Chapter 3: Questions from Baase p 189

3.1 Briefly explain the differences between common carriers, broadcasters, and publishers with respect to freedom of speech and control of content.

Common carriers provide a medium of communication (not content) and must make their service available to everyone. The law prohibits them from controlling the content of material that passes through their system(p.146). Print publishers and broadcasters are legally liable for content they publish or broadcast (p.147). They can be sued for libel and copyright infringement (p.147).

3.2 Describe two methods parents can use to restrict access by their children to inappropriate material on the Web.

Parents can set up accounts for their children without e-mail or set up a specified list of addresses from which e-mail will be accepted (p.160). The video game industry developed a rating system that provides an indication for parents about the amount of sex, profanity, and violence in a game (p.160). Parents have a responsibility to supervise their children and to teach them how to deal with inappropriate material and threats (p.160).

3.8 One of the arguments used to justify increased government control of television content is that television is “invasive.” It comes into the home and is more difficult to keep from children. Do you think this argument is strong enough to outweigh the First Amendment? Give reasons. Is this argument more valid for the Internet than for television, or less valid for the Internet than for television? Give reasons.

I do not think that this argument is strong enough to outweigh the First Amendment. Although many television shows may not be appropriate for children, rating have been created for each television show and displayed before the show starts. Even though many people do not pay attention to these ratings they are there for a reason. Besides the ratings many cable companies have parental controls. Parental controls allows the parents to go and block what television shows they do not deem appropriate for their children. This argument is less valid for the Internet than for television. This argument is meant for there to be more control over what we watch on television. This argument can also be used toward what we are able to watch on the Internet. Many television channels put episodes that aired on the television also on their websites, which allows children to go on the internet and watch the shows even if they are blocked on their television.