by Isabella Pastora

Created on: September 16, 2008   Last Updated: October 09, 2011

Simply put, yes. Determining whether a television show is detrimental to children or merely inappropriate for their age group is one of many reasons network censors and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) exist. While it may seem like a daunting task to a busy parent to familiarize themselves with what their children are viewing, censorship isn't the answer and is detrimental and inappropriate for everyone. Taking an adult's right to decide for themselves, as well as for their children, what they deem to be inappropriate, is a drastic step to take to when a more obvious solution would be to have parents monitor their own family's viewing habits.

When I was a child, my mom had to either pre-screen television shows, or simply not allow my sister and me to view them. Fortunately, for today's parent, those archaic days are over and the option to censor inappropriate material from children has become fairly easy. Parental guidelines provided in the upper corner of television screens when a program begins, indicate what can be expected of the shows material and whether it contains strong language, sexual situations and/or violence.

These ratings go as far as to provide what age groups each individual rating falls into, and if and when a parent should be still be there to supervise. Parental guidelines, when coupled with the V-chip, a computer chip that allows a parent to block certain channels and comes with all televisions built after the year 2000, give parents the tools they need to protect their children.

Cartoon shows that are intended for children and therefore air during the day, contain large amounts of violence, which children often try to mimic. Adult cartoons do contain strong language and sexual situations, but they are meant for an adult viewer and that is why these "adult" cartoons can only air after a certain hour. I find it very amusing that primetime shows are so regulated considering what airs during the day, as anyone who's been home watching TV in the afternoon can testify to.

Soap operas and daytime talk shows have content far more "adult" than any cartoon and are on TV when young children are either home or coming home from school. I've yet to hear that for the sake of children, these programs should get pulled off the air. The reality is that not all parents agree on what is appropriate for their children, or for themselves for that matter and I've yet to meet an adult who appreciates being told what they can or cannot see on television.

Learn more about this author, Isabella Pastora.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.