Should society or the individual or an educated elite decide what is a appropriate level of sex and violence to expose children to?

Societies views on appropriate levels of explicit content can vary. A more liberal view or a more conservative interpretation may prove to be harmful to children. Although, as times change, society has changed also, becoming more fluid and adapting to the climate of a post video nasties era. There has been a growing trend in the production of 12A rated films, raising concerns a growing number of children are being exposed to scenes of violence and sex. The individual, in terms of self-regulation, is a good way to control what we watch. Proactive regulation means the individual can actively decide what is good for them and what they want to see. Self-regulation allows for freedom and an educated response when you are of the right age. The problem with educated elites deciding what is appropriate is that, they may tend to be more conservative. There is a lack of flexibility and movement unlike societal regulations. They may tend to become over protective, restricting the content and imposing age ratings that may be too harsh. Self-regulation seems to be the most appropriate method to regulating media.