When I was asked to offer a more critical perspective on the Kardashian family, nothing came to mind initially.  In a lot of ways, I have respect for them — they were able to create immense fame and fortune out of very little, which is commendable.

However, after thinking about it further I realized two things: a) they are making a negative impact on viewers of the show, and b) their popularity says a lot about present day society.

Firstly, the Kardashians have been a catalyst for our new found obsession with how we look on the outside. They are indecent and lewd (it is worth noting that Kim Kardashian got famous from a sex tape), reinforcing the idea that outward appearance is what matters. The immense popularity of Kylie Cosmetics shows this — people are becoming increasingly obsessed with looking attractive.

An ISB viewer of Keeping up with the Kardashians, who requested for anonymity, admitted that they found themselves caring much more about how they looked as they started to watch the show more and more. “I find it hard not to look at my reflection when I walk by a mirror. A good chunk of my friend group watches the show, and I find it difficult to maintain my self-esteem when we are always talking about how we look.”

Furthermore, a study in Japan showed that children who viewed reality TV for long periods of time had their brain structure altered, which resulted in lower verbal IQs. It is clear that Keeping up with the Kardashians and other reality TV shows are not making a positive influence.

What deserves equal criticism is the society that we have created. We live in a society obsessed with social media and celebrities. A society that gravitates towards the senseless drama presented on Keeping up with the Kardashians. Why should we blame the Kardashians for doing something that makes them filthy rich?

We are supposed to be at the pinnacle of human existence, yet it is clear that we have lost sight of our priorities. I am especially worried about our younger generations, as Keeping up with the Kardashians has a very low average viewer age of 33. Kylie Jenner is also very popular amongst girls aged 13-21, with many seeing her as a role model, according to Moneyish.

The Kardashians are almost their own religion at this point (Snapchat lost over a billion dollars when Jenner criticized their new update), and combined with our record-low attention spans, the future of humanity is uncertain, will we ever become the advanced civilization we are supposed to be?

Craig Dawe