# The V-Chip

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-v-chip/161607>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 15, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-v-chip/161607 "2003-03-15T16:05:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-v-chip/161607/1 "2003-03-15T16:05:52Z")

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(a couple years ago in a political campaign Al Gore prposed a “V-chip” be installed in televisions to block violent programing.)

What ever happened to the V-Chip? I see to recall that some manufacturer or another actually built some set with the feature, but that would be useless of course without the broadcasters.

Did the TV stations ever start coding tier programs.

Just an idle question that came to me while avoiding my tax paperwork.

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**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-v-chip/161607/2 "2003-03-15T16:51:23Z")

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The V-chip is installed in all new TVs now, I believe. It goes by the ratings that appear at the start of every TV program, so you can, say, block anything higher than TV-PG (Or TV-G, TV-Y7, etc.)

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**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2003, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-v-chip/161607/3 "2003-03-15T17:17:40Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by mobo85 \*  
> \*\*The V-chip is installed in all new TVs now, I believe. It goes by the ratings that appear at the start of every TV program, so you can, say, block anything higher than TV-PG (Or TV-G, TV-Y7, etc.) \*\*

More importantly, does anyone use it or even know how?

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**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-v-chip/161607/4 "2003-03-16T02:16:07Z")

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Really? It was installed? I didn’t know that! Of course I don’t live in the US.

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**Author:** ![Mikahw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Mikahw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikahw)\
**Post date:** [March 16, 2003, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-v-chip/161607/5 "2003-03-16T06:52:05Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> does anyone use it or even know how?

I know how, but then again, I’m probably not the average consumer. I actually can program a VCR. 😃

What’s silly is that the TV I have that has the V-chip doesn’t have any password or anything, so anyone can turn it off rather easily. What a useful feature. :rolleyes: