The Hidden Cost of Television: Media Manipulation and Consumerism

Curbing the One-Eyed Monster

By Fiona C. Jenkins

Media Control and Misinformation

Television stations are owned by very rich people. They do not tell us the truth. Their main purpose is to hand us over to advertisers for as long as possible. Ordinary people are tired of protesting against them. The easiest way to make our home TV-free is to put our television set on the curb. We may miss very useful programs and become outsiders, but we can use the spare time to do something truly valuable. We can live a real life. We can make ourselves familiar with the highest quality in art, music, and literature.

However, TV presents us with the lower quality of all these, and reality in fragments, thus misguiding us. We do not know what reality is; we simply do what the advertiser or rich people want us to do. We fill their pockets with our money. Therefore, the effective way to save ourselves is to boycott TV, otherwise we will continue to receive misinformation. We have been compelled to feel that our natural life is worse, and consequently, we begin to live artificially.

Analyzing Corporate Exploitation

This essay tells us that rich people and big businessmen have made us puppets. They will use us the way they like. They will use us for their own advantages by misguiding us. They will never give us anything of the best quality. Therefore, we have to protect ourselves from their exploitation.

A Critical Look at the Boycott Proposal

Although the writer has presented some of the advantages of TV, he has emphasized its negative aspects. He has made us escapists. Instead of fighting against the rich people, he wants us to stop watching TV. If we do so, we will miss many good programs. If everyone throws their TV sets away, where shall we go to watch historical events? Can't we make a choice and watch only good programs?

Understanding Consumer Behavior and Conformity

This essay has helped me to understand many things which I did not understand before. Now I have understood how easily people imitate mannerisms and why people watch TV: They do not like to be outsiders. I also know why people use the things advertised on TV. They want to be the best.