Censorship of Offensive Language in Broadcast Media Should be Based on Age

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Recommended: The effects television has on children's behavior

The extent to which broadcast media should be censored for offensive language and behavior is a complex issue. Standard for the censorship may be quite different across countries in the world. In my point of view, the degree of the censorship should depend on different groups of audience.

It is undoubtedly that the children-oriented programs should be strictly censored. The main reason is that children lack the ability to distinguish between right and wrong. Empirical evidence has shown that unfavorable language and behavior in programs impose negative effect on children’s growth. Kids are very likely to imitate what they have seen in broadcast programs. Gradually they may take indecent actions for granted and even as a way to solve problems. Recent research has pointed out that children who are exposed to offensive language and behavior frequently tend to be more aggressive than those who are not.

On the other hand, censorship on adult programs that broadcasted mainly at night could be less or even none. Adult are able to distinguish good from evil and control their behaviors. Indecent language and behavior exert little impact on their minds and actions. As a result, when adults are exposed to programs including offensive language and behavior, they do not take it serious and perhaps feel more relaxed. Moreover, in a democratic country, individuals have the right to choose what they love to see as long as they do not breach the law.

To sum up, to set a single standard in the censorship of all programs is inappropriate and irrational. It is better to use different criterions to censor broadcast media according to different groups of audience. Government should rigorously censor programs provided for children while do l...

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On the other hand, censorship on adult programs that broadcasted mainly at night could be less or even none. Adult are able to distinguish good from evil and control their behaviors. Indecent language and behavior exert little impact on their minds and actions. As a result, when adults are exposed to programs including offensive language and behavior, they do not take it serious and perhaps feel more relaxed. Moreover, in a democratic country, individuals have the right to choose what they love to see as long as they do not breach the law.

To sum up, to set a single standard in the censorship of all programs is inappropriate and irrational. It is better to use different criterions to censor broadcast media according to different groups of audience. Government should rigorously censor programs provided for children while do little censorship on adult programs.

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