Censor Scissors

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Here's what I wrote about 'whether or not the govt needs to censor content on television and radio'. I think its not comprehensive, but this is what I could write in the time limit specified.



In my view, governments and regulatory bodies should be allowed to moderate the content on television and radio programs.

Television and radio content are a reflection of the society and vice versa. The programs are greatly inspired from real life in order to make them more relatable to a majority of the audience. Likewise, people try to imitate reel-life as it is often ‘glamorous’. Thus, any inappropriate content broadcasted over these media will be mirrored by society. For example, in the absence of regulation, a family soap may exemplify giving and taking dowry in Indian marriages, sending out the wrong message to the (usually less discerning) audience. This leads to the setting of wrong social conditioning and expectations; the consequences can be as grave as bride burning.

Television and radio also have a huge impact on children who are the future pillars of a nation. Newspapers are filled with pages of incidents where children use dangerous arms and weapons against their parents and teachers. In most cases, interrogation has confirmed that the inspiration in such crime was taken from (often uncensored) television and radio programs that glorify violence and vengeance.

Television and radio are media that reach the masses, both urban and rural. They have a wide audience that comes from a plethora of different backgrounds, unlike the Internet or Podcasting that requires technical knowledge and may be out-of-reach of most people in lesser developed countries. Hence, the content that is broadcasted on television and radio has a more far-reaching impact. This makes it crucial for governments to regulate the content that is broadcasted over the radio and television.