It’s easy to call reality TV stupid. Or inane. Or just boring. But could it be nefarious? Could it actually making us all way too accepting of perpetual surveillance? Maybe.
There’s no real answer, but PBS Idea Channel dives into the question, examining a number of its fascinating facets. Does surveillance-style reality TV subconsciously make us feel like part of living life is being observed? What is privacy anyway? Is it the same for you as it is for me? (Spoiler: it’s not.)
But knowing whether or not reality TV is really changing our minds about privacy and surveillance would require a parallel world/heaven without reality TV. Other than that we just have to guess. What do you think? [PBS Ideal Channel]