Media Regulation and Censorship

In the "Mass media and American Politics"class today we viewed a video regarding the 2004"wardrobe malfunction of Janet Jackson. While this event is years old, there is an issue within the main one that is ongoing.

Media regulation and censorship are two issues that are on the forefront in media. Should the government be able to regulate and enforce what it thinks the American public should be allowed to see?In my opinion, this is a double edged sword. When Janet Jackson exposed herself on national television, the public was outraged, and couldn't believe how this was allowed to happen. On the other hand, if they were to crack down on the laws people would say that they were infringing on their civil liberties. The argument that the companies made was that they could regulate themselves, and not to get the government involved. But, if this were the case, this event most likely wouldn't have happened in the first place.

I think that censorship is both a good and a bad thing. What about the middle school students who come home to an empty house? Do we want indecent material available to them at all times? While censorship of media is a good thing, do we want it to continue? If the government is allowed to regulate the media, they may begin to think it is okay to regulate what books are printed, etc. The newly updated regulation laws by the FCC are an attempt to protect society from inappropriate content.