The issue of movies and the age restriction has raised arguments among different stakeholders in the current world where we have a lot of movies displayed in Televisions, films, cinemas and other media especially through the internet. The main cause of the argument arises from the fact that these movies contain adult content and themes such as violence and sex, which are not appropriate to some age groups especially children. There has been a crucial debate on whether to eliminate age restrictions placed on these movies or allow everyone to watch them. This depends on whether they are educational or irrational, harmful or beneficial in the upbringing of children and whether parents should restrict them in a family (Freedman 2007: 4-5). A study carried out by Pew Research Centre indicated that the majority of the population opted for a more strict enforcement of law on media content especially at times when children were watching. Citizens wanted the media companies to pay higher fines due to airing content that violates moral principles (Block & Grain 252).
Although movies have been known to be a source of negative influence in children, they also have benefits and therefore the age restriction should be eliminated to allow children to watch. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council (1-2) movies is a great source of education for young people. Watching television movies with educational themes guide the children on the path to take in life especially in the present times where parents spent less time with their children. Children do not get guidance from parents and therefore the source of information comes from what they watch (1-2). Moreover, exposure to adult themes early in life helps them to learn especially when they are assisted to understand what they are watching. Barring children from watching these contents in the name of protection puts them into more confusion when they are independent since no one interprets for them their meaning and application (1-2). The movie producers have also claimed that movies play an important part in educating children and therefore should not be restricted.
It is not easy to enforce such a law in the same way as trying to restrict what children watch. Currently, children are prohibited from watching movies, buying DVD’s but the same children use fake IDs to get these movies (Block & Grain 252). Lack of parental control also makes the law irrelevant since parents do not restrict their children from watching Televisions and other movies. They sneak to their rooms and watch violent and pornographic movies. They also watch TV when their parents are away or have gone to sleep or they even sneak to films that they are restricted from (253). Therefore having age limit is of no use since the children watch and share the information among themselves. Most films are rated PG (parental guidance) though they can be misleading since they contain adult themes and violent as well as sexual acts. Some parents do not even understanding such ratings for movies (253).
Whilst it’s argued that watching movies with violent and sexual content prompts us into doing such acts, exposure to such may warn us against antisocial behavior especially when the movie ends with a reward or punishment for the good or bad behavior (Ferguson & Killburn 759). Others resolve to move away from such behaviors and swear not to imitate them. It should be made clear that not all children who watch adult films or sexual and violent movies are lured into such acts. The influence is not the same in all individuals and it’s not the producers of movies to put an age limit but the duty of parents to direct what their children are watching. It’s argued that violent movies and video games are realistic in feel since they are an idiom of artistic focus and are not only meant to make violence enjoyable. Moreover, Ferguson & Killburn argue that movies are just a simulacra and not the reality and therefore cannot affect behavior in viewers (760).
The restriction is based on the assumption that adults are smatter due to their age. This is a high level of ignorance since we also have some adults who are influenced into becoming robbers after watching a violent movie. Others turn violent and depict physical aggressive behavior. Therefore there is no need for restricting others from watching movies (Freedman 2007: 3-5). However, since the reason for distributing movies is to make profit, producers are against the age limit.
In as much as we may argue against age restriction, limiting some age groups from watching some movies lowers the rate at which children are exposed to unhealthy content (Freedman 2002: 7-9). Bans act as warnings for responsible individuals although some may choose to watch even bad films despite the restriction. Children do not have mental faculties to enable them decide between what is right and wrong and that is why with the restriction they are protected. Without bans, innocent children would be stumbling on content that they are not supposed to see. It is obvious that where there are no bans imposed on movies, children watch a lot of sex and violence (2002: 6-7). Therefore, social harms caused by such movies can be mitigated by effective age validation software on the internet and enforcement of the law restricting age at media outlets. Discontinuing the restrictions would therefore be unfair to those whom they protect and those who respect them.
Age restrictions on movies ban children from watching adult content movies such sex and violence which have an impact on their social life (Block & Grain 252). Past studies indicate that children who were likely to commit violence had a history of watching 1-3 hours of children’s television programmes weekly than those who watched for fewer hours (Freedman 2002: 8-9). This was just but a children’s Television and therefore one may want to know the kind of adult content a child should watch. There have been reports of children engaging in violent and sexual acts when they are exposed to such acts at a younger age. Research has shown that when children are exposed to violence, they copy violent or inappropriate action and they tend to have low psychological barriers against them when they grow up (Ferguson & Killburn 759). Exposure to violent images always have a permanent effect on children where you find some people portraying residual anxiety after so many years of watching horror movies.
Apart from the anti-social behaviors, violent and sexual movies seen by children affect the society as a whole. As young children continue watching inappropriate content, they become completely insensitive to human suffering (Freedman 2002: 6-7). We fail to think critically concerning the human circumstance as the violence and sex watched cause us to standardize the behavior. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council, there is a huge risk to the health of children and adolescents who watch violence in media (2-3). Research reveals that media violence leads to aggressive behavior in individuals, fear of being attacked and desensitization towards violence. Children who watch violent movies engage in physical aggression towards other people (Freedman 2002: 8-9). They view violence as a way of resolving conflicts and self defense. Since we live in a consumerist society, the need for change of this should come from consumers of the content in media. This is facilitated by the restriction on age and the parent’s responsibility in limiting what their children watch.
Therefore, if we discontinue age restriction on movies, teenagers may have a false view concerning human nature and they may go ahead and practice what they watch. Though some people claim that movies are a major form of entertainment for children and should not be banned for younger children, we have many non-violent and age-appropriate entertainment forms (American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council 1-2).
Works Cited
Block. Jayson, and Crain, Ben. “Omissions and Errors: Media Violence and the American Public” The American Psychologist 62.3 (2007): 252–3. Print. Ferguson, Chris, and Kilburn, John. “The Public Health Risks of Media Violence: A Meta- Analytic Review” Journal of Pediatrics, 154 (2009): 759-63.print.
Freedman, Jonathan. Media Violence and its Effect on Aggression: Assessing the Scientific Evidence. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2002. Print.
Freedman, Jonathan. “No Real Evidence for TV Violence Causing Real Violence: First Amendment Centre”. 2007. Web.
The American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council. “Communications and Media: Media Violence”. 2009. Web.