Does anyone actually care what happens to the people in the reality show John and Kate plus Eight? Many people had never had even heard about that show until their marriage scandal hit the mainstream. What about Spencer and Heidi from the reality television show The Hills? Why is everyone so interested in these two spoiled twenty-somethings? Many people do seem to care about these people, whether they love or hate them, but why?
I have recently dropped my cable company in favor of Netflix and Hulu. This has eliminated the amount of television I watch that I don’t really care about. Sometimes the shows I used to watch were reruns of television reality shows. I was (and still am) a sucker for Rob and Big because I think that Rob Dyrdek is genuinely hilarious and I like his energy. Through the reality show, I made a personal connection to Rob and his entourage.
One of the reasons that I made a personal connection to the characters was because the reality show gave me a glimpse into their lives. Because of this connection, I am much more interested in what they do in the future. The problem with reality television is much like the one facing dramatic television and movie stars. The general public feels as if they know the star, but the star knows nothing about the individual fan. The relationship is one sided.
This contrasts heavily to the connections I have built with friends over social media. Because of services such as Twitter and the personal blog, we are able to make connections with others who share interests but whom we would never have met otherwise. I created this website and have made several connections to others via their own websites. I can not stress enough how helpful and enjoyable these relationships have been and how much I have learned from the blogging community as a whole.
This leads me back to my original point. The connection I have formed with my online friends has given me a personal interest in how they are doing. Instead of waiting for the next episode of some trashy reality television show, I can update my Google Reader or Twitter feed to get updates. What is even better is that these people will respond when I reach out to congratulate them or offer my advice. Social media will eventually destroy reality television by allowing users to form meaningful and mutual connections with others around the world.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Ben. I agree with you – there is much more to be said for the value social media/networking can bring. It’s fulfilling to the soul because we’re able to learn SO much from one another – something that can never be accomplished from watching TV. But there is something to be said for the ‘mindlessness’ of it all. No, I’m not a fan of the Hills or Jon and Kate, but sometimes, after spending all day @ work on the computer, then coming home and working on a blog, I just want to set my laptop down and do something that requires little thought – which usually consists of watching Seinfeld reruns on TBS or playing Xbox.
My point is, there will always be a place for both – but people crave entertainment that involves interaction – and it will be interesting to see how television, as a medium, continues to evolve in competition for more people turning off the tube and going online.
@Matt – One of the things that I was worried about in this post was to sound like one of THOSE guys, who doesn’t own a television and looks down on those who do. I am definitely not like that, most recently I have been fighting a Rock Band addiction on my Xbox. Mindless Xbox playing definitely has its place in a daily routine. I was just trying to make the point that most television, especially when MTV is not music videos, is counterproductive. They waste your time, assulting you with advertisements meant to convince you into spending money.
We may not be best friends, but I know you well enough to know you’re not one of ‘those guys’ so no worries there – wasn’t accusing you of being ‘too good for TV’. Most TV is counterproductive, I agree – but then again, I’ll go back to my initial argument, sometimes I just want to be counterproductive – to not use my brain and watch Rock of Love, LOL.
Another couple great things about that (I really loathe reality TV, but my sister/roomie is a huge fan so I’m generally blogging on the couch with the white noise of MTV/VH1/Brain Slop) First being that most people are actually genuine online. We all know the horror stories of people who make stuff up, but the people I like to connect with are the ones I know to be sincere. You can’t get that on Reality TV!
Secondly, thru these fake “relationships” you learn about new things and new people. I’m not talking the same way that a Bachelor season can spurn a Bachelorette, but in the way that I found you thru Matt & Ryan and am now very intrigued reading thru your blog. You can actually create a “personal” relationship with people rather than “feeling” like you have one.
@Matt – Have you ever seen the show called The Soup? The show is hilarious, it plays ridiculous clips from each reality show for that week. Most of the time that is the largest amount reality television that I can handle. It seemed like every week Rock of Love would have a clip on the show of some hilarious clip. That show was definitely one of those train wrecks that you couldn’t stop watching. Haha, actually, when I was living in Chicago, I saw the Rock of Love bus and had no idea what it was until I saw the show a few months later!
@Elisa – Thanks for stopping by! I agree with you about people being genuine online. It seems that most people who have put themselves out there with a blog or another online presence are always open to connecting with others doing the same.
That is another good point about these relationships formed online, they can lead to other interesting ones with new people, much like when you are networking for a new job. You never know which person could lead you to your next opportunity, so you should always keep yourself open to new things and meeting new people. So thanks for stopping by and for your intrigue! I am excited to hear more of your insight in the future.
Hi Benjamin,
I haven’t commented on your blog before but I’ve been meaning to check it out for a while now. Found you through Matt’s blog, obviously and I’m glad that I did.
I think saying that social media will replace reality tv is a pretty bold statement and kudos for saying it but I must respectfully disagree with you, partly because I think you’re talking about two different things. I’m not sure if social media is comparable to reality tv–it seems to me an apple and oranges thing.
On the one hand, reality tv is escapist fantasy. Most people enjoy watching reality tv because it doesn’t require their input and they live vicariously through the “characters”. It also seems to me that it allows people to get their fill of schadenfreude , which is a weird reason to watch tv if you ask me, but it sure seems to make some people happy. But I don’t think people watch reality tv to connect with LC or Jon + Kate.
Social media, on the other hand, is networking upgraded and that usually requires efforts and a purpose. The purpose just might be to make more friends but the twenty-something demographic also recognizes the power of networking at all times because of potential benefits. Everyone has motives for building relationships as adults, since we all learned that having a huge entourage of friends is not necessary the key to success as adults. In this I agree with you since having a viable support system that is both fun and valuable is definitely worthy of your time more so than Jon + Kate.
Having said that, I really like Gene Simmons Family Jewels. I’m not really sure why since they don’t do weirdly trashy things that is like watching a train-wreck in progress but I think that’s one of the reasons why I’m fascinated. Gene Simmons, self-proclaimed Rock God, has an abnormally normal family. Who knew?
@Mandy, Thanks for checking out my blog! First of all I needed to look up the term “schadenfreude,” but now that I know the definition (pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others) I agree that it is a weird reason to watch. Although now that I think about it, more people probably watch reality television for this reason than any others.
Could you not argue that social media (and maybe even friendship in general) has an aspect of escapist fantasy? Using Matt as an example, he has moved to Chicago without a job and will be living there unemployed, by his own choice. I think there are a lot of people who’s deepest fantasy is to quit their job and move somewhere new. Because of his story, I am even more interested in his updates in order to live vicariously through his journey. I understand that most networking requires a purpose, but there are people who I have made connections with online solely because they have genuinely interesting lives and I now care what happens next.
I would quit my cable service just because I am NOT a fan of anything that is on during the summer. I need my hockey games which I am sure I could find online but I still don’t want to give up on the DVR. I am paying for a service which is rarely on.
I don’t understand the entire reality show thing either. I have never been a fan but I do know people who are. FUN TIMES!