American Idol

One of the most interesting phenomena in the United States is the popularity of reality TV. One of the most popular shows is American Idol. People like shows like American Idol so much because it stars everyday people just like themselves. They can relate to the people on the screen and the contestants could be their neighbor or their friends. American Idol appeals to the idea of the American Dream, before the show you could make a living serving hamburgers and after the show you could be famous touring the world. People like to watch show like American Idol because they like the idea that it could be them or someone they know living the American Dream.

Another reason that American Idol is so popular is that people love to watch the auditions in the beginning. These auditions are filled with people that can not sing. Watching the audition episodes can be humorous but also mildly cruel as Simon Cowell harshly rejects contestants that think they are genuinely talented. The reason that this is so appealing to the American public goes back to the simple fact that people love comedy. The contestants’ awful singing and Simon Cowell’s outrageous remakes make entertaining TV.

MySpace

The rising interest among younger generations is MySpace. Many people believe this website is just an online popularity contest and a haven for internet predators. You can become friends with just about anyone and the more friends that you have the “cooler” you are. Children as young as about ten are getting on MySpace, lying about their age, and becoming friends with as many people as they can. Obviously this becomes a very dangerous problem because other people such as internet predators can create a MySpace and lie about their age and who they are as well. Also some people post very personal information on their MySpace such as their phone number, address, and e-mail.

The other side of the MySpace argument is that it helps keep people in touch. If you have not seen someone since grammar or high-school, you can go on their MySpace and see what they have been doing. You can also write comments on their wall for everyone to see or send them a private message. It serves as a network to keep in touch with a number of people that you may not necessarily pick up the phone and call. MySpace also serves as an online diary and everyone can see what has been going on in your life. You can post pictures, notes, and use your MySpace as a way to express yourself.