What is the purpose of censorship?

Censorship is used in media to stop people from seeing things that are considered too innapropriate. For this reason the Hays Code was introduced. It was formulated and adopted by  The Association of Motion Picture Producers, Inc. and The Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America, Inc. in March 1930. They recognised their responsibility to the public because they realised entertainment and art are important influences in the life of a nation, they know that the motion picture within its own field of entertainment may be directly responsible for spiritual or moral progress, for higher types of social life, and for much correct thinking. This shows that the media effects nearly everyone whether the are actively taking it in or passivley.  Its general principles are:

1. No picture shall be produced that will lower the moral standards of those who see it. Hence the sympathy of the audience should never be thrown to the side of crime, wrongdoing, evil or sin.

2. Correct standards of life, subject only to the requirements of drama and entertainment, shall be presented.

3. Law, natural or human, shall not be ridiculed, nor shall sympathy be created for its violation.

When it comes to music videos there isn't a lot that is censored however distributers will try to make the music suitable for a wide audience in some songs swear words are bleeped out and in videos they try to limit nudity and strong sexual imagery as they want to be able to sell to the widest audience possible and a majority of people would find that innapropriate and unacceptable.

The watershed is a time of night when the things shown on tv contain adult content. It is at 9pm because it is considered that children who shouldn't be seeeing or hearing certain things will be in bed. This suggests that if the children see or hear "adult" things enough they will start to copy it which would be inappropriate as far as society is concerned. Children are quite a passive audience. They probably don't understand any rude words or inappropriate actions but if they see it enough they will presume it is acceptable and it is very likely they will copy it.