow up quickly. In 1989, for the first time, appeared a private television in Indonesia and then the number of private television increased in succession. At present, there are 5 (five) private televisions and 1 (one) government television in Indonesia. Thus, there are more interesting programs offered by each television station. We, as television programs lovers, are very easy to change from one channel to another if we do not like the program and we prefer to watch the program we like. All the authority is ours.
Surely, every television program has its own lovers. For example, soap opera and cook session for women and girls, sports for men, and of course, television programs for children. At present, the programs for children increase year by year. Previously, there were only cartoon film and sing programs. The program that used to be for adults only, now are processed and created in such a way and the result is those programs can be watched and enjoyed by children.
Is television a good or bad influence on children? Certainly, with such question we can not give a definite answer yes or definite answer no. Everything is back to the people around the children’s environment and those who support children’s development. Why is it like that? A child, of course, can not know and even can not think whether the programs he watches will give a good or bad influence on him. According to him, whatever the program he watches, that program must attractive and give him happiness. Everything is centered to him. Hence, family, especially parents-the group of people who are closest to him-should accompany him when he is watching his favorite television programs. That accompanying is not merely accompanying him watching television, but parents are also hoped to be able to accompany him actively by giving explanation and understanding about what that child watches. It is better to give him positive point a view that can increase child’s courage to make a good achievement. Let the child fantasizes with his own desire as far his fantasy does not hurt him and others.
Besides that accompanying, television management also gives a good or a bad influence on children. Occasionally, the television management only concerns their own profit in producing a program for children without paying attention whether that program is appropriate with children’s life or not. Violence and fight scenes, quizzes programs with a big money prize and also children are acting in which if that act is imitated by children will cause a danger for children. Certainly, those programs really make children happy but finally children will be accustomed to violence condition and luxury life that finally will influence their psychology development. They will think that violence is the life that they must go through and luxury life that they must get. Hence, the television management is hoped can present programs for children who are appropriate with their style. But, this is still a dilemma for them. Besides they are demanded to present children’s programs that appropriate children’s style, they also must think the commerciality of their programs, whether their programs really sell well and get profit for them or not. So that, for television management there are 2 (two) important things that they have to notice in producing a children program, that are, the material of the program and the degree of the commerciality of that program. If both of 2 (two) things above are agreed, there is no doubt that we may not produce that program.
Finally, is television a good or bad influence on children depends on parents and television management. If they can really do their duty well, we can say that television is a good influence on children but if they can not, we can say that television is a bad influence on children.

PS: ini artikel gw saat gw kuliah en ikutan lomba penulisan artikel yang dilaksanakan oleh British Council en waktu itu gw menang…lumayaaaaannn…

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