Note: All forms of passive watching: TV, Netflix, YouTube videos come into this. Active interaction as in social media have not been accounted for and need separate exploration.

It is 5 pm. A 40 something slightly obese man comes back from work, says hello to his kids and wife, and proceeds to sit on the sofa. Puts the TV on as he munches on some chips. Dinner is served around 8 pm, which is centered around the latest trending TV show. Goes to sleep. Goes back to work in the morning.

The typical average day for many of us

A college girl wakes up, checks her notifications, opens an app to read a book but gets distracted by the recommendation- Girl fell caught by the boy. Thinks it is just a five-minute video; the next thing she knows, she is in a drama watching rabbit hole, which continues as she takes the bus to college, watching between lectures, sometimes during them.

A friend calls up and asks to have dinner together. The college girl looks at her phone, longingly. What happened to the guy? She left the episode in so much suspense. She replies to her friend-Maybe some other time. I don’t feel like going out today. She ended up eating some random packed stuff and snuggled in the bed to watch the show in peace.

She finishes the whole season by 5 in the morning. Her eyes are aching and it takes her a moment to realize the time.

The days pass so fast like this.

Netflix is already recommending her a similar serial. With catchy quotes trying to grab her attention from her own life to become a passive observer in someone else’s.

Most students, college people, and adults know what I am talking about. No, I am not attacking you. This is to hopefully make us think.

Television gives me the feeling that people stop thinking. While I agree it is entertaining and good for laughs, good for group activities, we do get to know a lot of stuff. Remember, things start turning south; when this really fun thing starts eating away into our time.

Starts eating away our desires and before we know, we are just making a living and probably don’t even remember these desires that strongly—just passing the time.

Did you know? People watching shows excessively were less likely to participate in outdoor games or community activities. (1) This, as would seem logical, leads us to be a couch potato (read have a sedentary lifestyle), increasing our weight and cardiovascular risks. (3)

You may or may not believe it, but it behaves very similar to substance abuse and allows consumers to just engage in a fantasy world, which often leads to neglecting responsibilities and a general lack of concern. (too busy watching TV; it takes all our attention) (2)

Irritated, some of us may shut the TV, but unless you have got a plan in mind, other people to make those plans for you or some kind of thing already going on. There are very high chances of relapse.

Most will just feel empty and unsatisfied. (4) And no, no, no. The mind does not like that.

“What do you expect me to think now? What do you mean I have to memorize a bunch of words cause you had wanted to learn French?

Stop making me work.”

The mind revolts. It is, after all, a tool.

A highly lazy or a highly functional tool depending on how we use it.

For heavy watchers, TV acts as an escape from reality; not only is it addictive in itself, it also promotes other addiction to escape from reality or numb the dissatisfaction, be it caffeine, alcohol, smoking, internet, or gambling. (5) It may also be our refuge or response to conflict solving.

“It doesn’t matter that I don’t have friends. I don’t mind. I can enjoy my serial in peace. (read- I can still feel some sort of emotions and warmth through watching “FRIENDS” the show.) I like these characters better anyway. (read- These pseudo connections with fake characters are much easier to maintain, have no conflicts with me, don’t require much effort on my side. )

Even associated with craving just like an addiction! (2,6,12) and problems with stopping the behavior even if we want to stop. I know, I know, you just can’t help it.

Anger and irritation occur when someone else (probably our mom) taunts us about it. We may neglect our family and friends due to it. We may even plan our schedule according to our favorite TV drama or movies. (7,1)

I have experienced this personally also. I binged watched Korean dramas a lot, which increased, especially during exams, I think, in an attempt to wind down from serious thinking.

Most of them were just pretty people being cute. It also increased during the pandemic, probably cause loneliness increased.

Loneliness and lack of social connection were significant factors contributing to preoccupation with TV cause we get to the “experience” these connections passively through the characters we watch.

We may get emotionally invested in these characters, which you probably also realize can be very addictive. (8,9)

Maybe it is the lack of practice, but Netflix and the like abusers were found to have trouble with attention and cognition. This can be even more problematic in people with ADHD. Moreover, it may even contribute to ADHD!!

What I think will also ring true is how restless or horrible we sometimes feel after the show is over. Imagine you are highly stressed about work, started watching TV to relax. As you shut down the TV, you are back to the same point. Studies say that you may feel even less relaxed or even more lonely. Probably because the mind didn’t get time to solve and process those thoughts. What was irritating you, it still is. (1)

So many times, I have succumbed to watching TV seeing the challenging pile of work. Only to come out of the “TV land” to have the same amount of work and even less time.

The effect tv has on our social biases is too huge to be mentioned in three lines. One can not deny the influence of big companies, using our attention to gently influence us to buy certain products and live a certain lifestyle. Another article will attempt to cover that.

TV is structured to capture you like a trance; fast pacing inputs thrown at us, without any personal effort, give us stimulation without any actual work. (1)

Note: I am nowhere saying TV is evil, and we should go back to the stone age, but I hope this article makes you reflect on your usage and how it affects your life.

Like many things, Mass Media may be useful with balanced use.

What you really want to ask yourself-

Is it affecting your everyday life? Work? Family?

Are there things you want to do and experience, but you are not doing because you spend that time watching various shows??

Like they say, are you using TV, or is the TV using you?

While it may be difficult to admit that you might be dependent on TV or it may be affecting your life more than you care to admit.

But in the privacy of your own home, if you are wondering, you can start with a questionnaire available on the web. I am yet to find a standard one with interpretations. When I do, I will post it.

Research suggests that these factors may play a part in TV addiction. (10,11,12) Maybe they will help you understand what led you to this habit.

Remember, once we understand how things function, we are in a better position to change it.

1. Anxiety- You are having stressful thoughts, unpleasant thoughts. You can’t get your mind to stop. What can you do easily- divert it’s attention to a mindless box—the TV.

What probably is better for you?

Mindfulness, Yoga, Music, and Dance may help. But you may still need to consult a mental health professional. It is not either, or. You should try and see what works for you.

I realize there is still a significant stigma to get help for this. And you may be able to manage finances and general living, but if it is deteriorating the quality of your experience. I would strongly urge you to consult.

You can consult now through telemedicine (online) and not worry about privacy or lack of access. (as long as you have a phone or internet connection.)

If you are a student. Seeing a school counsellor may be useful.

2. Boredom and Loneliness – A lot of people, I realize, are lonely or want to have some fun. But are unable to communicate that need or find those relationships. Please make an effort to join classes and clubs and talk to people.

Everything is hard at first, but it usually gets easier with time.

In this pandemic, it might be difficult due to restrictions. Try virtual hangouts, gyms. While maintaining social distancing and safety precautions. Go out for walks, volunteer at an animal center if you are into that.

3. Need Satisfaction and Social connection.
4. Social conditioning: started watching with others, friends, and family. Now hooked yourself.

Thank you for reading. We will talk about prevention and steps to take in a future article.

Hope you found it helpful.

Feel free to contact me if you would like to read/ know more about this.

References:

1. Kubey, R. & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2002). Television addiction is no mere metaphor. Scientific American, 286, 74–80
2. Meerloo, J. (1954). Television addiction and reactive apathy. Journal of Nervous & Mental Disease, 120, 290–291
3. Anderson, R. E., Crespo, C. J., Bartlett, S. J., Cheskin, L. J. & Pratt, M. (1998). Relationship of physical activity and television watching with body weight and level of fatness among children. JAMA, 279, 938–942.
4. Frey, B. S., Benesch, C. & Stutzer, A. (2007). Does watching TV make us happy? Journal of Economic Psychology, 28, 283–313
5. Greenberg, J. L., Lewis, S. E. & Dodd, D. K. (1999). Overlapping addictions and self-esteem among college men and women. Addictive Behaviors, 24, 565–571.
6. Kubey, R. & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Television as escape: Subjective experience before an evening of heavy viewing. Communication Reports, 3, 92–100.
7. McIlwraith, R. D. (1998). “I’m addicted to television”: The personality, imagination, and TV watching patterns of self-identified TV addicts. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 42, 371–386.
8. Perse, E. M. & Rubin, A. M. (1990). Chronic loneliness and television use. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 34, 37–53
9. Wang, Q., Fink, E. L. & Cai, D. A. (2008). Loneliness, gender, and parasocial interaction: A uses and gratifications approach. Communication Quarterly, 56, 87–109.
10. Freimuth, M., Waddell, M., Stannard, J., Kelley, S., Kipper, A., Richardson, A. & Szuromi, I. (2008). Expanding the scope of dual diagnosis and co-addictions: Behavioral addictions. Journal of Groups in Addiction & Recovery, 3, 137–160.
11. Sussman, S. & Sussman, A. N. (2011). Considering the definition of addiction. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 8, 4025–4038.
12. Sjoberg, L. & Magneberg, R. (2007). Action sampling of television viewing: A favorite waste of time. Journal of Media Psychology, 12.