V-chip

Television content blocker

A V-chip is a device built into television sets that allows parents to block programs based on their content ratings.

Required in American televisions since 1999, it reads encoded ratings and can be programmed to filter out shows deemed inappropriate for children: We set the V-chip to block anything rated TV-MA.

regulation

FCC

Broadcast oversight agency

ratingsEvaluative scores assigned
censorshipOfficial content restriction
indecencyOffensive or vulgar behavior

obscenity · blocking · guidelines · compliance · oversight · watershed · enforcement · mandate · legislation

parenting

children

Young human beings

age-appropriateSuited to one's maturity
protectionGuarding against harm
supervisionOverseeing people or processes

blocking · TV-MA · TV-PG · TV-Y · TV-14 · family-friendly · guidance · monitoring · household

technology

television

Broadcast viewing device

electronicsStudy of circuits
hardwareMetal goods and fittings
decoderDevice that unscrambles signals

programming · menu · settings · activation · encoding · receiver · manufacturer

Categories

broadcastingbroadcasting, TV, radio, television, news
1990sMonica Lewinsky, impeachment, NAFTA, Whitewater, Oklahoma City bombing
parental guidance systemsMPAA ratings, TV ratings, ESRB, content warnings, parental controls
media lawlibel, media regulation, press laws, slander, defamation
media violenceviolent imagery, content warnings, age restrictions, parental controls, desensitization
youth mediacartoons, Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, PBS Kids, YouTube Kids

Opposites

content control

V-chipopen access

Free public scholarly content

all-access · free-to-air · pay-per-view

parental oversight

V-chippermissive parenting

Low-demand, high-responsiveness approach

hands-off parenting

Family

chip, chips, microchip, microchips, chipboard, chipset, chipsets, chipboards

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Mostly American · Concrete · Rated G