Introduction
About 95% of homes in all countries have at least one television set, and it is estimated that television is used for at least 61/2 hours daily in each home. This has significantly impacted how people spend their time and what they learn and copy, especially the school-going children and the youths. As Anyura (2010) stated, TV is among the most important means of communication in many countries since it is broadcast and entails images, videos, and live sound from media libraries or studios. In Kenya, many television networks offer
programs ranging from entertainment, action, drama, light comedies, cartoons, and education. While these programs enable media-based companies to achieve their objectives, they significantly impact society, specifically the children and youths. For instance, studies indicate that some action programs are likely to propel aspects of violence, drug abuse, and immorality, especially among the youth. The programs also tend to impact the moral behavior of children and youths(). TV also reduces physical activity levels among children, which is likely to cause health conditions such as obesity and vision problems. On the other hand, TV also positively impacts society, including education and awareness among the youth, social participation, and entertainment, which is healthy for human existence. In light of these impacts, this essay discusses the impact of television as a media channel on children and youths in Kenya.
Impacts of TV on the Society
Reduced interaction and physical activity
TV watching among children and the youth leads to reduced interaction and physical activities. The loss of physical activities among these societal populations tends to pose significant health and mental health problems. According to Bennett and Strange (2011, Pp.7), watching TV is addictive since it triggers the release of a brain chemical called dopamine. This hormone provides the body with a natural reward of pleasure, making an individual continually engage in the watching activity. While TV has addictive effects, primarily on youths and children, this addiction tends to reduce physical activities among these populations in Kenya, which leads to health problems such as increased obesity and vision problems, especially among children and youths in Kenya. A World Health Organisation study found Kenya to report 14.4% overweight and 6.4% obese (Muthuri et al., 2014). With the increasing use of TV, which reduces physical activity levels, children and youths in Kenya stand a high chance of developing critical obesity-related illnesses such as Cardiac arrest and high blood pressure.
Violence and Drug Abuse
Reports from media studies indicate that no media has captured public legislative and industrial attention like television. When it comes to the big issue of violence and subsequent aggressive behavior of the youths and children, there has been a great deal of violence portrayed on major Kenyan television networks and films. As stated by Kamaku (2021), these programs tend to exert a great attraction to children, and youths tend to hurt these populations due to increased viewer aggression, which is likely to perpetrate violent behavior and use of drugs and substances among the children and youths in Kenya. The wealth of scientific evidence that links television portrayals of alcohol consumption to an increase in youthful drinking and alcohol abuse is enough to say that alcoholism, drug, and substance abuse are partly due to increased TV viewing (Anyura, 2010). Furthermore, music produced and played on television contains considerable levels of violence and aggressiveness. As the children grow to imitate these behaviors, the results show increased cases of violence and thuggery, especially in urban areas, and increased use of drugs and substances such as bhang’, cocaine, and alcohol. These behavior tend to also increase cases of deaths, rape, and school drop-outs, especially among school-going children across the country.
Immoral Behaviour
Concerns regarding the effects of television go beyond the issue of violence and drug abuse among the youths in Kenya. For instance, the effect of immorality and pornography among the youth has also generated interest. A report by Moggi and Tessier (2001) shows that finding age-appropriate and children-friendly TV content is challenging for parents. This difficulty in finding appropriate or suitable Content becomes critical because inappropriate material on TV can significantly impact children and even the youth. Kamaku (2021) opines that early exposure to inappropriate Content that has sex, alcohol, and drugs wholesomely ally in shaping the consciousness of the growing youths, resulting in moral and mental disorientation. For instance, in the issue of adverts, sex glamour and action have been used as techniques to sell almost everything, starting from laundry to toothpaste. The programs also tend to raise sexual curiosity among this tender-aged population.
In many cases, increased access to television for children and youths without parental control tends to increase exposure to pornographic Content, which has led to the rise of immoral behavior among children and youths in Kenya(). However, several measures have been placed on TV networks that tend to classify and give guidelines for advertising content to preserve the values and morals of Kenyan children and the youth (Kamaku, 2021). This has led to the commercials aired on the Kenyan national TV networks being classified as “suitable” or unsuitable” for the watershed period.
Educative Content creates awareness.
Despite their opposing challenges, TV poses significant positive challenges to Kenyan society. Many Kenyan television networks, including Citizen, NTV, and Ktn, tend to air educative programs with various educational benefits for children and youths in Kenya. These educational broadcasts extend educational opportunities beyond school by facilitating distance learning. During COVID-19, Kenyan television networks played a significant role in ensuring children acquire educative Content based on the Kenyan curriculum (Kahongeh, 2020). The Content also helped to create awareness of societal issues. For instance, Content shared on HIV/AIDs and other diseases plays a significant role in enlightening the youths and children on the danger and impacts of these diseases. While these programs remain relevant, it is without a doubt that TV networks played a significant role in the fight against the coronavirus.
Promoting physical activity
Even though TV reduces physical activity levels among youths and children, some TV programs focus on gym and physical activity. These programs come within the day and have positively contributed to the well-being of children and youths in Kenya (Kahongeh, 2020). By engaging in regular and daily physical activity, TV programs showcase gym instructors guiding workout sessions in structured exercises, allowing youths to exercise in the comfort of their homes (Bignell & Woods, 2022). In cases where organized sports or recreation facilities are limited, or the children and youths do not have the finances to attend gym sessions, TV plays a vital role in combating sedentary behavior among children and youths, leading to significant health benefits.
Some Programs Enhances Social Participation
TV also enhances social participation among children and the youths in Kenya. TV programs in Kenya have acted as a catalyst for social discussions and interactions. For instance, educational programs tend to expose children and youths to diverse issues such as culture, broadening their perspectives and fostering global awareness and empathy. Furthermore, Kenyan TV networks tend to feature shows incorporating social themes that encourage critical thinking and discussions within family settings and peer groups. Gongala (2024) contends that these programs, which have prosocial Content, lead to increased cooperation and positive social behaviors among the youths and children. However, while acknowledging these benefits, it is critical to maintain a balance in the viewing experience and ensure age-appropriate Content to reduce the potential adverse effects of TV on children’s social development.
Conclusion
In conclusion, therefore, television as a media instrument in Kenya has brought both desirable and undesirable impacts to society, specifically among children and the youth. While television can lead to reduced physical activity due to its addictive nature, the programs offered on many Kenyan television networks, such as gym sessions, tend to promote exercise and physical activity among children. Exposure to TV also catalyzes violence, drug and substance abuse, and immoral behavior among the youths but also helps foster interactivity and discussion on societal issues. TV also possesses educative information, contributing significantly to child growth and development. Therefore, parents and caregivers in Kenya must monitor and control their children’s Content. This can ensure it is age-appropriate. Striking a balance between television’s negative and positive impacts can help children and youths in Kenya make the most out of this powerful communication medium while minimizing its harmful effects on society.
References
Anyura, V. (2010). The Role of TV in Changing Attitudes to Promote Effective Development in Kenya.https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12342/430
Kamaku, M. N. (2021). Effect of Television Viewing on Students’ Unrest in Secondary Schools in Kiambu County, Kenya (Doctoral dissertation, JKUAT-COHRED).http://localhost/xmlui/handle/123456789/5610
Bennett, J., & Strange, N. (Eds.). (2011). Television as digital media. Duke University Press.https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=3cYJndq9K1IC&oi=fnd&pg=PP8&dq=television+media+and+the+society&ots=gF3ZDGgi_r&sig=vX5CIq6aiGROvTHM0ZmcamdhhKw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false
Gongala, S. (2024, January 3). Twelve good and bad effects of television on children. MomJunction. https://www.momjunction.com/articles/good-bad-effects-television-children_0074078/#:~:text=However%2C%20addiction%20to%20TV%20shows,of%20unfavorable%20behaviors%20and%20habits.
Muthuri, S. K., Wachira, L. J. M., Onywera, V. O., & Tremblay, M. S. (2014). Correlates of objectively measured overweight/obesity and physical activity in Kenyan school children: results from ISCOLE-Kenya. BMC Public Health, pp. 14, 1–11. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/1471-2458-14-436
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Bignell, J., & Woods, F. (2022). An introduction to television studies. Routledge.https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315619675
Kahongeh, J. (2020, July 5). Digital migration. Nation Media Group. https://nation.africa/kenya/life-and-style/mynetwork/the-big-switch-did-it-deliver-the-goodies-it-promised–407772
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