Trapped By Television in More Ways Than One

Even the Commercials Are Robbing Your Time Like Never Before

There’s a 1936 film starring Mary Astor called Trapped by Television. It is a humorous romp about bill collectors and gangsters trying to thwart an engineer who is inventing television.

Of course, television as we know it today was invented by Philo Farnsworth. He successfully demonstrated it in 1928. The medium did not become commercially viable until after World War II, when corporations got involved in perfecting Farnsworth’s work.

Today, we are all trapped by television. It offers just enough good programming to keep us addicted to it. Yet, it is still a “vast wasteland,” as FCC chairman Newton Minow described in a 1961 speech. Minow said: “When television is good, nothing — not the theater, not the magazines or newspapers — nothing is better. But when television is bad, nothing is worse.”

Television has deteriorated in most ways over the decades since Minow made those remarks. That should concern all people, especially Christians because we are taught to “make the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).

The Problem with Programming

For people with a conscience, there are many problems with television today. These include:

Violence
Highly sexualized content
Mainstreaming of fringe values
Biased news reporting

There is also an enormous amount of virtue signaling in television. For example, Blacks represent about 13 percent of the US population but are appearing disproportionally in ads and in programming. This skews reality to further a particular social and political agenda. If there is a historically underrepresented demographic, it is the Bible-believing Christian community which embraces all races.

Children at the Forefront

Christians should be concerned for themselves and all family members, especially their children. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians:

“While multiple factors can lead to violent actions, a growing body of literature shows a strong association between the perpetration of violence and exposure to violence in media, digital media, and entertainment….Children, adolescents, and young adults consume digital media from a variety of sources, many of which are mobile, are accessible 24 hours a day, and offer both passive and active engagement. Many of these media platforms feature entertainment that contains significant doses of violence and portrays sexual and interpersonal aggression. This is a serious public health issue that should concern all family physicians, particularly as it affects young patients and their parents or guardians.”

Doctors are concerned about physical violence, but Christians must also be concerned about the spiritual violence that comes with unwholesome sexual, political, and social values that have put much of the world into a moral nosedive.

Children are driven by peer acceptance. They watch specific television programs, play the hottest games on their phones and other devices, and want particular products because they seek status among their friends. Only Christian parents can break this vicious spiral.

Is There Hope For The Future?

Is there any hope that programmers will do better? The reality is, they have no compassion for the common good and are motivated only by money. For example, Disney has had a 50 percent drop in its stock price since 2021 and only recently woke up to how damaged its worldview was in 2023. In a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing, Disney said:

“We face risks relating to misalignment with public and consumer tastes and preferences for entertainment, travel and consumer products…. Further, consumers’ perceptions of our position on matters of public interest, including our efforts to achieve certain of our environmental and social goals, often differ widely and present risks to our reputation and brands.”

Thus, Disney has admitted that their foray into extremist social engineering failed. Hopefully, they will abandon repugnant political and social fads and return to spreading the wholesome values that made Disney great.

However, Christians must remember that Disney did not repudiate the movies and television shows because they saw they perpetuated corrupt political and social values. They changed course because good people put financial pressure on them. Christians need unity when boycotting companies that use their market standing to spread unacceptable values.

Will Disney be true to their stockholders? They still maintain Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and other Marxist-Progressive values, which may still influence the entertainment side of their business. Hence, Christian consumers need to maintain their vigilance.

Disney is not the only problematic programmer. Paramount, which owns CBS, Showtime Networks, Paramount Pictures, Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount+, and Pluto TV, is a serious concern, as is Netflix and others.

The Problem with Commercials

Television commercials provide income to produce shows and profits for networks. Yet, they have become sinister. Their percentage of air time (ad loads) has increased from less than eight minutes per hour in earlier times to about 18 minutes per hour for many programs in 2023.

That level of ad bombardment is brainwashing, not advertising. Many shows, including sports, don’t take breaks; they show commercials simultaneously with the action.

Networks purposely manipulate viewers with fewer commercials at the start of a film but break far more often as the film builds towards its dramatic climax. That’s psychological abuse and reason enough to turn off the television and adopt some of the solutions I mention below.

The television industry is ruining your viewing experience and inflating its profits by stacking up to 10-12 commercials and self-promotion ads in a single break. According to one source, the average cost per thousand viewers in 2023 is a mere $47.14, so they enslave viewers for only about 4 cents each. Most of us value our time more than that.

Solutions for Christians

Most people accept television watching as the primary way to relax. It becomes an addiction. Yet, there are many entertaining things people can and should do instead. They are isolated even when a family is in the same room watching a TV program. It is desirable to think about relaxing entertainment that involves interaction with others.

Reading. Delving into a good book can be a fantastic way to relax and entertain oneself. Whether fiction, non-fiction, or a how-to book, reading entertains, educates, and expands one’s horizons. Later, you can engage with others in conversation about what you read. Also, you can read to others; all ages learn to love listening to stories.
Arts and Crafts. Creative activities like painting, drawing, knitting, or woodworking can be relaxing and fulfilling. These activities provide a sense of accomplishment, allow for self-expression, and can be a therapeutic way to unwind. You can pursue these activities alone or with others.
Cooking or Baking. Preparing a meal or baking treats can be a delightful way to relax and entertain oneself. The cooking or baking process can be meditative, and the result is often a delicious treat to enjoy alone or with others. It’s fun to involve others in shopping, cooking, and eating. It offers an excellent way to teach practical living skills to children.
Playing Games. Engaging in board games, card games, or puzzles with family or friends can be a fun and interactive way to relax and pass the time. These activities foster social connection and can generate laughter and joy. TV watching has replaced these kinds of fun-filled activities in too many families. Consider hosting a game night for neighbors and friends once a month. Besides the games, this is an excellent way to be hospitable and teach children hospitality skills.
Listening to Music or Podcasts. Need some relaxing alone time? Enjoying music or listening to podcasts can be a great way to kick back and take it easy. Whether it’s worship music to soothe the soul, jazz to enliven the spirit, or a podcast to stimulate the mind, auditory experiences offer a rich source of entertainment. Don’t let television replace the theater of your mind.
Outdoor Activities. Weather permitting, engaging in outdoor activities like hiking, biking, gardening, or simply taking a leisurely nature walk can be relaxing and invigorating. It’s a great way to disconnect from digital devices and reconnect with the natural world. You can engage in these activities with friends and family members. Walking solo is a good opportunity to commune with God.
Prayer and Mediative Bible Reading. For Christians, it is calming to enter the presence of the Lord in prayer. Prayer is asking and receiving, but it is also basking in the glory of the Lord in conversation with him. Likewise, you can read the Bible for the joy of it. Deep Bible study is always good, but reading it for personal inspiration can be a delight. These practices help reduce stress and improve physical health and mental clarity, fostering a sense of peace and well-being.

Rethink the hold that television has on your life. Redeem your time on earth by finding better uses for it. Relaxation and entertainment are good. There is no need to feel guilty about it. Yet, it is essential to diversify away from television. In most cases, it is no friend to Christian viewers. The people in your life need your attention.

Sources cited:
Unless otherwise noted, Bible quotations are from the English Standard Version (ESV).