Shielding kids from inappropriate TV

I got two emails today taking different positions on the pesky issue of TV content. One was from the Parents Television Council, saying it had filed an indecency complaint with the FCC over a nude photo shoot on “America’s Next Top Model.” Well, I saw that episode, and there was nothing indecent about the shoot, and certainly nothing inappropriate in what was shown. I suppose if you slowed down the tape and looked really, really closely at the blurry areas, as the PTC apparently did, you could have figured out what you were seeing. But even assuming there’s something inherently nasty about nudity, “Top Model” is rated TV-14, so parents paying attention would have known to block it.

That’s not to say parents have an easy time shielding their kids from inappropriate TV content. The other email was from Patti, who had this to say:

“I read with interest your article about profanity, sex and violence on TV.  I am very concerned about what my children are exposed to.  I take what precautions I can by using the parental control on my TV.  I lock certain ratings, TV shows and/or channels.  However, I have been appalled at the commercials that are airing during the G and PG rating shows my family and I are watching. I’m not talking about product advertising, but the advertising for an upcoming episode of various programs.  I do not allow my children to watch these programs, but we are forced to watch a preview that contains numerous sexual references and other innapproiate language/themes for children. My question is what can we, as concerned parents do about this?”

Patti’s complaint is similiar to one I heard recently from a grandmother, complaining that she and her young grandson had been shocked by something they saw on the TV Guide Channel, above the scrolling listings. Other parents mention scary or suggestive movie trailers running during sporting events.

All I can think of to tell these people is to get a DVR and watch the recorded version of everything. Start late and whisk through everything between segments of the show.  Of course, the networks should be more sensitive to this problem — but it’s been pointed out to them for years, and yet their marketing/advertising departments still do nothing about it. If any parent has solved the problem, Patti would be glad to hear about it.