Television and the Family: The Question of Control

While television consumes nearly one fourth of our existence, attempts to investigate and control this medium have largely been sporadic and ineffectual. Typically, parents are uninvolved, as are child development and family relations specialists. Given the existing network programing philosophy and the tentativeness of research on televised violence and viewer aggressiveness, the case for parental control in addition to concerted efforts of networks, sponsors, and the federal government is presented. Concurrently, the circularity of TV broadcasting sustenance is also discussed relating to effective points of interventive responsibility. Ten recycled principles are proposed for remedial reconsideration and action.