Posted on 08/16/2011 10:38:02 PM PDT by TheDingoAteMyBaby
Today, the Parents Television Council® released the results of its latest study, “Cartoons Are No Laughing Matter,” documenting shocking levels of adult content on networks with the highest-rated primetime animated cable shows among children ages 12-17, according to Nielsen data. The networks included in the study reflect where kids are consuming the most popular animated shows during primetime: Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel and Nick at Nite.
“Nielsen data told us where children ages 12-17 are watching animated programming on basic cable. PTC analysts followed the Nielsen data in order to see exactly what type of material kids are consuming. The findings of this report should be vexing for every parent. The term ‘adult’ not only describes the nature of the cartoon content itself; it also describes the products being marketed to kids,” said PTC President Tim Winter.
“Adult content isn’t just creeping into the cartoons that kids today are watching the most; it has overtaken much of that animated programming. We’re not talking about cartoon characters slipping on banana peels and ramming into doors. Our data demonstrates that today’s norm is profanity-laden storylines involving everything from rape and cocaine to STDs and crystal meth. There is now more sexual content on these cartoons than violence – even when counting traditional ‘light’ cartoon violence.
“Parents might not be surprised that there is an abundance of adult-themed content on a cable network called Adult Swim; but those same parents are likely to be very surprised at just how adult the content is and how often teens and pre-teens are flocking to the network. Many don’t even realize Adult Swim appears on the same channel as the decidedly kid-centric Cartoon Network and begins airing at 9:00 pm Eastern/8:00 pm Central.
“Just as shocking as the volume and degree of adult material in the cartoons was the abysmal network failure rate in applying consistent TV content rating standards. During the study period, harsh profanity and graphic sexual depictions aired during programs rated TV-PG. Cartoon Network failed to use the ratings system to warn parents about sexual content, suggestive dialogue and explicit language 100 percent of the time. We also discovered the networks are directly marketing adult entertainment products to kids during TV-PG programming, including R-rated movies and TV-MA shows and DVDs,” Winter continued.
“Parents need to understand just how explicit these cartoons are so they can make better viewing decisions for their family. They also must be given the chance to unsubscribe to explicit cable networks. As it stands now, every parent who subscribes to cable so their kids can watch Disney or Nickelodeon is also forking over cash every month to Adult Swim. Parents, not cable companies, should decide which cable networks they want to pay for.
“In addition to cable choice and more responsible programming decisions by the networks, the entire television content ratings system needs to be overhauled. The current system fails parents and families when it comes to accuracy, consistency, transparency and accountability,” Winter concluded.
The Parents Television Council used Nielsen data to identify networks with the highest-rated primetime animated cable shows for ages 12-17. Based on the Nielsen findings, PTC examined 123 episodes of animated programming that aired on Adult Swim, Cartoon Network, Disney Channel and Nick at Nite for the presence of sexual content, violence, drugs and explicit language between March 21, 2011 and April 14, 2011.
PTC research analysts documented 1,487 incidents of explicit language, drugs and sexual content during the four-week study period. On average, young viewers were exposed to adult content once every two minutes and 19 seconds. TV-PG rated animation featured sex, drugs or profanity every two minutes and 31 seconds. Adult Swim, which used to begin airing at 11:00 pm ET and now begins at 9:00 pm ET (8:00 pm CT), included some of the highest-rated animated shows among ages 12-17 and the highest levels of explicit content.
Major Findings:
Sex
• Sex (680 instances) surpassed every form of violence (674 instances) in animated primetime cable programming.
• Sexual depictions included simulations or obscured scenes of sexual intercourse, pornography, masturbation, pedophilia and prostitution.
Drugs
• There were a total of 208 incidents relating to drugs, including cocaine, marijuana, crystal meth, psychedelics and alcohol. Eighty percent of the drug-related incidents were depictions rather than references.
Profanity
• The study identified 565 incidents of explicit language on shows rated TV-PG and TV-14. Twenty-seven percent of the uses of “f**k” and “sh*t” occurred on TV-PG programs.
Content Ratings
• Eighty-five percent of the TV-PG shows and 64% of the TV-14 shows containing sexual content did not have an “S” descriptor warning parents.
• Cartoon Network failed to use the ratings system to warn parents about sexual situations (S), suggestive dialogue (D) and coarse or crude language (L) 100% of the time.
Advertisements
• TV-PG and TV-14 shows included advertisements for adult media, including TV-MA DVDs, TV-MA shows, and R-rated movies.
• All R-rated movies that aired during the study period were advertised during TV-PG programs.
To access the full report and view video examples, please visit www.ParentsTV.org/Cartoons.
great points.
especially about lefty complaints of violence in oldies.
(yet SCOTUS rules that kids can purchase any video game, no matter how sick ? kids actually roleplaying torturing ?
...because it’s “free speech” ?!?)
even many of the modern non-cartoon kids shows are immoral, and attack traditional values. kids lying to and deceiving parents, friends, etc.
...the only modern cartoon i adore, is Phineas and Ferb.
honest, unfailingly polite. creative. good role models.
Memo to Parents Television Council: You aren’t supposed to let your children watch Adult Swim and Wonder Showzen.
I see your point, still I won’t be allowing kids to see Venture Bros. any time soon. That’s weird, sick stuff. A masterpiece, most horror movies don’t even come close, but really sick.
I agree about Phineas and Ferb......I like it more than my 10 year old.
There’s also the way the Nickelodeon shows get around profanity. One word hey use that comes to mind (from “iCarly”) is “shizz.” Used like, “I don’t need this shizz.” Sure sounds a lot like sh#t to me.
Maybe I'm just a grumpy, iconoclastic old man (maybe not so old, LOL), but I have never understood the appeal of these animated TV shows aimed at adult audiences. Maybe I'm just nostalgic for the old days of Loony Tunes, but I just don't get it.
The only modern-day animated show I ever found even mildly interesting was "King of the Hill," and even that was barely on my radar screen. Other than that show, I can honestly say that I've never watched more than five minutes of any animated TV show other than old classic cartoons.
Guess you haven’t seen the “Prom Night Dumpster Baby” episode if the Bank Vault episode is your limit.
The word “Parent” is the first thing in the source’s name. Maybe they should look it up.
nanny-staters, is there anything they don’t know?
People like this are the ones who have gotten us infomercials on every channel. Nothing doesn’t offend P.C. in some way.
Phineas and Ferb is great. It would come on after the little kids’ stuff, like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and my three-year old would lose interest, since it is above him and aimed at an older kid. But, for some reason, the channel wouldn’t change. I find myself channel surfing at night and stopping at it to see if I have seen the episode.
Gee, a TV channel called “Adult Swim” shows adult TV! Who’d a thunk it?
I believe the truth is that kids see more in their own homes from their own parents in many cases than they do on these stupid tv shows.
It is for the parents to decide what their kids should watch and not some one else, i believe people should have the freedom to live the way they want, and i also believe they should have the right to burn in hell if that is what they are after.
Agreed for the most part. I wouldn’t let my kid watch Squidbillies. But King of the Hill is on Adult Swim, and I’d have no problem letting my daughter watch that. There are a few others. It’s a mixed bag.
(However, I've long debated that the Simpsons are one of the best examples of positive family values on prime time TV. The easiest supporting point: Most Americans have never seen a prime time TV show that featured both parents/spouses getting tempted to cheat on several occasions, and yet never once doing so.)
New to the posting reply thing so forgive me if I have done so in the wrong place. Not meant to be a response to any individual but comment to all who have posted here.
I recently was watching an episode of SpongeBob with my grandkids 3 and 6. To my displeasure they (cartoon) started talking about going on a panty raid to steal girls panties. The “older creepy” man in the cartoon was so excited and explained in detail how to do it! I am sorry but I do not think it is appropriate for children to be taught how to steal panties from girls in a panty raid. I thought maybe at first I was misunderstanding what I was hearing so I sat and watched it to make sure that is what they were talking about after asking my kids to go do something for me so they didn’t listen while I was trying to figure out what was going on. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. As a grandparent now and totally out of the loop on current children’s cartoons I realized how duped we are if we think that just because it is a cartoon it is for kids and just because it is the lated and most popular cartoon for kids doesn’t mean they should watch it. We will be sticking with tried and true Looney Toons in my house, OLD Looney Toons. I watched a few of the new ones and they have even gotten into adult themes that have no business being displayed for children. I am sorry but when bugs bunny is complaining about his new girlfriend and how controlling she is and how he wants him for a love machine, I AM OUT OF HERE!!! I will agree “parent” is a verb but it is given as an honorable title first. Honor it and live it and you will be the hero to your children and not some empty cartoon .
How did I know this article would include Adult Swim? I’m thinking “Prime-Time”? I don’t even know any channels (w/out PAYING for them on cable) that show anything animated during “prime time”. As someone else mentioned - PARENT YOUR KIDS - don’t call for censorship! (And yes, I am a parent myself, so I know of what I’m speaking about!)
*NOTE - I forgot about Sunday nights on FOX.
Anyway, as a parent why not use some of these (occasional) opportunities to TALK to your kids about what they are seeing? That’s what has worked with my four girls... [I’m not saying let them watch “whatever”, just that when a show broaches a subject that I’m uncomfortable with I’ve usually used it as an opportunity to speak with my kids, get their opinions and observations, share mine and WHY I feel that way... Happy to say it’s worked out very well for our family... We also homeschool so maybe that is a factor as well...]
Just a note RE: Spongebob - it has changed a LOT over the years. I thought the folks at Focus on the Family were full of it YEARS and YEARS ago when they talked about how bad the show was... NOW? Have to say I agree with them NOW - but not when my kids were really little. I think the producers used the opportunity to REALLY twist things around - I’m guessing they figured well they ALREADY complained and it didn’t do much so why not go “all out”, so to speak... Even my girls are horrified at how much that show has changed - so it’s not just through the eyes of this adult, but even through the eyes of teens!
Yep, they all have an OFF switch. ;o)
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