Reality TV Essay
By DannieCalifornia, Elgin, IL
With everything from Survivor to American Idol, reality TV shows have been capturing the attention of not only the United States, but the rest of the world, as well. Some of them aren’t negative influences, but many are. There may possibly be some educational values in a few. Want to learn how to stab a best friend in the back? Watch Big Brother. How about how to raise a child in high school? Teen Mom and 16 and Pregnant
are there. Reality TV has been around since 1950, but these shows just leaped in popularity in 2002, with the first season of American Idol, as well as Survivor. Shows such as Extreme Makeover and America’s Next Top Model encourage a perfect body image—if these people are real, normal people like the audiences, why shouldn’t they look these stars? Reality TV shows have impacted society negatively because they uphold bad morals, destroy relationships, and exploit their stars.