Parental advisory facts for kids
The Parental Advisory label is a special sticker you might see on music albums or sometimes comic books. It's a warning for parents. This sticker lets them know that the music or comic might have strong language or themes that some people think are not suitable for younger children.
You'll often find this sticker on Hip Hop and Rap albums. It helps parents decide if the content is okay for their kids to listen to or read.
Contents
What is Parental Advisory?
The Parental Advisory label is a black and white sticker. It says "Parental Advisory: Explicit Content." This means the content, like song lyrics, might include words or ideas that are considered strong or adult. It's not a ban, but a warning. It helps parents make choices about what their children consume.
Why was the label created?
The Parental Advisory label was created in the 1980s. At that time, some parents were worried about the lyrics in popular music. They felt that some songs had too much strong language or talked about adult topics.
A group of parents, including Tipper Gore, who was the wife of then-Senator Al Gore, formed a group called the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC). They were concerned about how music might affect young people. They wanted a way to inform parents about the content of music albums.
How the label came to be
The PMRC talked with music companies. They suggested that music albums should have a rating system, similar to how movies are rated. After discussions, the music industry agreed to put warning labels on albums. This way, parents could easily see if an album contained explicit content. The first labels appeared in 1985.
How the label works today
When a music company decides to put a Parental Advisory label on an album, it means they believe the content is explicit. This could be due to:
- Strong language (swear words)
- References to violence
- Other mature themes
The label is a voluntary agreement by the music industry. It's not a law from the government. It's a way for music companies to self-regulate and help parents. Stores can choose whether to sell albums with the label. Some stores might not sell them to younger customers.
The Parental Advisory label is mostly used in the United States. However, similar warning systems exist in other countries. It helps parents worldwide make informed decisions about what their children listen to.
Images for kids
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Tipper Gore in 2009
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An earlier version of a warning label, used during the 1980s.
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