Final answer:
Criticism of television's portrayal of sexuality has increased due to a variety of factors including its impacts on behavior, stereotyping, and public opinion in the U.S. More conservative attitudes towards sexuality in the U.S. contrast with more liberal views in some European nations, leading to different standards in media regulation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Criticism about the display of sexuality on television in the United States has grown with an increase in several factors. These include the impact of TV viewing on children's behavior, stereotypical portrayals of women and minorities, and the presentation of sexual content. Male characters traditionally outnumber female characters, and African American and Latino minorities have often been subjected to hypersexualized images. Public opinion about sexuality is more conservative in the U.S. compared to some other industrialized nations. For example, a higher percentage of U.S. respondents view premarital sex, sex before the age of 16, extramarital sex, and homosexuality as wrong compared to averages from 24 countries surveyed. This cultural restrictiveness also extends to media depictions, where incidents such as the Janet Jackson Super Bowl performance in 2004 led to fines for the network due to perceived indecency. The television industry has tried to navigate these waters through measures like implementing ratings systems and V-Chips, but the regulation of such content remains variable and technology continues to challenge censorship efforts, as seen with the Internet.