To be surprised by baby nudity in TV programme?

[Dobbysdad]

I'm watching a series at the moment on a mainstream streaming platform. A programme from 11 years ago shows a naked baby, including a shot showing their genitals. AIBU to be surprised this hasn't been censored?

Is your concern about the privacy of the ‘actor’, who’s too young to consent, or something else?

Yes, consent of the actor and also the (maybe disproportionate?) concern that this footage could be seen by pedophiles. It was released a while ago, and I suppose I wouldn't expect modern TV to show so much detail.

What’s your worry?

Never go to an art gallery OP.

I take it you’ve seen the cover of Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ album? 😉

To be fair, as an adult , that baby did try to sue Nirvana for using his naked photo.

I mean, babies don't need to consent, their parents do it for them. Otherwise we'd be waiting until they were adults to take any photos of them or give them medical care or haircuts.

I'm not convinced making naked infants a sexual taboo, rather than something just innocent and non-sexual, is actually a way to combat paedophiles, if anything, it may do the opposite.

I watched an episode of something in the last few days which had a naked child, not sure it was the same thing and can’t remember exactly what it was but I did find it really surprising that it wasn’t edited out as would not be included these days.

Might have been a music video on one of the retro top of the pops editions

I think this is how I'm feeling. It wasn't integral to the programme, they were having a bath and actually their genitals didn't need to be shown at all. I was surprised that although it was 11 years ago, that's not a huge amount of time and I wouldn't expect it in a modern programme because it's not essential.

Sure, it could be seen by paedophiles. But it’s not anyone else’s responsibility to control the thoughts of a paedophile. Infant bodies are not sexual objects to the vast majority of the human race.

I think there is potentially a privacy argument, in that the child will one day grow up and may not be happy about there being a permanent image of their genitals in the public domain. There’s a big difference between this and their parents taking private family photos, or consenting to medical care which is in their best interests.

I don’t really understand why it would be necessary to show or how it be pivotal to a story so yeah I’d find it really odd for an old or new programme to be honest.

It wouldn't happen now and it is a surprise to see. Having worked on a sex offenders unit I am very pleased they have stopped.
Equally pleased to see that female actors are less expected to show their boobs all the time. It weirdly dates stuff now.

I saw a re-run of Children's Hospital from the 90s on YouTube recently and in the titles there is a child completely naked, not a baby either he was probably around 4 or 5 and I was quite shocked it hadn't been edited out.

Loads of men are paedophiles so yes, certainly some will have seen it.
Don't think it's going to be hard for paedophiles to get a look at naked babies if that's their thing though.

I don’t think paedophiles are watching reruns of old shows in case a naked baby shows up. Pretty sure their have their own terrifying sources of material.

How do you imagine that eventuality would have any material impact on the child?

I don't like seeing it in all honesty. Usually happens in old TV shows like On the buses or something. Newer programmes tend to cut away or angle the shot so as to protect the child's privacy.

Er, what???
Reviewed statistics please.