Rating for Adult content is changing and so are our roles as parent's and guardian's of the youth of 2010

I don’t know about you, but as for me the lines seems to be a bit blurred with respect to what has happen over the past few years with adult content ratings and regulation of video games, movies, radio, music CD’s and television. Even many of the television commercial are as they say providing too much information. It seems all media is stretching the envelope to see how far they can go before someone calls foul. It is difficult to turn on the radio anymore without hearing talk show subjects that are not meant for kids of any age. While the change is a bit mind boggling the results are clear that the role of adult intervention has increased and become more technologically challenging to provide proper monitoring and supervision with the youth of 2010. There is no question that the industry has taken the approach that it is the parent’s role to set the standard for the products that they release to the mainstream. The movie industry as the example to follow is but one of the areas and the complexity associated with managing the viewing audience.


A motion picture rating system is designated to classify films with regard to suitability for audiences in terms of issues such as sex, violence, substance abuse, profanity, impudence or other types of mature content. A particular issued rating is called a certification. This is designed to help parents decide whether a movie is suitable for their children. Yet, the effectiveness of these suspenders is widely disputed. Also, in some jurisdictions a rating may impose on movie theaters the legal obligation of refusing the entrance of children or minors to the movie. Furthermore, where movie theaters do not have this legal obligation, they may enforce restrictions on their own. Ratings are often given in lieu of censorship. In countries such as Australia, an official government body decides on ratings; in other countries, such as the United States, it is done by industry committees with no official government status. (Wikipedia).

There was a major focus for a period of time on the internet because of the ease of getting to adult sites that were in many cases double X and triple X rated. This focus has beneficial in promoting the development of tools and technology that help control the ease of access. We are also seeing this with cable television and movie ratings with extreme violent and sex themes. However, there seems to be a movement toward expanding the definition of the ratings from what was once X rated, is now R rated and what was R rated is now with parental consent. And in here lies the fundamental issue of who is monitoring who with respect to how far media providers can go and put the responsibility back on us to manage.

Current (since 1990) MPAA movie ratings are:

G- Gender Safe


All ages admitted

(1968-present)

PG- Parental Guidance Suggested

Some material may not be suitable for children

(1972-present)

PG-13- Parents Strongly Cautioned

Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13

(1984-present)

R- Restricted

Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian

(1968-present)

If a film is not submitted for rating, the label NR (Not Rated) or Unrated is used. However, this is not an official MPAA classification. Films not yet rated by the MPAA, but that are expected to be submitted for rating, are often advertised with the notice "This Film is Not Yet Rated". (Wikipedia)

I believe first of all the ratings (Movies, Music CD's, Video Games and Radio Programs), at least where they exist need to be taken seriously in that someone has taken the time to gauge the appropriate participate age for the product. Too many parent’s leave it to friends and family members to say what is and isn’t ok for their children to engage in this area. If the rating is R then there was probably a good reason for it getting the rating and at a minimum I suggest an adult view it with their children or better yet prior to them allowing them to engage in it. Given the current trends in this area I can only believe it is going to get more, not less difficult to provide the appropriate counsel and guidance to our youth in these areas but turning our head to it and hoping it will manage itself is clearly not the answer.