Ayyakannu Abinaya 1T14

PROJECT WORK PRELIMINARY IDEAS

(427 words)
PROJECT TASK
Task 2- Control

TOPIC
Impacts of online censorship on children

REASONS FOR TOPIC CHOICE

Views of younger Singaporeans vs older Singaporeans, younger
ones want less censorship, older ones place more value in
censorship to protect public interest1.
Hot topic discussed by youngsters today due to question of
censorship being necessary evil as it is a double-edged sword
If not everyone satisfied with censorship laws, might have anti-
government feelings.

ASPECT OF LIFE
Education of children

IMPORTANCE OF CENSORSHIP
Potential influence on citizens rights to freedom of speech

Perceived need and practice by teachers, parents etc. to limit

availability of information for childrens safety

1Our Singapore Conversation survey report, 2013, involving interviews with 4000
Singaporeans


Positive impacts Negative impacts

Media censored for children Propagates ignorance

Children unable to
differentiate between real and
make-believe.
Violence, sex and
pornography affect
perception of children at
tender age.
Censorship prevents them
from learning things that
could harm them.
Learn the right things,
effective education
Indian American asked Are
you a Muslim Terrorist in 3
grade. (Sakshi, 2014)
Due to censorship, children
form stereotypes, without
knowing much about
extremism. Schools
censorship of religious topics
cause unknowledgeable
citizens to raise kids in
unknowledgeable way.
Low awareness of taboo
topics such as religion and
sex.

SUGGESTED WAYS TO INCREASE POSITIVE

IMPACTS
1. Create educational website for children to read up on current affairs
etc., with acceptable language and content according to age.
Teachers from different schools collaborate, update regularly to
provide for students.
Ministry of Education (MOE) designs one, using web designers for
usage of primary school students.
Make website attractive and user-friendly for primary school
students
Assign homework based on information on website so students
have to go to site.
Website because 21st century kids tend to be technologically savvy.
(Sallam, 2014)
SUGGESTED WAYS TO REDUCE NEGATIVE
IMPACTS
1. MOE conduct parenting seminars at schools to create awareness
on how to educate children without violating censorship laws and
keeping them innocent and protected.
Explain importance of offering children multiple perspectives to an
issue
Children would not grow up having one-sided view.

Children become less ignorant, more open-minded.

EVALUATION OF SUGGESTED WAYS

To Evaluation To reduce Evaluation
increase negative
positive impacts
impacts
1. Teachers have to 1. No way to control
spend extra time on the whether or not parents
websites. Unavoidable would follow things
as its for benefit of shared in parenting
students. Advise seminar or go back to
teachers on time their own old-fashioned
management. parenting style. If
parents follow it,
children would have
the right education.
Make it clear that
educating kids the right
way is important.
REFERENCES
Secondary sources
1. Soh, E. (2013, August 26). Singaporeans split over gay, censorship,
social support issues: OSC survey. Retrieved April 20, 2015, from
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/singaporeans-split-over-gay--censorship--
social-support-issues--osc-survey-000921123.html

2. Siew S. (September 2009). Censorship Review Committee. Retrieved

21st April 2015 from Singapore Infopedia: http://infopedia.nl.sg/
articles/SIP_1571_2009-09-18.html

3. Board of Film Censors. (2010). Retrieved 21st April 2015 from MDA
website: http://www.mda.gov.sg/Industry/Films/Classification/Pages/
BoardofFilmClassification.aspx

4. Classification Ratings for Films and Videos. (2010). Retrieved 21st

April 2015 from MDA website: http://www.mda.gov.sg/Industry/Films/
Classification/Pages/ClassificationRatings.aspx

5. Pillai, P. (2012, July 12). Pros and Cons of Censorship. Retrieved

April 20, 2015, from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/pros-and-cons-of-
censorship.html

6. Venkatraman, S. (2014, October 9). Censorship of religion in schools

causes cultural ignorance |. Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://
www.coppellstudentmedia.com/2014/10/09/censorship-of-religion-in-
schools-causes-cultural-ignorance/

7. Jacobs, C. (2010, October 14). The morality of censorship | Electronic

Frontiers Australia. Retrieved April 20, 2015, from https://
www.efa.org.au/2010/10/14/the-morality-of-censorship/

8. Sallam, H. (2014, October 30). Microsoft Partner Network. Retrieved

April 20, 2015, from https://mspartner.microsoft.com/en/us/Blog/mpn/
article/teaching-tech-savvy-21st-century-kids

9. Target GD/PI. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://

www.targetgdpi.com/2014/03/media-censorship-good-or-bad.html
10.Two steps back. (2013, June 5). Retrieved April 20, 2015, from http://
www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2013/06/regulating-singapores-
internet

11.Han, K. (2014, September 11). COMMENT: Banning of film not about

national security, but censorship. Retrieved April 20, 2015, from
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/no-love-from-
singapore-its-not-national-security-but-160755547.html