Why I quit reality TV...
A few months ago, I quit a “guilty pleasure” — reality TV.
Like many of my friends — entrepreneurs, CEOs, and executives — I was using it as a mind-numbing distraction to help me unwind and relax after a long day at work.
Whether it’s living vicariously through the glamorous life of the Kardashians or anticipating who will say “yes” at the altar and prove that ‘Love is Blind,’ it’s clear that the drama of reality TV is used as an escape from, well, reality. After all, it’s a relatively mind-numbing affair.
In the US, approximately 79% of adults who watch TV also watch reality shows, and 47% of these reality show viewers consider them “guilty pleasures” (good to know I’m not the only one). However, this guilty pleasure comes with a health cost.
Reality TV is toxic and damaging in the long run, as it desensitizes us to real emotions by how it trivializes and commoditizes drama and human relationships. It’s entertainment that is built on melodrama, gossip, and unhealthy relationships.
Recently, on my podcast HYPERSCALE, futurist and behavioral scientist Chris Marshall explained that we only have limited cognitive energy to use throughout our day — do we really want to spend a portion of it on fake drama? That’s not to mention that watching “real” shows that involve confrontations, drama, and high-pressure situations can also release stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline (Watch the episode).
The impact of reality TV is even worse on children and teens, as these shows can manipulate them into having a negative body image, low self-esteem, and being emotionally immature.
Since I’ve quit, I’m reading more (currently enjoying Aubrey de Grey's Ending Aging) and spending more time doing, well, nothing. Yes, despite what hustle culture will tell you, it’s okay to spend alone time doing nothing but being in thought. It actually improves our mood and makes us more creative and productive. I’m already feeling the difference.
