People see technology as a means of progress and the creation of a moral society. Thus, television is one of the ways to learn more about the world. However, some say that it is also a tool used to control people. One of the brightest examples of a pessimistic view on television is George Orwell’s book 1984. On the one hand, people get to know certain information from television, but in the majority of cases, the information provided is fake. It is possible to note that the disinformation people are exposed to is aimed at total control over the masses.
Moreover, the screens in each room are also a means of creating a specific mood and attitude. Thus, there were numerous Two Minutes of Hate and the most “horrible thing . . . was not that one was obliged to act a part, but that it was impossible to avoid joining in.” People had to look at their screens, and they could not help feeling hatred toward nations they knew nothing about. Furthermore, each screen was not only a means of broadcasting but also a means of total surveillance. Those who did not participate in assigned activities took great risks as police could come and arrest them.
Clearly, Orwell’s view on technology is pessimistic as he describes it as an effective way to control people. Of course, there can be a certain degree of truth in that, but in the real-world setting, technology serves as a tool of progress though people should not forget about some elements of control which are also apparent (for example, advertisements, one-sided stories, numerous shows and so on which can shape the public opinion).