Life has become busy. Most to all family members are involved in so many time-consuming activities that it's easier to turn on a TV as a way of being involved in relationships, where in real-life, they no longer have time to do that. Also, since it is so popular to watch these, people tend to do it because their friends, schoolmates or co-workers do it. It's a way of being part of something that not only other people you know are, but others all over the world. It takes less effort and energy to sit and watch and become passively involved, yet still feel involved. You can also get attached to the participants in the shows and feel you know them.