iTMS dropping mature content?

I have no problem with explicit podcasts, but I would like a feature to be made available to hide them from users of iTunes, so the ITMS can be used as an educational resource in public schools. This would not be a difficult feature for Apple to put into iTunes.

I still think my earlier point is the most valid. Parents can filter things on the internet. They can use Apple's parental controls, or block things through the router. The thing they can not block, is iTunes content, at least not without blocking iTunes altogether. If Apple does not remove all "adult" content altogether then they should at least mark it explicit. At that point they should give the system administrator the option to disallow the download of explicit content. That is a simple solution to a complicated problem, at least in my opinion.

My podcast (MXL spice UP your SEX life SHOW) was among the top podcasts on iTunes until it was removed yesterday (the podcast is properly tagged "explicit"). I noticed that the Violet Blue Open Source Sex wasn't listed anymore and I contacted her ( http://violetblue.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=9417&comments=on - message posted on Thu, 7/7 07:31 AM EDT) By the end of the day Violet's podcast was back in the top 100, mine is still not accessible: top 100 or directory - don't know why? Max

Who gets to decide what is "mature" content? If I had a kid, then they'd be mature enough for sexual content by the time they are 12 or 13 because I'd raise them correctly and not ignore the simple fact that the purpose of puberty is to enable them to have sex. So I wouldn't consider sexual content adult-only. Obviously a lot of misguided people would. But who gets to choose? One of the things I found really neat when looking through the features of Tiger when it came out (I'm a PC user, but saving for a Mac) was the parental control. It was a so simple! Why can't they do the exact same thing here? If a kid clicks on a podcast and wants to subscribe, it asks the parent for permission. The parent reviews the podcast then gives thumbs up or thumbs down. No big deal. My kids get to understand their bodies and everything happening to them as they grow, your kids get to stay in the dark and experiment with each other leading to teen pregnancies and STDs. Everyone is happy.

chet, Iso, and Co.: I guess this is the heart of the matter. What is Apple's role in Podcasting? What service do they provide to the public by offering free podcasts through the iTMS? Is it a way for podcasters and potential audiences to connect? Is it just a gimick to get more people into the iTMS? Did building support for podcast subscriptions require putting podcasts in the iTMS or proprietary extensions to the RSS spec? On the surface, these are relatively unimportant questions. There's nothing wrong with a coporation engaging in clever marketing. And Apple had every right to do pretty much whatever they want with their services and technologies. But for me, the whole situation becomes much more complicated when we ask ourselves the following: Does being listed in the iTMS give a podcaster an advantage in terms of exposure? Will Apple's corporate decisions affect the podcasting environment? Does Apple have enough clout that its decisions will influence the way this fledgeling technology develops? I believe that the answer to all three questions is a firm "yes". And that means the decsisions Apple makes in the next weeks and months have far more import than simply the way they affect Apple's bottom line. I actually think it was a really gutsy move: adding rss support to iTunes was brilliant; adding feeds to the iTMS seems like a headache. But if they do it right, they'll be remembered for bringing podcasting to the public. I also think there's been a little confusion in this conversation about the differnce between iTunes and the iTMS. The question wasn't whether Apple should allow adult content in iTunes, but whether they should allow it in the iTMS-listed podcasts.

Kids can download explicit songs from iTunes. If they know what "explicit" means they will figure out to find it - if they want. Kids can find porno in Google. The purpose of the itunes with PodCasts is to make information "easy" to find. People are interested in sexuallity. Some want to talk about it like a textbook; others want to be titillated. Don't trust a corporation to raise yor children. Talk to your kids and take care of them. If you can't trust them, don't let them on the internet

I Think there needs to be some kind of way of restricting access of podcasts from those who are underage. Since there's no regulations for podcasts (hopefully there never will) you could have a podcast of just people having sex. Yeah there's an explicit tag, but that doesn't do much to block underage people. Requiring another credit card validation would be ideal (keep the casts free but just have an Adult section which requires a 2nd CC validation) But when you think about it..."Adult" materials get into kids hands every single day.... What's to stop them from typing the Podcast name into Google and finding the direct RSS link... So there isn't much that can really be done. At the same time i can see a parent finding in their Child's iTMS library something like "Open Source Sex" and filing a lawsuit against apple. So apple needs to find out where to cut their losses.... Dump "Adult" podcasts, or have the possibility of being sued by a disgruntled parent when it's their fault for not watching them. If i were Steve, I'd leave them. Put them in their own category, and if they get sued... Blame the parents. Just my 2 cents.

Apple absolutely has the right to limit what gets posted on their content management system. Folks who want this content will find it, but it will eliminate a ton of headaches for them if they don't post the material directly. Making the judgement call will be tough, and some of the providers will claim 'censorship,' but it is the right thing to do.

I am appalled at all the comments against adult content. I for one am happy to find mature content in the podcast directory at Apple. To all the drones who recite the "a company can do whatever they want" mantra: How sad that most US companies settle for such low standards. It looks like Apple has chosen the higher ground by still carrying such content but labelling it as explicit. I value this as opposed to the bland homgeneization of mass culture you can see at places like Walmart. Bleah! To all who want to "protect the children": They are doing just fine without protection, thank you very much. If you fear the freedom of your kids to freely browse the net, YOU HAVE FAILED AS A PARENT TO EDUCATE THEM. Period.

It's not like Apple's restricting mature podcasts, they're just refraining from listing them. If you find the caster's site and grab the URL, iTunes will still subscribe you to the cast. It'll just be a little more difficult to find the podcast in the first place. So determined children will still find them, but anyone browsing Apple's lists won't "accidentaly" trip over them.