Children are being exposed to mature content more frequently through cartoons, shows

A simple click of the remote turns on the TV, and a logo flashes “Cartoon Network.” Many childhood memories are filled with lazy days watching cartoons and kids’ shows. But maybe the appropriateness of these shows should be called into question. Perhaps they shouldn’t be viewed by the intended audience. Shows meant for children have been showing an increasing amount of mature content. Exposing children to this content is wrong, they are too young and it is up to the parents to decide when they want to introduce their child to adult-like material.

A new show on Cartoon Network, called “The Regular Show,” has shown some questionable content. In one episode, the main character sees one of his friends, an elderly man named Pops, naked. The whole episode focuses on his quest to forget that event, and even describes what he saw as Pops’ “junk mail” and as “saggy, wrinkled, shriveled…” Is this really appropriate to show kids? In an episode of the popular show iCarly, Carly is told by her best friend Sam to stuff her bra in order to win a beauty pageant. This is teaching children that looks are the only way to get what they want.

Many would brush it off, saying kids wouldn’t understand any of it, and the inappropriate material would fly over their heads. But with the heightened level of mature content being exposed to them, they’re going to pick up on said content and think it is okay to act those ways and say those things. It’s getting harder and harder for parents to monitor what their children come in contact with, so it’s sad when they can’t even trust the shows that are meant for the children.

Producers and writers only want money, which means the only way to get their attention is to protest, to stop watching these shows, which is something everyone could do. It’s time to put a stop to the exposure of children to adult concepts and ideas through the shows that have originally been thought to be safe for them to view.