Uncovering the positive impact of reality TV: Exploring its benefits beyond the gossip
|Published
Have you ever wondered why people are so addicted to watching their favourite shows on television? Have you ever wondered why reality television is so popular?
What is our fascination exactly with reality television? I believe we are all allowed one or two guilty pleasures.
I admit that I have been known to “escape” into the world of “Love Island”, “The Real Housewives” or “The Bachelor”, from time to time.
And with the first episode of “B'dazzled by Bonang” having aired on Monday, July 29, my heart couldn't be happier as it's been such a long time since we last saw Bonang Matheba on our screens.
Who is not fascinated by your girl “B’s” life?
There are lots of reality television shows that are great. Some people would consider reality shows to be television trash and believe that watching a mere 15 minutes of it could kill a million of your brain cells.
But still, why do we watch it so much? What is it about reality television that captivates our generation? Below are a few reasons to better explain this.
They remind us to not take life too seriously
Even though we can't always afford to go on these beautiful, extravagant vacations that these people get to do, we can still take something away from the experiences.
Many of the shows remind us, time and time again, that friendship is everything. No matter what life throws our way, good or bad, friends should be there through thick and thin.
They also remind us to never let life get too serious, because that's when we stop living. As Khloe Kardashian once said, "You have your whole life to be old, but you only have a few years to be young."
So drink some wine and enjoy time with friends and family. You will only regret the experiences you don't partake in.
We learn from them
On these shows, we witness a wide range of personality traits and relationship standards, and viewers frequently discover people with whom they can identify.
If you are going through something similar, you can relate to a character expressing romantic feelings. Many people are inspired by these characters.
It’s all about fantasy
The growing fascination with reality television also stems from our desire to fantasise about the prospect of easily acquired fame.
The stars of these reality show, such as “Love Island” for example, spend anywhere from a few days to a few months on these programmes and then seem to be instant hits, acquiring hundreds of thousands of Instagram followers and dealing with beauty and clothing brands, just because the whole world watched as they lay around in a bikini for a few days.
They are a welcome break from our stressful lives
I find that watching reality television shows helps me put into perspective much of the over-thinking I do.
This is undoubtedly thanks to the light-heartedness of the atmosphere created and the plots created by the producers. These offer a welcome break from the stresses and worrying of our busy lives.
They are a great way to learn about other cultures
Another great reason to watch reality television is that it can be educational. You can learn about other cultures and lifestyles you may be unfamiliar with.
If you want to learn more about a particular culture, reality TV is a great way to do that. You can also learn about different lifestyles and how people live in other parts of the world.