Introduction
Censorship is the review of speech, television programs, or any other media, and the suppression of parts that are deemed objectionable for moral, political, or other reasons. By introducing various forms of censorship, state bodies motivate this kind of decision by considerations of state security, the need to combat manifestations of extremism, the spread of harmful ideas, and counteraction to the society’s moral decay. Censorship helps to ensure the mental health of children and adolescents so that they do not encounter inappropriate contexts, both in print media and on the Internet.
View of Censorship as a Limitation
It is believed that freedom of expression and the existence of an independent and diverse media are essential prerequisites for true democracy. Thousands of European media outlets regularly report various kinds of information, come up with analyses, and chronicle events. These materials form the basis of political discussions, contribute to the formation or reflect public opinion. However, freedom of expression may be threatened by pressure from governments (Valiverronen and Saikkonen 1175). People who are limited in obtaining information, receiving only filtered information, can lose the ability to think critically, and accordingly, the information received becomes an immutable truth for them.
Importance of Censorship for Adolescents
However, consuming violent media, such as watching violent films or playing violent computer games, increases adolescents’ exposure to violence. Because adolescents may not be mature enough to clearly distinguish between right and wrong, they can gradually begin to perceive such actions as normal (Waddell 401). Adolescents are insensitive to violence and, thus, can commit violent acts in real life as part of their normal behavior. One of the possible solutions to this problem is censorship. On the other hand, censorship in reality may not solve social problems, but only help to suppress their existence, if misused.
Alternative for Censorship
Journalists and the media themselves must still carefully check the information, even more critically evaluate the work of their colleagues, and also openly admit their mistakes. Any deliberate negligence, artificially inflated sensation and one-sided presentation of information play a role in the fact that citizens will be incorrectly informed and will be able to form their personal, independent opinion based on false facts (van der Meer and Jin 560). Adolescents may not be mature to split the correct and wrong information, believing that these actions are part of normal behavior. Therefore, teens who play aggressive video games and watch TV programs may behave more aggressively.
Internet as a Challenge
Censorship, which directly regulates information flows, is one of the most important mechanisms for protecting adolescents from unwanted data. However, censorship can also be ineffective due to technological advances, such as the Internet. The Internet is known for its openness as it allows people to upload data and let everyone else see it (Serna and Iniesta 5). These uploaded files may contain images or statements that represent information that is rude and objectionable. However, the Internet does not provide a single way to censor all material.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the social significance of censorship is determined by the fact that the nature of social relations and the conditions for the interaction of individuals in a society largely depend on the quality and volume of circulating information. The information flow should be aimed at strengthening the stability of being and developing supporting means to achieve this goal, and not act as an irritant and a way to increase aggressiveness. At the same time, if used incorrectly, censorship can act as a tool to restrict freedom of speech.
Works Cited
Serna, Francisco José Aranda, and Javier Belda Iniesta. “The Delimitation of Freedom of Speech on the Internet: The Confrontation of Rights and Digital Censorship.” Advances in Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence Journal, vol. 7, no. 1, 2018, pp. 5-12, Web.
Valiverronen, Esa, and Sampsa Saikkonen. “Freedom of Expression Challenged: Scientists’ Perspectives on Hidden Forms of Suppression and Self-censorship.” Science, Technology, & Human Values, vol. 46, no. 6, 2021, pp. 1172-1200, Web.
van der Meer, Toni GLA, and Yan Jin. “Seeking Formula for Misinformation Treatment in Public Health Crises: The Effects of Corrective Information Type and Source.” Health Communication, vol. 35, no. 5, 2020, pp. 560-575, Web.
Waddell, T. Franklin. “Do Press Releases About Digital Game Research Influence Presumed Effects? How Details About Methodology and References to Societal Violence Affect the Anticipated Influence of Violent Video Games.” Mass Communication and Society, vol. 23, no. 3, 2020, pp. 400-420, Web.