We have really come far with Information Communication Technology (ICT) one media being television. When you talk of accessibility, availability and knowledge, there is still a big disparity in the part of knowledge. How, When, Why and What are the questions which go an answered and have a big impact in our society.

Today I will tackle the subject of televison and its impact in our society and focusing on these two questions why and when? Why shouldn’t we control the information we take? When do we allow our children to access television? Does all information we watch on television have a positive impact?

Televison has really contributed to the 21st century super highway through delivering information to our society and has brought some positive impact in the way we dress, socialize, and generally how we live etc. On the other side of the coin most people are afraid to tackle the negative impact it does contribute if not put in check.

The word accessibility will be less used in our neighborhoods in the coming future. Some years back owning a televison set was something precious and one would be counted among the rich (where I grew up, Mathare slums in Nairobi, Kenya). In this world of today information is readily available from your finger tips or by a click of a button through internet, television, magazine, books etc. which means there is accessibility and availability what about knowledge?

It is time parents, teachers, brothers and sisters get educated on what they consider useful by reading, watching or listening. What we need is to educate our children and empower them to make sound judgments and be responsible. This won’t happen by hiding the remote control, punishments or hash words etc. but through education and empowerment of our sons and daughters the reality of life out there.

There is nothing in this World as powerful as the POWER OF THE MIND…

My own opinion some of the soap opera on the televison addresses issues of life like it is a ‘piece of cake’ when for example talking about love, wealth etc. I urge all the youth of the World to get real and live within their means (Don’t live like a king yet you don’t even have a ‘job’). Secondly don’t imitate all you see, hear or read. Please borrow the ‘right’ cultures that won’t discard your own and get the right content from trusted sources.

The programmes on television some have age restriction note written in big bold font but still this does not help much when you consider our children whom might be as young as 10 years controlling TV channel with a remote control.

To parents and guardians please play your part in controlling the content your sons and daughters get their hand on or even watch?

All in all television plays an integral part in Information society and is a great medium for advertisement; creativity and employment just to mention a few.

Lastly relate televison with computer, is there anything in common? Just to mention one, I usually control my mouse on what I click and read. I might return to the website or not depending on many factors. Can we do the same for televisions at home?

Content written and published by Wilson Masaka