ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Television rating system

Ok kiddo, so you know how we watch different TV shows and movies on our TV, right? Well, some of these shows and movies are made for grown-ups and some are made for kids like you. The television rating system is a way for parents and grown-ups to know which shows and movies are appropriate for you to watch.

Basically, the rating system gives each show or movie a rating based on what kind of content is in it. The ratings range from G (which means it’s good for all ages) to TV-MA (which means it’s only for adults).

Let’s take an example of a show like Spongebob Squarepants. This show is rated TV-Y, which means it’s for kids of all ages. But, a show like The Walking Dead is rated TV-MA, which means it’s only for grown-ups because it has very scary and violent scenes that might be too much for kids like you.

So, when you want to watch a new show or movie, you can ask your parents to check its rating first to make sure it’s appropriate for you. And that’s how the television rating system helps us all make good choices about what we watch on TV!