From movies to iPhone Apps to Video Games to TV shows it seems everything has a “rating” …but are they accurate and fair?
Many of us are familiar with the MPAA’s movie rating system. G is for everyone and NC-17 is for adults only and everything in-between is up to the individual as to whether or not they want to see it. For example many people choose not to watch Rated R movies no matter what the context. Others evaluate it on a case by case basis.
But who is evaluating the rating in the first place? And are they being fair and consistent? The truth is absolutely not. The MPAA, for example, has slapped many movies with an NC-17 rating only to turn around and give them an R after the producers and directors phony up some outrage saying that their First Amendment rights are being trampled.
Take “Hangover” for example. This popular saga about four men having a bachelor party in Vegas is your typical “R” rated comedy right up until the end credits; while the credits roll still pictures are shown that were supposedly taken by the stars of the film in a drugged/drunken state.
One set of pictures depicts a main character receiving oral sex and it shows his (presumably fake or prosthetic) full penis both inside and outside the mouth of the woman. So how does full frontal male nudity and simulated oral sex (including oral penetration) not get an automatic NC-17 rating? (FYI…it was after pre-screening this very movie that I made my decision to leave the theater industry).
I could go on and on with movies but let’s move on to a curious case involving Apple and the iPhone. I learned about this via this podcast.
Recently Covenant Eyes and X3 Watch were released as apps. These two pieces of software offer full access to the internet on the iPhone and are designed to help those struggling with porn addiction to be accountable. Their primary goal is accountability whilst traversing the web.
Both apps got smacked with a 17+ rating…basically an NC-17 rating. Apple doesn’t think these two products should be used by anyone under 17. Okay fine, but;
Apple’s Safari and Opera’s Mini-Browser (basically internet browsers…like FireFox or Internet Explorer) offer full access to the internet with NO accountability options. Their primary function is to allow users to surf the web…sans accountability. They got a 4+ rating…basically a G rating. Apple thinks that users of all ages should use this app.
So let’s break it down: Mommy buys her 14 year old Jimmy an iPhone. She is a hip mom…she knows what’s going on…she has the 411 (the info). So, mommy sets Jimmy’s iPhone to only allow him to download apps that are rated lower than 17+…meaning he can’t download any “Rated R” applications on his phone. She password protects this setting so Jimmy can’t change it.
Jimmy now has no option to download X3 Watch or Covenant Eyes. He can no longer download software that would help him avoid the pitfalls of porn. So ask yourself…why would Apple do this? I honestly don’t have the answer…but it is highly unusual to say the least and once again proves that rating systems of any kind cannot be truly trusted and are flawed at the most basic levels.
My advice is to not trust any rating system where someone else is deciding what is or is not appropriate for people of various ages. Doing so is basically the same as saying that someone with whom you have no connection with is better and more apt to decide what is right for you and your family.
Do the research yourself and don’t leave it to the experts.
