7 Significant Pros and Cons of Censorship
One of the biggest issues being debated in today’s society is the matter of censorship. Censorship is when any type of media, such as movies, music, literature, and all forms of media, is altered in order to prevent certain information from being shared. This has been done all through out history, for many different reasons. In today’s internet and connected world, censorship may seem impossible, but it is certainly not. Normally, the information that needs to censored has to do with public safety, and the halting of hate media being passed around, but could it be used for things that it shouldn’t be as well?
The Pros of Censorship
1. The Children Are Spared
There is a very wide variety of things you can find on the internet, and in other places. One of these things is pornographic and violent movies and pictures. It is impossible for a website to truly verify someone’s age before allowing someone to view their content, which leaves young children open wide for problems. If children were to stumble upon these types of things, which they often do, it can cause major developmental, behavioral, and mental issues.
2. Protects Sensitive Information
Another big reason that censorship is a benefit is because it can protect sensitive military and other information about the country from being put into the hands of people who would use it form harm. Censorship allows mandated people to establish if they find the information of content being published/distributed causes a concern to public safety.
3. An Attempt To Reverse Desensitization
In today’s day and age, there are some very questionable things all over the media. This is especially true for violence. Highly graphic and gruesome television shows and movies are the most popular, but what is this causing? Desensitization is when people begin to lose compassion and concern for true life events of this nature. Censoring the amount of and types of violence that are made available can help to solve this problem.
The Cons of Censorship
1. The First Amendment Man!
The first amendment involves the freedom of speech that people have. The majority of people believe that by not allowing some things to be said or published, that this constitutional right is being violated.
2. Prevents The Spread of Knowledge
Another major issue with the idea of censorship is the simple fact that it stops knowledge from being spread. This can cause problems in many different ways, but one of the most noted is the lack of information on sex, sexually transmitted diseases, and other risks that are present. This is especially true for young adults who may not get the proper information from other sources.
3. Allows For Easy Hiding
There are some things that the public doesn’t need to know about when it comes to military and political matters. However, censorship doesn’t just allow for them to hide the necessary things, but harmful things as well. These can be things that the citizens and public truly need to know about, for their own safety.
4. We Need The Arts
By far, the biggest problem with censorship is how badly if effects the arts in the world. It is impossible to truly express yourself in the ways that you want to in order for you work to be great, if you are restricted in the things that you can so or publish. If we allow censorship to dictate what we can and cannot make creatively, than the arts would be lost.
