Source: https://bsky.app/profile/funnysnarkyjoke.bsky.social/post/3lmkfwebeuc27
In fact you can use your smartphone to change the channel on nearly any TV. In the comments on that post some people talk about how to do it. Basically you need a smartphone with either builtin IR or use a USB-C IR blaster or if your phone has a 3.5mm headphone jack you can also try one of those but I’m not sure if the 3.5mm ones are as commonly supported.
Easier to just unplug the TV.
There are pros and cons to that.
Advantage is of course you get peace and quiet like that. No TV might feel more relaxing.
Downside is someone might plug the TV in again which will turn it back on to Fox. Changing the channel means you can show unbiased news and maybe if for example you change the station to PBS, people will get educated. People might leave it on the channel you changed it to due to apathy. A TV that’s off is more noticeable.
I’d recommend if it’s possible especially if you’re the only one in the room at the time consider going into the channel editor and removing Fox News and other propaganda stations from the channel list.
Great, well thought out suggestion. I genuinely appreciate this response and love the ingenuity.
Here’s my low tech version: carry a box knife wherever you go (you should be doing this anyway, for personal safety reasons). If you encounter one of these TVs, look around to make sure nobody of consequence is looking. Pull the box knife out and extend the blade. Starting at one of the upper corners of the TV, make a forceful incision on the screen of the TV to the opposite lower corner, deeply cutting through the screen. If you have time, repeat the steps in a mirrored fashion, creating an X, and rendering the appliance useless. Quickly retract the blade and retreat.
Edit: please be sure to use proper box knife safety protocols when following the steps above.