Does TV negatively affect the minds of kids?

Do you believe that allegedly 'questionable' images on television have the power to negatively influence and/or be detrimental to the minds of children?

I think it's possible, especially since positive things on TV can have likewise positive effects on kids. We can kid ourselves all we want but the bottom line is TV is a heavy medium and what kids see have a big influence on them. Fonzie gets a library card, library card registry goes up 500% that week, The Facts of Life deals with suicide, and they get letters from hundreds of kids thanking them for talking about it so they know they weren't alone in how they were feeling. So likewise why couldn't the more negative aspects affect them? But stuff like does watching people smoke on TV make kids smoke? Hell no, that's a cop out by parents who are too weak to put their feet down.

On TV?? I doubt it. Now the computer that is another story its a whole world of corruption for their little minds out there.

I have no doubt that TV does affect not only children but adults as much. Also, as much as adults want to deny it also influence the masses.

Businesses know this reality and that is why they spend millions of dollars on commercials and they do this targeting groups of all ages and both genders. They are not stupid. They would not spend so much money if they thought that people in general were less susceptible to their tactics. If this happens with adult children that are much more impressionable can be affected either positively or negatively from what they see on TV.

You have a great day.
Friendly Veteran

Only the kids who aren't being properly raised by their parents. If they are, then not much outside influence will "negatively" affect them.