The V-Chip

Putting restrictions on what your children watch, even when you’re not there

The V-Chip is technology that allows parents to block television programming they don’t want their children to watch.  Most television shows include a rating, which is encoded into the television program. Parents can program the V-Chip to block certain shows based on their ratings.

Ratings appear in the corner of the television screen during the first 15 seconds of each television program.  Ratings are given to all programming except news, sports, and unedited movies on premium cable channels.  The ratings, also known as TV Parental Guidelines, are as follows:

  • TV-Y (All Children)-  The show is appropriate for all children
  • TV-7 (Directed to Older Children)-The show is most appropriate for children age 7 and up.
  • TV-G (General Audience)- The show is suitable for all ages but is not necessarily a children’s show.
  • TV-PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)-  Parental guidance is suggested, the show may not be suitable   for younger children.  This rating may also include a V for violence, S for sexual situations, L for language, or D for suggestive dialogue).
  • TV-14 (Parents Strongly Cautioned)- The show may be unsuitable for children under 14 (may be accompanied by V,S,L or D)
  • TV-MA (Mature Audience Only)- The show is for mature audiences only and may not be suitable for children under 17 (may be accompanied by V,S,L or D)

As of January 1, 2000 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) required all new television sets (13 inches or larger) to contain the V-Chip technology.  If your current television does not have a V-Chip, you can get a top box, which works the same way as a built-in V-Chip.

Source:  The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), www.fcc.gov.  For more information on the V-Chip, visit www.fcc.gov/vchip