Some people believe that television has destroyed communication among friends and family members. I partly agree with this statement, because television can reduce conversation, but I do not think it has completely destroyed communication.
On the one hand, television can have a negative effect on communication. Firstly, when people watch TV, they usually focus on the screen and do not talk to each other. In many families, people eat dinner in front of the TV, so they do not talk about their day. For example, in my neighbour's house, the TV is always on during meals, and the family members rarely talk to each other. Secondly, some people spend many hours every day watching TV, so they have less time to visit friends or do activities with their family. Thirdly, family members may argue about which programme to watch, especially if there is only one TV in the house.
On the other hand, I do not think television has destroyed communication completely. In fact, television can sometimes help people to communicate. Firstly, watching TV together can be a family activity. For example, my family often watches football matches or films together at the weekend, and we talk about them and have fun. Secondly, TV programmes give people interesting topics to talk about. Friends often discuss popular TV shows, news or sports events when they meet. Thirdly, nowadays smartphones and the internet have a much bigger effect on communication than television.
In my opinion, the problem is not television itself but how people use it. If families limit their TV time and turn it off during meals, they can still communicate well.
In conclusion, I partly agree that television can reduce communication, but I disagree that it has destroyed communication among friends and family.