This essay aims to explore the necessities of censorship and the roles it plays in society. It will start by defining the term 'censorship' and introducing has been censored through different periods of history. Finally, this essay will explore if there is a need for censorship in society, focusing on undesirable material and its effects on children.
             The word 'censor' is defined as 'to examine and expurgate.' The word is derived from the Latin 'census' and refers to the count of the citizens and an evaluation of their property for taxation purposes in ancient Rome. It is also defined as the administration and control of the information and ideas circulated among the people within the general public.
             In modern times, censorship refers to the inspection of books, periodicals, plays, films, television and radio programs, news reports, and other communication media to change, alter, or suppress parts thought to be objectionable or offensive. The objectionable material may be considered immoral or obscene, heretical or blasphemous, subversive or rebellious, or damaging to national security. Thus, the rationale for censorship is that it is necessary to protect three basic social institutions: the family, the church, and the state.
             One of the first known examples of censorship existed in ancient Greece, despite its notoriety for its open-minded approach to lifestyle in general (orgies were common and beloved by both the rich and poor). In Athens, where democracy first grew, Socrates opted to sacrifice his life rather than accept his teachings in 399 BC. Charged with the worship of new divinities of his own and not acknowledging the gods the city did and with the corruption of the youth he taught, Socrates defended free discussion as a supreme public service. He was thus the first person to formulate a philosophy of intellectual freedom.
             Speeding up through history, another example of censorship is the works of Shakespeare (15...