This paper talks about V-chips and content rating. It discusses a controversial issue relevant to mass media by looking at whether V-chips and content rating are essential practices or not. The paper starts with a research outline that discusses how the topic relates to the course at hand, to what extent it is or can prove to be useful, and also why the topic that the paper bases its arguments on has chosen the topic that was selected. After the research outline, the paper discusses the topic by looking at both sides of the argument – that yes content rating is necessary and no, a content rating is unethical and not necessary. This part of the paper has been based on thorough research employing books, articles, journals, academic resources as well as web sources.
Introduction
V-chip refers to a device that is used to block or screen certain channels and programs which is directly based on the ratings that are there for those programs as content rating. Usually, when there is parental control or control that needs to be influenced on children that do not qualify to watch those channels and programs, these V-chips are used. With the use of this V-chip technology henceforth, many programs or channels that depict sexual or violent content or language can hence be kept off the reach of children and small kids, protecting them henceforth from such exploitative content. The V-chip technology uses a passcode that is known to the parents and the children or anyone who is not supposed to watch those shows or channels is kept uninformed about it.
This paper analyses the effect of the mass media’s influence on the minds of our children and younger audience today. It highlights how this effect has been getting more and more negative. It can be said that society itself has been depicting such a crude picture of itself which is usually an exaggerated form of what the actual condition is like. This is the media’s fault altogether. There is always a time for everything, therefore I believe that V-chip technology provides parents a control that they can practice since they have a right to let their children be exposed to the kind of information, pictures, and content that they want them to be exposed to. If it is the case otherwise, then parents can develop a feeling of helplessness and many also argue that the children develop such profound effect and impact of the content that they see that they start imitating behaviors quite a lot. (Anderson, D., 2001) This is one side of the argument that the paper includes in it. This side of the argument calls for allowing V-chip technology based on content rating and allowing bans on certain programs that parents do not feel are fit for viewing by children.
The other side of the argument the paper takes is one I myself am not in support of. This side says that the television itself should not broadcast such content at all and should really mind itself first since there is no complete elimination of exposure percentage that children can have of exploitative, sexual, profane, foul and violent content. To give weight to this argument, various statistics in the form of documented research have been mentioned as well.
Manipulation by the mass media today
The media today can be held responsible for the implicit force behind people’s actions since the hidden characteristics of mediums used by the media are powerful enough to move people into doing things they otherwise will not do. Manipulation can take the form of anything that uses media as a forum, therefore. Media hence being of many forms is often used as a manipulation tool to provide information that actually inflicts someone else’s opinions on people through the mass media. Mass media can be of many types- this includes print, video, internet, television, etc.
Mass media has its set of advantages and disadvantages. It starts with the ability to communicate effectively, which forms the first most integral advantage of the mass media. Apart from increasing connectivity and communication within the different parts of the world, it also helps in implementing the characteristics of globalization.
Another advantage of the mass media is imparting all kinds of information and knowledge without any barriers as such. Last but not least, it also helps in widening people’s horizons and letting campaigns win, etc., by educating people about the world in general which includes advertising, and corporate side-related initiatives.
The disadvantages of mass media firstly include media being a tool used for manipulation which obviously then involves the threat of usage in terms of depicting false information and/or providing tweaked information. Another disadvantage includes the negative influence of the mass media on children, whereby oftentimes children use the media as a platform through which they realize goals that are untrue of real-life goals. Also, mass media can result in panic and unrest as well. Last but not least, it can also lead to wrong perceptions in the minds of all people who are exposed to this kind of information.
One side of the controversy
V-chips and Content Rating should be allowed
The Argument Itself
This part of the paper the argument by saying that yes V-chip technology should be allowed and content ratings promoted. It should all be there since today, with the kind of programs and shows that are shown on the television it is very difficult to control one’s children and bring them up with values and integrity attached. Society itself has been depicting such a crude picture of itself which is usually an exaggerated form of what the actual condition is like. There is always a time for everything, therefore I believe that V-chip technology provides parents a control that they can practice since they have a right to let their children be exposed to the kind of information, pictures, and content that they want them to be exposed to. If it is the case otherwise, then parents can develop a feeling of helplessness and many also argue that the children develop such profound effect and impact of the content that they see that they start imitating behaviors quite a lot. (Anderson, D., 2001).
There have hence also been little children killing their siblings ‘by mistake’, since they were simply role-playing the ‘action hero’ they saw on the television last night that was very ‘cool’, since he could kill everyone with his ‘really cool’ gun etc. Every year research into this area tells us that crime rates are high and many of these crime incidents are the result of what the media has started to show in the programs, without realizing whether certain age groups, gender or origin are adapt to watching that content or getting exposed to it. (Anderson, D., 2001).
Research in Canada shows that ninety-one percent of the people or families that were interviewed wanted the content ratings to continue; and eighty-six percent of them said that they liked how the programs based on the content ratings labeled programs as C or C8, meaning they are okay for children and children above eight respectively, for instance. Eighty-eight percent hence also said that they liked the idea of not having to worry to check the program being watched since the ratings would immediately let them know whether they should be seen by a certain age group or not. After approval of such a huge magnitude, this side of the argument stands very impressive since the majority supports it (Price, M., 1998).
Another side of the controversy
No, V-chips and Content Ratings are not necessary
This part of the paper holds an opinion that is opposite to mine and therefore is backed by pure research moreover. Do we need to put blocks and bans on channels for our kids to not get exposed to them during the night hours when we are away when in reality they can watch just that during the afternoon as well? Should it be necessary to block all the channels that depict sexual content and foul and violent language/content, when similar stuff is already being known to them through sources like websites, news channels, and music videos on channels like MTV?
This side of the argument explores the importance of television itself is made to be clean and not what it has become now, since any controls and bans would prove to be fruitful unless the reason behind the matter itself or the root of the problem is eradicated. A campaign by the name of ‘Enough is Enough’, claimed that there are at least two channels on cable TV always that expose children to content that is actually for adults. For this purpose, there are entire documentation and research studies under the name of PTC or Parents Television Council for view. The campaign also said that channels like BET and MTV, at least once in every thirty-eight seconds show explicit and profane content like ‘Rap City’ and ‘Sucker Free’, respectively. (This figure dates back to March 2008) (Adrienne, T. Washington, 2008).
Music videos these days that are known to everyone, are shown on many television channels irrespective of what generally the channels show. Sometimes, the song lyrics are so shocking and offensive that they should be made to be filtered through as well. This is not the case though since it is almost impossible to put a block on anything and everything that is exploitive and offensive and unethical. Therefore, again the child is exposed to such content. The graphics sometimes too are so harsh that a child after subsequent exposure feels as if it is, for instance, normal to go kill that kid down the street who has been annoying for quite some time now.
Research has shown that during December 2007, there were one thousand six hundred and forty-seven instances of ‘not suitable for children’s content, during only twenty-seven and a half hours of viewing. It is, hence as this side of the argument proposes, almost humanly impossible to ban all these one thousand six hundred and forty-seven instances of bad content, and therefore the proposal of the television minding itself and cleaning up after its own acts seems reasonable and rational. (Adrienne, T. Washington, 2008). Another research in Canada shows that ninety-one percent of the people or families that were interviewed wanted the content ratings to continue. (Price, M., 1998).
Every year research into this area tells us that crime rates are high and many of these crime incidents are the result of what the media has started to show in the programs, without realizing whether certain age groups, gender or origin are adapt to watching that content or getting exposed to it. (Anderson, D., 2001).
Where programs like ABC Family and Nickelodeon are concerned for instance, does it really seem like these are ‘suitable’ for exposure to little children even though they are channels that come under the ‘Family channels’ category? It does not seem so when programs like Gilmore Girls are showed on ABC Family with certain episodes focusing on materialistic things like better body, features, etc. (Huff, R., 2005) Another example, that of Nickelodeon is that even though this is purely a kid channel, it shows programs like ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ and ‘Roseanne’, that focus on such serious family issues that children do not need to ponder over at that fragile age. Another fact that remains is many a time, news channels are featuring very harsh content and these do not even come with ratings, so what then? So, if a parent actually does go even farther by blocking Nickelodeon, the child gets more worried since he or she is also now deprived of programs like Dora – the Explorer or SpongeBob Square pants. (Huff, R., 2005) Yet another issue that stands out is the fact that when so much apparently is relied on these content ratings, what is the credibility behind them? This is relevant to the fact that there are so many issues behind who actually sits and checks whether these ratings are reliable or not. Therefore, it is said that the content ratings, should they really be exposed to self-ratings themselves, before actually relying on them, proves to be another issue, and hence it can be said that they too hence stand flawed if they do not have credibility. (Hargrave, A., 2009).
Therefore, V-chips and content ratings should not be used as a solution to the menace of manipulation and influence of negativity on children by the mass media. Rather the television itself should not broadcast such content at all and should really mind itself first since there is no complete elimination of exposure percentage that children can have of exploitative, sexual, profane, foul and violent content.
My opinion
Shramm’s theories tell us that the influence of media is ‘one to one’. Theories like these even support the view that if media is considered a catalyst, then it could be used as a tool by anyone including politicians to make people and entities depict behavior desirable by them. (King, S., n.d.) Scholars who study communication say that media could be used as tools just like the way any tool is used for promoting something or persuade someone or something to indulge oneself in any act, way of thinking or lifestyle, etc. (King, S., n.d.)
Wilber Shramm says that two types of theories exist when it comes to media and its influence. He says that either media is seen to be as a tool needed for fulfillment of a wish or it is displayed and used as a social learning tool. Individuals, according to Shramm use media as a way to satisfy one’s uses and gratifications. This way of thinking is said to be in correlation with the ‘diffusion’ model and the development theory when we say that media is being used by policymakers as a tool for the promotion of widespread social change. Here, the only difference is that a macro-level effect can be seen. (King, S., n.d.)
In line with what is being discussed, what can we say when we see shootings taking place in our schools? What comes to our minds when we see headings related to the Columbian High School shooting incidents? In the United States, the Battle Royale episode provides itself as proof of the media controversy there since the rise in popularity of movies since the 1920s and the rise in television since the 1950s. The arguments about television and movies being found entertaining by one lot and criticized for their violence and inappropriateness by the other will keep going on. I believe however that the connection there exists between the increase in crime rates and aggression in general – basically, the exposure to TV violence and imitations of a crime of a very violent nature is not merely a coincidence. Rather, this is what has become an apparent truth of our lives. Shramm, Lyle and Parker, all of this view also. (Bryant, J. and Zillmann, D., 2002)
Therefore, I believe that yes V-chips and content ratings are a good idea since even if complete control is humanly impossible; some control and ban may be exercised to be able to make sure one’s child does not get negatively influenced by what he or she sees on the television.
Annotated bibliography
Adrienne, T. Washington (2008) Mind your children till TV cleans up its act. Washington Times, The (DC).
Search Tool: Ebscohost
Search Words: Content Rating
Annotation: This article talks about how the television should clean itself first so that there is no need for V-chip technology and content rating for each program
Anderson, D. (2001) Early Childhood Television Viewing and Adolescent Behavior: Monographs of the Society for Research in Child Development (v. 66, No. 1). Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
Search Tool: Google Books
Search Words: V-chips
Annotation: This book is a read on how childhood experiences affect later life; therefore, the influence of media in the early years has a much more significant effect on people’s lives
Economist (2003) Information or Manipulation. Economist, Volume 366, Issue 8318, pp. 47.
Search Tool: Google Scholar
Search Words: Content Rating
Annotation: The author explains how the media is a source to input information in a person’s mind and how it can change the perception of people
Hargrave, A. (2009) Harm and Offence in Media Content: A Review of the Evidence, Second Edition. Publisher: Intellect Limited.
Search Tool: Google Books
Search Words: Content Rating
Annotation: This book talks about the effect that media and the content it shows has on the audience
Huff, R. (2005) Your kids, your cable, your problem. New York daily News. Newspaper Source – Student Research Center.
Search Tool: Ebscohost
Search Words: V-chips and content rating
Annotation: This article talks about assuming your own responsibility and not relying completely on V-chip technology.
Neuman, R. (1991) The future of the mass audience. Publisher: Cambridge University Press.
Search Tool: Proquest
Search Words: Content Rating
Annotation: This book talks about the impact that the ‘idiot box’ will eventually cumulate to in the coming years
Price, M. (1998) The V-chip Debate – Content filtering from television to the internet: TV PG V. Publisher; McKay. Academic Search.
Search Tool: Ebscohost
Search Words: Should content rating and V-chip technology be allowed
Annotation: The author discusses both sides of the debate for and against using content rating