Does the V-Chip Work? Is it Only a Bandage?

Are V-Chips (in televisions) designed to block indecent technology the answer to censorship? Do they really work? Why do some television programs get publicized in the first place? What is the FCC thinking? Shouldn't all multimedia be censored as if children are viewing everything anyway?

Thankfully, the FCC has standard rules for television content, but it's not enough. Most definitely, we need more censorship in all forms of media. Parents are already acting as police to their children―but why is the media making television viewing even more difficult than it already is? All programming (including commercials) should be rated, and as we know, advertisers are pushing the envelope every bit as much as television programmers.

What is even more complicated is that designers and advertisers who squirm or refuse to participate in tasteless advertising campaigns, music, or television programs stand to lose their jobs. This is the oddest predicament that faces multimedia artists today; yet the average employee in other professions are held in high esteem for their high moral ethics.

How can the FCC regulate and respond to the hundreds of thousands of complaints of valid concerns of censorship for the protection of jobs and families? Is the FCC going to support and protect employee’s jobs? Not all the multimedia artists want to be part of unwholesome advertising found in magazines, music, and programs being broadcasted throughout America today. No doubt about it, everything is subjective. Censorship and what is considered to be decent advertising and television programming is delicate ground. So, if you are offended by the current FCC censorship standards, the V-Chip is a technological way to help regulate your television programming for your children.

But, does the average person know how to find the V-Chip in their television? Do we even know if our televisions have them? Parents with young children need to find out. Even though there are unintended consequences for V-Chips such as having to put up with more offensive programming such as South Park; for the time being, this is our only immediate technological option for unmonitored censorship for obscenity, indecency, and profanity. (revised 2/15/2006)