Is Bigg Boss Hazardous To Mental Health?

Bigg Boss reality game show has gained popularity with the very first season(2006) in India with the Hindi version. And the new concept in India grabbed all the attention. The Telugu Bigg boss started in 2017 and from the past four years, the audience finds the show most entertaining and nail-biting. However, some contents and episodes in the show will have mildly unpleasant visuals which can leave an indelible mark on one’s mental health, especially kids and teens who are watching it regularly. The taunts, arguments, fights, and abuses have a great impact on our behaviors subconsciously.

Some housemates were seen asking them to eliminate from the show or send them out of the house and the situation occurs when one is unable to take unhealthy arguments and harsh situations anymore. In Hindi, the eccentricity of conflicts among contestants is skyrocketing with every season year after year. The viewers are getting exposed to a lot of hatred and conflicts and in rare conditions, even some housemates act weirdly abnormal for unknown reasons. 

It is true that Bigg boss is being loved by the masses because it showcases people of different walks of life and unique personalities, including various reputed celebrities. And the concept of locking housemates inside for 100 days is unique. But the idea of the concept depends on the psychology of what a player gives and the viewer takes. For instance, if a viewer admires a particular contestant and he behaves aggressively in the house, chances are that the admirer tries to impersonate him in real life. After all, negative things such as gossiping, smoking, laziness, eating unhealthy, etc attract us faster than their positive counterparts.

Some episodes, irrespective of language and versions, also showcased how housemates thought of suicides and struggling with suicidal tendencies. And speaking of such, negative events gets laid on brains more than positive. It is sad to learn that the show chooses contestants who are involved in controversies. The TRP ratings and public attention has become vital than the audience’s mental health. 

Sunil Mittal, The Director of the Cosmos Institute of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences (CIMBS) said “Bigg Boss is an interesting social experiment with people living in a closed space with no connection with the outside world. Even during the pandemic (when people were locked inside the house), people had a connection with cellphones, but in the (Bigg Boss) house that is also not there. It has a huge impact on the mental health of people who are inside, and the people who are watching it,” emphasizing the fact that the show promotes bullying and aggressive behavior.