Final answer:
Parents exert significant influence over their teenagers and often guide them in media consumption choices, which historically has led to the development of rating systems for music, movies, and video games. However, attempts at stricter controls or censorship can provoke legal challenges and debates over personal freedoms and freedom of speech.
Step-by-step explanation:
Whether parents should censor the media consumed by their teenagers is a question that touches on themes of guidance, influence, and individual liberties. Teenagers have reported that parents and other caring adults are significant influences in their lives, even more than their peers, particularly regarding their behaviors and decision-making processes. This influence extends to decisions about the media they consume.
In historical context, groups such as the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) have attempted to limit children's access to music with sexual or violent content, which led to the music industry adopting a voluntary rating system. A similar approach has been used for other media, like movies and video games, with the establishment of rating systems aimed at guiding parents in their programming choices. This has been seen in the formation of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ERSB) and the adoption of ratings by the Motion Picture Association of America.
However, attempts at regulation don't come without controversy, as evidenced by debates over censorship and personal freedoms. When states like California have attempted to legislate against the sale of certain video games to minors, such laws have been struck down by the US Supreme Court for violating freedom of speech. The underlying principle is that in a democratic society with an emphasis on individual liberties and free-market capitalism, such decisions often end up being scrutinized and resolved within the court system, reflecting a complex balance between protection of minors and respect for constitutional rights.