Is it just me or have PG-13 movies gotten more and more profane? I remember when you would barely hear curse words in movies with a PG-13 rating, today you’ll hear curse words and see nude body parts. Harvard Professor Kimberly Thompson, co-authored a study on movie ratings and said, “When you look at the average, today’s PG-13 movies are approaching what the R movies looked like in 1992. Today’s PG is approaching what PG-13 looked like a decade ago.”
As a media professional, I was somehow under the impression that television programming and movies were regulated; that there was a system of checks and balances in place to ensure that certain behaviors, words and images were deemed inappropriate for specific audiences. Well, I was wrong!
Laws governing children’s programming are pretty loose to say the least. In fact, there is no official law or legal process for movies to be rated. Instead they are voted on by a group of parents. The same is true for television content, there is no governing body that screens content before it airs. Television show ratings are decided on by the producers and programmers of that content. The TV Parental Guidelines Monitoring Board monitors ratings for television shows and is comprised of industry experts. So basically, the media is able to determine what is suitable for what audiences.
As a mom, that’s just not acceptable to me. Why would I fell comfortable allowing the creators of the content to rate the content? It all just seems a little backwards to me. Here is some more information on the ratings system:
For Movies
G rating – This rating means the content is for general audiences and it is believed that there is no offensive or inappropriate material.
PG rating – This rating means that parental guidance is suggested as there may be material parents might not approve of for young children.
PG-13 rating- This rating means that parents are urged to be cautious as the material is geared towards teenagers.
R rating – This rating means that children are restricted unless accompanied by an adult as these movies contain adult material.
NC-17 rating – This rating means that children are not admitted and this film is for adults only.
For Television Programming
TV-G– Most parents would find this program suitable for all ages.
TV-Y – This program is designed to be appropriate for all children.
TV-PG – This program contains material that parents may find unsuitable for younger children.
TV-Y7 and TV-Y7FV -This program is designed for children age 7 and above.
TV-14 – This program contains some material that many parents would find unsuitable for children under 14 years of age.
TV-MA – Mature Audiences only. This program is specifically designed to be viewed by adults, and therefore may be unsuitable for children under 17.
Note: Any television larger than 13 inches made after the year 2000 in the U.S. is required to have a V-chip. This chip allows parents 
to block certain programing.
This might seem like a lot of information but it’s worth it to take some time to understand the ratings system. The aforementioned Harvard study also concluded that “age-based ratings alone do not provide good information about the depiction of violence, sex, profanity and other content.”
My favorite website to use for determining whether or not a movie or show is appropriate is Common Sense Media. According to the Common Sense Media website, media is rated based on its specific content and overall developmental guidelines. The website further explains it’s rating system saying, ” We rely on developmental criteria from some of the nation’s leading authorities to determine what content is appropriate for which ages. And research on how kids learn from media and technology informs our learning ratings.” Programs are rated on the following:
- Sex
- Language
- Consumerism
- Drinking, drugs and smoking
- Positive role models and representation
- Positive messages
In addition to movies and television programs, Common Sense Media also rates apps and books. There is also a Common Sense Media app for easier access.
Before I hit the Redbox for a new movie, I check out the reviews and ratings on Common Sense Media. I sometimes find that a PG rated movie is inappropriate for my five year old. What resources do you use to monitor your children? We would love to get your feedback!
