In a bold move against the tobacco industry, the Motion Picture Association of America has announced that scenes with smoking will impact movie ratings in the same context as sexual activities and violence. Movies that glamorize smoking will find their rating penalized.
The MPAA ratings have moved beyond just teen smoking to all forms of tobacco use.
Implications - Society has always placed celebrities and movie stars on a pedestal, but movies are increasingly shaping young people's behavior and attitudes. To combat this cultural shift, the movie industry has implemented rating systems to help parents narrow down their child's film choices. These rating systems must continually shift to stay in tune with current societal issues.
US Movie Rating Agency Gets Tough on Smoking
US Movie Rating Agency Gets Tough On Smoking
Trend Themes
1. Stricter Movie Rating Standards - The MPAA implementing tougher rating standards for movies that depict smoking as a harmful behavior.
2. Influence of Movies on Behavior - The increasing recognition that movies have a significant impact on shaping young people's behavior and attitudes.
3. Evolving Rating Systems - The need for movie rating systems to continually adapt to address current societal issues.
Industry Implications
1. Film Industry - The film industry should explore innovative ways to reduce the glamorization of smoking in movies to maintain favorable ratings and protect public health.
2. Tobacco Industry - The tobacco industry should anticipate potential negative impacts on its brand image as movie ratings penalize movies that glamorize smoking.
3. Parental Guidance Services - Providers of parental guidance services should leverage the evolving movie rating systems to assist parents in making informed choices for their children.