Are soaps dumbing down or do they reflect social realism?

Some people would agree that soaps are 'dumbing down' and are 'jump TV' but on the other hand some would disagree.

• Because soaps are not seen as intellectual programs.
• Soaps have numbers of incidents and issues that occur to a certain group of people.
• Soaps encourage to see life in very simple, black and white ways.
• The tabloid press focus so heavily on events in soaps that people lose sight of the distinction between reality and television, characters and actors/actresses. 

However:

• Soaps reflect the society in which we live and encourage us to reflect on our own lives and attitudes.
• Soaps are hugely popular because they are relevant to the lives of the audience.
• Soaps reflect social issues in a topical, challenging and responsible way, maintaining a balance between drama and realism.
• Soaps depict ordinary people, different genders, and people from different ethnic backgrounds in positive ways.