# Pros and Cons of Censorship

URL: https://buzzle.com/government-politics/pros-and-cons-of-censorship
Category: Government & Politics
Published: 2008-06-26T06:25:04
Updated: 2026-07-27T09:19:33
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Censorship is prevalent in the modern society. It is a highly divisive issue. Here’s a look at its pros and cons.

Censorship is the control of information and ideas in a society. Both democratic and non-democratic countries use it. With the explosion of communication technology, it has become all-pervasive. There is a dispute as to whether censorship is good or bad.

## Advantages of Censorship

Pros of Censorship

-   Censorship of pornographic material prevents the corrupting of the children.
-   Religious conflicts are avoided by the censorship of material deemed insulting or offensive to a particular religious community.
-   Censorship is necessary to preserve the secrets of a nation.
-   Censorship is useful in hiding sensitive military information, which could be used by an enemy state.
-   Scenes of people consuming alcohol or smoking influence people to copy them. Hence censoring such scenes serves a useful purpose.
-   People may copy dangerous stunts shown on TV or movies. Censorship proves necessary here.
-   Books may be used to portray wrong information about individuals or groups that could incite violence against them. Censorship would definitely prove helpful here.
-   It can be used to prevent politically motivated propaganda.
-   It protects the privacy of people.
-   Plagiarism is prevented.
-   Abusive scenes in movies may offend some people. Censorship prevents that.
-   It protects indigenous cultures from the bad influence of foreign cultures.
-   It prevents the public display of disrespect to any particular individual or community.
-   It prevents companies from spreading inaccurate or grossly exaggerated claims about their products.
-   It promotes political correctness.
-   Terrorists are prevented from learning about dangerous technology like the atom bomb.
-   Children are prevented from learning things that could harm them and others.
-   It prevents the ill effects of globalization affecting societies.
-   It shields the morals of society.
-   It restrains vulgarity and obscenity.
-   The surfeit of violence in movies and TV is restricted by it.
-   It prevents violence by stopping the broadcast of events, which might trigger it.

## Disadvantages of Censorship

Cons of Censorship

-   If sex-related topics are completely censored it becomes difficult to teach children and teenagers about the dangers of HIV/AIDS.
-   Dictators and dictatorship use it to promote a flattering image of themselves and for removing any information that is negative to them.
-   Freedom of speech is compromised.
-   Religious fundamentalists like the Taliban use them to coerce the population.
-   It encroaches upon the freedom of the press.
-   It prevents the free flow of ideas.
-   It may intrude on the privacy of a person.
-   Withholding of information only leads to ignorance in the society.
-   Censoring of information may lead to a wrong image perceived by the public.
-   It is generally associated with dictatorship.
-   Censorship in books, plays and movies may compromise their entertainment value.
-   Censorship has been misused in the past.
-   It is a force against globalization.
-   It works against creativity.
-   If you hide something from people they will become extra curious about it.
-   It has no place in a truly democratic society.
-   It gives rise to and hides human rights abuses.
-   It is used to control people.
-   There can be different standards of morals among different societies quite different from the imposed ones by the censorship.
-   It may be used to block legitimate criticism.
-   Governments should not control people. It should be the other way around.
-   Individuals have different tastes.
-   It stifles the opposition, broadcasting only a particular point of view.
-   People have a right to know.

## Weighing the Pros and Cons

Used properly, censorship serves as a valuable tool. However, it can also be easily misused. Governments and other regulatory institutions must learn to use it judiciously.