Is television making us stupider?

Last night I took a trip down memory lane and indulged in bit of channel hopping or was it channel surfing? It’s been so long!

As a family we don’t watch much terrestrial television these days. Our viewing time, like many others, is spread across Netflix, Amazon, Now TV & You Tube with a bit of the odd Rakuten thrown in.

Much like those born after the intro of the TV remote control don’t remember getting up to change the channel, my kids may never understand the eager anticipation of waiting for next weeks episode of your favourite show. In fact the ability to pause shows, even live sport means they don’t even get to experience the bladder strengthening act of holding in a pee so you don’t miss anything.

Box sets & binge viewing have changed the way the World watches the idiot box & introduced instant entertainment to the instant generation. Thinking on it now, I’m amazed at how seemingly unnoticeable the change in our viewing habits came about. It’s as if one day we woke up & the Sky TV channel list had been removed, silently replaced with broadband streaming & an unspoken understanding that life would be better now.

But is that the case? Days can be lost to binge viewing, I know I have lost them and I’ll admit to not only taking part myself but also enjoying the peace of two boys availing of the Idiot Box Babysitting Service. Previously we may have watched an episode then switched over to something else or even got up to do something in that expansive space you can see on the other side of your windows.

Now though Binge viewing & on demand services are placing us at the mercy of the box for longer periods, to the point streaming services will pause what you are watching every so often to ask if you are still alive (though they often use the word ‘watching’ instead)

The other concern is the source of this entertainment and by that I don’t mean the Studios, film companies or content providers. I’m referring to the Internet itself. It used to be a power cut would be enough to spoil everyone’s plans, no lights, electricity, heat or TV. Now panic is caused by the little light on the modem flashing red! No YouTube, Roblox, Netflix or WiFi.

The suggestion of watching normal TV or a Blu Ray is met with tuts of disgust and disbelief! It’s as if playing cards by candlelight had been suggested, can you imagine if they were faced with a 20p fine for not rewinding their VHS rental?

The bigger picture though concerns Humanity itself. If the Power ever goes off for real, imagine a real life Walking Dead, then 90% of the Worlds instantly gratified Population wouldn’t last a week!

I’ll be ok though, I have a Swiss Army knife, a bandana and a plan! (The bandana is mostly just aesthetic)