Shielding Your Child From Bad TV

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

28 Jul 2006 07:01 AM

Are you sick of walking into the family room to see your 11-year-old engrossed in a movie featuring blood, guts, and scantily clad women? If you answered "yes"--you'll be happy to know that you aren't alone... and help is on the way.

Broadcasters and other entertainment providers are teaming up to unveil a multi-million dollar ad campaign aimed at teaching parents how to shield their kids from objectionable television shows.

According to the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), part of the $300 million dollar campaign includes humorous public service announcements which urge parents to "visit a website that offers information on how to use the v-chip and cable boxes to keep sex and violence" out of their homes.

The president of the MPAA told a Senate Commerce Committee Thursday that the online tools would allow parents to be "the boss of what your kids watch."

I think the idea is wonderful, albeit tinged with a bit of irony since the campaign was originally announced last April with the hope it would persuade Congress not to pass legislation that would increase penalties for indecent broadcasting. As it turned out, Congress voted to increase the fines tenfold anyway. Forcing the MPAA to maintain that the new ad campaign was not an attempt to fend off legislation, but an effort to "do the right thing."

You should know that while the indecency law only covers broadcast television, this new education program will allow you to include cable and satellite programs as well. The improvement in parental control tools came about only after a number of media divisions agreed to work together. The campaign became a coordinated effort by the Advertising Council in cooperation with the MPAA, the National Cable and Telecommunications Association, the National Association of Broadcasters, the Consumer Electronics Association, the major television networks and satellite TV providers.

Of course, the campaign only goes so far. It's up to parents to make use of the information and implement the available tools.

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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Libby Pelham (12965) 28 Jul 2006 07:27 AM

It's so weird to me that this is even a problem because when I was growing up, they had the family hour and no cable to worry about. That is why I am glad we have a DVR! I can record the shows I want to see that little eyes don't need to see and watch them when he is asleep :-)

Michele Cheplic (37445) 28 Jul 2006 09:34 AM

I'm with you Libby! (Only I don't have a DVR)