Sexual relations, medication, violence, nudity, and “bad” language can occur everywhere on television. It attracts viewers, can be great, and in some cases makes sense. However, these behaviors are usually not ones that parents want their children to see or imitate. Concerns about the impact on children appear to have been answered by many trials over the last 30 years or so.
A quick search online will reveal products such as a 15-calendar year longitudinal review recorded by the American Psychological Association showing that viewing of violent TV shows by children is associated with aggression in young adulthood for both sexes regardless of intellectual, social, or psychological qualities. position, or parenting style.* An online research may also uncover a report on the web page of the American Academy of Youngster & Adolescent Psychiatry which implies that “TV can be a very effective influence in creating price programs and shaping actions.”* * Violence in the media is said has different impacts on children of all ages, but reportedly the greatest impact occurs on young children who perceive violence that is not considered a crime or does not result in punishment, disapproval, or human suffering as described in a report accessible on the website Media Awareness Network.***
Parents have a number of options in an effort to eliminate or reduce their children's exposure to programs they feel are inappropriate. Obviously, most companies provide programming that is acceptable to children with shows like Discovery Kids, many Disney Channels, Nickelodeon, Nick Toons, BabyFirst TV, and so on. However, because most adults want programming outside of offerings concentrated on children, satellite and cable television providers have provided parental controls for several years. Dish Community satellite receivers for example, all provide parental control/lock techniques that allow users to limit what packages can be viewed based on a password-secured lock. Viewing may be limited by channel or rating.
Like most parental control methods, Dish Network's software operates in conjunction with V-Chip technological innovation. Customers simply set up a process to prohibit access to certain programs or, via the “Adult Guard” software package, to completely remove Adult Channels from Digital Program Information so that young children cannot watch restricted programs or access program information through guidelines. Once the “Adult Guard” without a Dish Network value is programmed, the lock will remain even when the power goes out.
Although Dish Community and other companies provide parental controls, parents should be aware that other techniques may be needed to reduce exposure to media that may have an adverse effect on young children. Experts warn that parents may need to be wary of violence in everything from cartoons, movies, and even many video game titles on the market.
Monitoring the media that young children watch is an important step in managing their exposure. Experts also agree that observing with very young children and staying focused on what they see can also help them to better understand when violence or other habits are inappropriate and what the consequences are. While it is clear that parents must take an active role in controlling the media their children have access to and in encouraging them to interpret what they see, satellite and cable TV vendors must continue to present the current state of affairs. -advanced controls to help parents when they can't check every second of their child's day.
*http://www.apa.org/releases/media_violence.html
**http://www.aacap.org/web page.ww?segment=Points+for+Households&identify=Kids+And+Tv+Violence
***[http://www.media-awareness.ca/English/resources/research_documents/reports/violence/tv_violence_child_cfm]