IELTS essay Task 2 writing - TV, cars, fridge

It is suggested that everyone wants to have a car, a television and a fridge. Do the disadvantages of this development for society outweigh the advantages?

It is true that cars, TVs and fridges are the most popular consumer goods over the world and are considered essential products to enjoy comfortable and fulfilment lifestyle. While there are many negative impacts on people caused by this trend, I am inclined to their obvious advantages to the community.

On the one hand, there is a belief that health problems posed by these consumer products should not be underestimated. Frequent usage of all three items clearly contributes to more sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy habits. Cars and TVs discourage people from physical activities such as jogging, walking short distances or taking exercise, which entails to produce increasingly ‘couch potatoes’. Furthermore, many people, especially youngsters, are accustomed to seeking fattening treats stored in fridge at any hours. Consequently, these can be the roots of several serious illnesses like obesity, diabetes or stroke, which are often caused by an unhealthy diet.

On the other hand, I support the view of those who contend that the benefits of these products are more significant than such disadvantages. First of all, cars are evidently an integral part of personal mobility, which enables people to save considerable time for movements. Moreover, TVs bring into our homes an excellent way not only to entertain but also to broaden viewers’ knowledge through news programmes or educational channels such as Discovery Channel. Last but not least, thanks to the convenience of fridge, food can be stored safely for a long time, so that people can reduce a great deal of waste and visits to the supermarket can be made less frequently.

In conclusion, while the disadvantages of modern equipment such as cars, TVs or fridges are inherent, I would argue that the advantages of these consumer products outweigh their drawbacks.