Too viral to be censored
by Lawrence Lesangke
From the song entitled video killed the radio star; it seems that this immortal song that is being played during Sundays is prognostic to the innovation of videos being watched by the society in the contemporary times. Through the use of technology we find it very useful in our work, lifestyle even to our personality the posting and watching of videos posted online. Anyone can search holistically videos that man desires to watch. Before, you can only watch it during the aftermath of the recording and even very careful in letting it viewed by the public. This concerns the MTRCB, NTC and international organizations relating to media. Different laws, rules and regulations were issued regulating media censorship. Movie theatres are required by law and public order to indicate if the movie to be played is for General Patronage or Rated X which limits the age to 18 years old and above to watch this kind of movie. It may be true that we had been so conscious in regulating these movies. But, what about videos of scandals, exploitation and those videos posted in social media that is a taboo to our society? It is not only recorded videos that you may search in the internet but even through live streaming. Videos going viral regardless of what type have not been regulated ever since. Facebook, twitter, instagram, youtube even dating applications downloadable in our android phones has videos of scandals, tabooed behaviour of people, unwarranted activities and even crimes. In one way or another, it is helpful in tracing missing persons and solving crimes in our country. What bothers me is that the aforementioned videos can be seen by children. This can be accessed using their social media accounts. Their way of understanding is different compared to the former generations. It goes to show that the social media is an imaginary world that you are free to do whatever you want. What horrifying is that in the eyes of children seeing these unregulated videos has a huge effect in their developments both physically and psychologically. Indeed, the video killed the radio star. And who is the radio star? I presume that it is us, the society, the law enforcement and the government per se. No matter how many qualifications and stiffer sanctions being imposed if this kind of videos posted online is taken for granted and is not censored especially to children; we might fear that one day core values such as respect will no longer be practiced by the youth and suicidal tendencies unfortunately will unlikely to follow.
