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Television and Censorship

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During the 1950’s and 60’s, networks made programs for middle-class white Americans. The television made it an idea to bring family together, and also to be entertainment for the family to enjoy together. Unlike today, the shows were appropriate for all ages. The content and censorship in the 50’s and 60’s assured the content that Americans watched was appropriate for all families (Bonnie). For the shows to be appropriate, certain topics in the media were forbidden, including: “[T]he topics of sex, be it be heterosexual relations or homosexual relations was just too ‘taboo’ to include in programming”(Bonnie). However, today there is sex, drugs and alcohol for children to see on television, and the children copy what they see. The Federal Communications Commission, commonly called by the acronym FCC, decides the censorship on television. By writing harsh letters to the FCC, many parents have made it a point to the FCC that too much is shown on television. Parents are upset because their children are exposed to all of the corruption in the world. In response to the letters, the FCC will not do anything to make television safer; according to the author of TV Profanity, “Your kids will hear cuss words on TV at some point, and there is nothing you can do to stop it. Accept this reality, and make the necessary adjustments”(TV). The Fox Network appealed the U.S of Court Appeals for many issues of not punishing TV networks for allowing such profane words, but it got ruled that FCC in anyway had no right to punish broadcast stations (TV). This issue has become a major problem in the nation, especially when children are looking up to their role models that perform these actions. To some parents, they believe that television is not the cause for violence, but on average children watch four hours or more of television daily without any outside activity (“Children”). Television is not the same anymore; mainly all television shows show some sort of violence and even shows that bad behavior is acceptable. Statistics show, “Children may be exposed to about 5 violent acts per hour during prime time and an average of 26 violent acts per hour during Saturday morning children’s programs”(Dawursk). It is very difficult to find appropriate shows for children. Parents are very skeptical about letting their children watch certain TV shows, even if it is on a children’s station. Many statistics have concluded that children are becoming immune to the violence and horror, accept violence is the answer to solving problems, and imitate the violence they watch on televi

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