Censorship of television violence is unnecessaryCensorship of television media often begins as a result of the concern many adults show about what their children watch. Children begin watching television at an early age and usually become lifelong viewers by the time they are two or three years old. There is usually a steady increase in the amount of television watched throughout a person's childhood. A decline follows during adolescence. What concerns the American people most, however, is the amount of violence depicted on the television screen. The addition of cable TV also adds a whole new dimension to the problem. Children who watch a lot of TV are less aroused by violent scenes, less bothered by violence in general, and less likely to find anything wrong with it (Comstock 521). A study conducted by George Gerbner, Ph.D., at the University of Pennsylvania, illuminates this topic. His research shows that television programs made for children typically contain more than 20 acts of violence per hour. "Children who watched violent programs, even 'just funny' cartoons, were more likely to hit their playmates, fight, disobey classroom rules, leave homework unfinished, and were less willing to wait than those who they watched nonviolent programs,'' says Aletha Huston, Ph.D., now at the University of Kansas. Although many studies have been conducted on the effects of television violence on young people, many scientists doubt whether there is a connection between these two topics. Most simply say there is not enough evidence to reach a definitive conclusion. Ultimately it is up to the children's parents to make the final decision on what should or should not be watched. There are many things that parents... half of the paper... programs of historical significance, such as Schindler's List, further teach the value. Overall it can be said that violence is indeed prevalent on television in today's society. . Some may argue that this violence is harmful to our children and must be stopped, while others see the media as a form of free speech. In any case, it is up to the individual to decide whether or not a program should be watched. If a person doesn't like the program, they can simply turn off the TV or change the channel. The government shouldn't have to regulate for us. Works Cited Comstock, G. (1994). The effects of television violence on antisocial behavior: A meta-analysis. Communication Research, 21(4), 516-546. Palmer, E. L. (1988). Television and American children: a crisis of abandonment. New York: Oxford University Press.