Filtering Online Content: A Valid Proposition

This essay discusses the validity of filtering online content. It argues that filtering online content is essential to acquire correct information and avoid fake news and irrelevant ideas. It also discusses the impact of filtering online content on children, business organizations, and society.

Running head: COMMUNICATION
Communication
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Introduction
Aiming to understand as well as evaluate the need to censor and check the content
published in the internet, the essay will endeavor to shed light upon the important aspects related
to the topic. The essay will also endeavor to argue for the fact that it is essential and valid to
monitor and filter the internet content to enable the process of acquirement of correct information
that is not tampered by untrue or irrelevant ideas. Assuming the form of a debate, the following
paragraph will endeavor to enlist and discuss about the relevant aspects associated with filtering
the online contents.
Discussion
A closer look at the given proposition will unearth the concept that the online media has
captured the place of one of the most accessible and prominent sources of communication.
Recent studies are emblematic of the idea that due to the rampant increase in the use of
technological means, people have started resorting to online media to gather relevant information
about varied topics (Pfeffer, Zorbach & Carley, 2014). The usage of online media has increased
over the years (Tiago & Veríssimo, 2014). Studies are also emblematic of the idea that the online
contents form an integral part in regulating the lives of commoners. Due to the vast and varied
nature of the online media and access, the rapid generation of online content forms an integral
part of the success of the online forms of communication. As the phrase depicts, ‘online filtering’
refers to the process in which the unpleasant and undesirable contents are filtered and removed
(Subramaniyaswamy et al., 2015). It can be argued that the proposition of filtering online content
is valid because there is an increase in the cases and prevalence of fake and incorrect news. It has
to be accepted that there are online contents that emphasize upon the creation of unnecessary

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violence and hate related communal topics. For example, several news article and reviews reveal
the fact that the circulation of untrue pictures in social media leads to the perpetration of
communal violence amongst certain communities (BBC News, 2019). Taking into consideration
this aspect, it can be mentioned that properly filtering the online content will assist in curbing the
generation of fake and irrelevant news and concepts. A closer analysis of the news articles and
statistical data will provide many evidences of communal violence in developing nation such as
India, has emanated from the improper and inappropriate online content (Burgess, 2019). It has
to be argued that the filtering of online content can avoid various mis-happenings. Another look
at the evidence of online misinformation can also be seen in the case of the Presidential election
in the United States in 2016 (Misinformation: Spotting the signs of imposter content | YALI,
2019). The generation of online misinformation had led to the perpetration of negative facts.
In addition to this, it is also seen that the online contents need to be filtered because many
irrelevant online contents often strive to replace the factual truth, which, in turn, creates a
disturbing and chaotic situation for the believers in the online contents (Chadwick, 2019).
However, studies also reveal that other than online contents, many factors create turmoil in
society. Therefore, the proposition is quite debatable.
The proposition that filtering online content cam be justified to be valid because it is seen
that due to the rapid advancements in technology and the easy access, even children can
participate in gathering various ideas from the internet. Recent studies project that children are
susceptible to the various forms of information and ideas projected in the internet. Evaluating the
validity of filtering online content, it can be mentioned that filtering will assist in debarring the
conspicuous children from being exposed to inappropriate content such as pornography. Studies
unearth the concept that the online access of pornography can affect the psyche of children. A

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study provides the evidence that regular exposure to the sexual contents can direct the children’s
attitude towards sexual violence (Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2019). Censoring the
online content for children will help them in staying touch with the correct and appropriate
contents relevant to their age. It can be said that filtering the online content before presenting to
children can help in erasing the overtly sexual images and contents that can hamper the child
physic development. In addition to this, filtering online content for the children can alleviate the
case of child sexual abuse and other forms of wrong sexual explorations (McNair, 2014). For
example, the implementation of parental control software can reduce the cases of children
coming across inappropriate contents and ideas (BBC WebWise, 2019). Additionally, the
proposition of filtering online content is valid because it contributes in restricting the children
from accessing incorrect as well as harmful information that are available in the internet.
However, it is debatable whether filtering contents can really debar children from accessing
inappropriate contents.
It is also seen that the impositions of filtering online content for children in schools and
other educational institutions can ease the process of proper acquirement of necessary
information. The addition of parental control in censoring online content and information will
assist in the development of the innumerable faculties vested in children (NPSCC, 2019).
Filtering online content before publication can play a crucial role in removing the various
false myths and ideologies related to human existence. It is an acceptable fact that the gradual
surge in internet usage has increased the influence it exerts upon the susceptible minds of many.
Filtering the unnecessary contents is valid as it will pave the way for the generation of correct
and useful ideas. Online media and trends have served to create the myths of beauty standards
and the compulsion to follow them. Censoring these information can lead to the creation of a

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better and fruitful life. However, it can be said that incorrect lifestyle practices have been
adopted through other forms. Censoring contents can yield little or no effect.
A closer examination of the validity of filtering online contents will reveal the idea that
this aspect can prove to be useful in the various aspects of business enterprises. Censoring or
filtering online contents can assist business enterprises in curbing the rise in the cases of cyber-
attacks that are chiefly conducted on the online contents and the information (Virvilis et
al.,2015). The proposition of filtering online content can help the business organizations in
controlling the nature of the contents, which in turn, will prevent the cyber-attackers from
implementing malicious ideas. For example, the implementation of cyber censorship can assist
the business organizations to abide to the various legal as well as ethical norms related to the
access of internet services at the workplace (Jamaluddin et al., 2015). Censoring the available
contents assists business organizations in following the ethical norms of debarring the employees
from accessing inappropriate websites. In addition to this, the proposition of filtering online
content in business organizations also ensures the presence and practice of productivity in the
various activities at the workplace. Due to the lack of any distracting websites at the workplace,
the employees can indulge in productive activities, which in turn, can increase the efficiency of
the employees at the business organization.
It is also seen that the exercise of filtering online contents can ensure the business
endeavors to implement the various security measures that can increase the chances of reducing
the liability related to the company. It reduces the chances of deliberate or accidental access to
inappropriate websites.
However, it can be said that filtering online contents might not prove to be valid in many
occasions. Filtering online contents in business organizations might often disable the employees

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from accessing the necessary and important websites. This can affect the quality of the work
produced by the employees. Further, it needs to be accepted that the online media is a platform
that allows the people to voice their opinions without any fear of being rebuked (Zerback &
Fawzi, 2017). However, if censorship is introduced in this aspect, it will lead to the deletion of
the voices and opinions of the masses. Censorship of online contents can prove to be a bane
reducing the possibilities of the free flow of relevant information and concepts. In certain cases,
it is also found that some useful and proper websites are often blocked. This can create
innumerable problems for the business organizations and individuals. The proposition of filtering
online content also needs to inculcate the aspect of blocking the inappropriate websites and
contents. However, it is indeed difficult to ascertain the nature of the contents. This leads to the
perpetration of the wrong cases of filtering and blocking the websites. Nevertheless, the idea of
filtering online content proves to be valid in innumerable cases.
Conclusion
After analyzing the above-discussed ideas, it can be concluded that filtering the online
content is valid and needs to be incorporated to avoid many unwanted circumstances. It is also
concluded that in order to impose proper censorship, it is necessary to ascertain the nature of the
contents.

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References
Australian Institute of Family Studies. (2019). The effects of pornography on children and young
people. Retrieved from https://aifs.gov.au/publications/effects-pornography-children-and-
young-people-snapshot
BBC News. (2019). Fake news and Nigeria's herder crisis. Retrieved from
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-44655148
BBC WebWise. (2019). Making the web safer for your child. Retrieved from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/0/22728225
Burgess, M. (2019). To fight fake news on WhatsApp, India is turning off the internet. Retrieved
from https://www.wired.co.uk/article/whatsapp-web-internet-shutdown-india-turn-off
Chadwick, P. (2019). Why fake news on social media travels faster than the truth | Paul
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Misinformation: Spotting the signs of imposter content | YALI. (2019). Misinformation: Spotting
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https://yali.state.gov/misinformation-spotting-the-signs-of-imposter-content/
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