Does watching t.v. shows or playing video games in 4:3 format cause burn-in

[Wizard]

More or less yeah. It all happens to deal with your settings, like contrast etc.

[Agozer]

If you are playing a game or something along those lines, and leave for a long time without turning of the console/PC/whatever - just turn off the TV. Saves electricity, and certainly won't give any chance for image retention. Plus, image retention (and subsequently burn-in) happens most often when you leave the TV on, with a static picture and lots of bright colors.

 

As for movies with black borders and such, listen to Solidus.

[L.S.D]

Good to know this. Never thought a burn in could happened on a LCD TV. my old CRT monitor do have the residue image of a website burn in but hardly noticable.