I grew up being accustomed to having the TV as background noise but stopped watching it when I moved out. Now, when I visit my parents, it's honestly quite difficult for me to focus on conversation - there's a machine in the corner making deliberately attention-grabbing sights and sounds. So I think your experience is normal & I empathise with the generation that complained about TV ruining family life.

It is terrible, yet quite some people rather have that distracting noise, than hear their own thoughts.

For some it is just the illusion of having more people around them, though.

Same and same and same, but I know exactly why I won't leave the telly on - I'm very susceptible. It grabs me. Even though I have no interest in ads or even 95% of programming. It's not a pleasant feeling.

There are people who like to hear other humans blathering on all around them. Then there are sane people.

We're outnumbered.

John Von Neumann liked to do math with the TV on as background noise. Genius.

When you have permanent background noise in the form of Tinnitus already it's an improvement.

Millennials are currently in their late 20s to early 40s.