A dose of reality can be good - in moderation

REALITY TV is a popular programme genre that exploded in the late 1990s, with the original series, Big Brother and Survivor, being watched by millions around the world.

Reality TV has since taken over, dominating television and the media with about 700 shows worldwide and more appearing each week with new contestants and challenges.

Whether you consider reality television to be a good thing or a bad thing, one thing is for sure: it has affected most of our lives in one way or another.

Reality TV can be educational and realistic. Shows like The Amazing Race widen viewers' knowledge about travel and different cultures around the globe, presenting amazing landscapes and history in a fun and addictive way that people can learn from.

Border Control is also educational, providing the public with information about the consequences of drug smuggling and illegal product importing.

Mitre 10 Dream Home teaches us about buying property, hiring good contractors and the value of a dollar in different geographic areas.

If someone sat you down with a textbook about hiring a contractor, would you be interested? Probably not. But it is fun to watch amazing renovations take place and be inspired about how we could improve our own properties.

Reality TV also creates a positive outlet for those with talent. For example, American Idol made it possible for talented singers without connections to the music scene to prove their skill.

Other shows like X-factor and So You Think You Can Dance feature believable, everyday people who the public can relate to, telling entertaining and inspirational stories about these individuals.

These contest-type shows also create excellent opportunities for family time as whole groups join together to see who's going to stay on for another week.

Moreover, some reality shows, like Missing Pieces, send positive messages. While the participants are clearly coached for the cameras, it is heart-warming to watch family members reunite.

Additionally, the show Undercover Boss creates an opportunity for companies to improve their employee relations while sharing their corporate values with the world. These are all positive communications.

However, reality TV isn't necessarily all educational and true - it often creates an unrealistic view of reality. MTV's 16 and Pregnant and Teen Mom present inaccurate stories on parenting, getting across that "it isn't really that hard".

As the ratings for these shows soared, MTV kept them going for season after season.

Rumours swirled that girls were getting pregnant on purpose to be on 16 and Pregnant, in order to get themselves in the media eye.

The big pay cheque for being on the show does help these girls provide for their child with a comfortable lifestyle. However, not all 16-year-old mums get US$120,000 every year.

Reality television rewards people for being messy and presents terrible messages for the young. Snooki and the others on Jersey Shore act completely inappropriately and are rewarded with fame and fortune.

Even though I have to admit this show is hilarious, it tells people if you act like a fool for reality television, you'll never need to get a real job. And if you are the most outgoing, ridiculous character on a reality show, you'll be rewarded for your behaviour.

This is definitely not what young people need to see on a daily basis.

What's more they may pick up bad habits from the participants of the shows. The amount of swearing and "cat-fights" on some of MTV's contest-based shows is not a good image for the ones watching.

Reality television thrusts people into the spotlight. This can take a normal, well-adjusted person and turn him or her into someone who lives their life just to stay famous.

For example, Jon and Kate Gosselin created a reality show in 2006 (Jon & Kate Plus 8).

They looked around at their eight children and concluded that, basically, doing this TV show is the only way they were ever going to be able to pay for all these kids to have a decent life.

The show inevitably changed them, extracting a price for living their lives so publicly. Their marriage collapsed on air, a terrible thing to happen to eight small children.

Like anything, reality television is both good and bad for society. I think, however, if it is watched responsibly, in moderation and without causing an addiction, it is perfectly fine and will sometimes benefit and enrich your way of looking things.

Meghan Pilkington, Year 12, Pinehurst School