10:01AM, Nov 02, 2009
We knew this day was coming.
Research shows that soaps and reality TV are good for you, yeah!
Shows like EastEnders and Coronation Street could even cut birth rates and stop people taking drugs and X Factor style contests may encourage people to vote in general elections.
The claims are made by economist Charles Kenny, writing in Foreign Policy magazine. He’s studied the effects of television watching worldwide and believes the popularity of soaps and reality could even improve the position of women in society.
For example, when a woman reached the final five of Afghan Star, the Middle East’s version of The X Factor, this year, the director suggested it would: "Do more for women's rights than all the millions of dollars we have spent on public service announcements for women's rights on TV."
Kenny also claims that storylines which portray single mums like EastEnders’ Heather Trott (Cheryl Fergison) in a positive light resonate with viewers and help them come to terms with the issues.
He also believes that the increase in TV ownership across the world reduces drug use and birth rates by simply giving people something else to do in the evening.
It seems our guilty pleasures may not be quite so guilty after all.
