The Parents Television Council (PTC) is accusing Hollywood of protecting its interests rather than the welfare of children. The accusation was prompted by the results of a new study that examined the last 20 years of the TV Content Ratings System. The study revealed that the system is "inadequate for protecting children from graphic sex, violence, and profanity on television."
"Going back 60, almost 70 years, we have research that shows that kids that are exposed to violent media content are more likely to act aggressively—they're more likely to have aggressive attitudes, beliefs, behaviours, effects," Melissa Henson, program director for the PTC, told CBN News. "They're more likely to believe that something bad is going to happen to them or to their family."
She said children who are exposed to high levels of sexualised media are even more likely to engage in sexual behaviour at a younger age, making them more at risk for STDs or an unplanned pregnancy.
Meanwhile, PTC President Tim Winter said parents who rely on the TV Content Ratings System to make informed decisions about what to watch on television have been "deceived."
"Our new research shows that the ratings system has systemically failed to provide accurate and consistent information for its entire 20-year existence," he said.
Their study showed that regularly-scheduled series that are rated TV-G, or appropriate for all audiences, have been eliminated from prime time. In short, the PTC said family shows for all audiences do not exist anymore.
They also discovered that graphic content on television is increasing in both amount and intensity, and yet "every hour of content on broadcast television is rated as appropriate for a 14-year-old child, or even younger ages." There is also no continuing programme on broadcast television that is rated TV-MA, or appropriate for mature audiences only.
"The implications in our report are enormous and should give the TV industry significant pause," said Winter. "The industry should have to answer as to why TV-G rated primetime series are extinct; why the lines between TV-PG and TV-14 shows are blurred; why more adult content is being shown on TV-PG shows; why nudity and violence are increasing on broadcast TV overall."
He suspects that conflict arises whenever TV networks rate their own shows, because they want to attract more sponsors that usually stay away from MA-rated programmes.
