MTV Website Pushes Sex,
Graphic Language at Kids
For decades MTV has been home to
problematic “entertainment,” from the heavy sexual innuendo
present in many rock music videos (back in the days when the
network named “Music Television” actually showed music), to its
many “reality” shows featuring totally unrealistic scenarios,
like The Real World and Road Rules Challenge, to
its recent barrage of episodes from the “documentary” series
True Life – episodes largely devoted to bizarre sexual
choices by teens. Episode titles included “I’m Polyamorous,”
“I’m Changing My Sex,” and “I Work in the Sex Industry.” While
such choices may represent “true life” for an infinitesimally
tiny minority of individuals, most teenagers are more concerned
about acne and homework than getting sex-change operations.
But at least in its cable
programming, MTV has had to exercise a small amount of
restraint, if not in subject matter than at least in specific
visual or verbal acts. The Internet offers no such restrictions
– as can be seen with a glance at some of the shows streamed via
the network’s website. One example, from Real World/Road
Rules Challenge Dailies features a teenager using the f-word
multiple times: “Who the f*** am I rallying? My f******
pinky?...I could never f*** her over.” The language is not
bleeped or restricted in any way. Other videos available on the
MTV website show boys bullying Road Rules contestant
Tonya, who protests, “I get drunk and I fight and I get stupid
and occasionally a boob falls out, but you crossed a line;”
performer Shakira stroking a microphone against her crotch and
waggling her rear as she sings, “My body’s craving, so feed the
hunger…I’m gonna go somewhere cozy to get me a lover;” or “DJ
AM” offering to counsel a 20-year-old who has had a drug habit
for five years (not mentioned is the fact that two months ago,
AM himself died of a drug overdose).
MTV’s content is available to
anyone of any age, any time of the day or night, without
restriction. (Some content requires the viewer to give their
age, but with absolutely nothing to prevent the curious child
from lying.) As with the
Spike TV website – also owned
by media giant Viacom --
MTV is using the Internet to
target teens and even younger children with content totally
inappropriate for anyone under 18.
►
To see what MTV.com is pushing at
kids,
click here.
WARNING: GRAPHIC
CONTENT!
►
To learn more about the PTC’s
Cable Choice Campaign,
click here.
