IELTS Essay

Detailed descriptions of crimes are often given in the newspaper or on TV. Some people think it has bad consequences on the society and so should be restricted. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some people believe that thorough depiction of criminal activities should be controlled because of the negative impacts it has on the society. While I accept that this belief can be true to an extent, I think detailed description of crimes is necessary and should not be restricted.

The portrait of crimes, especially the brutal or highly violent ones in the newspaper or on TV can be harmful to the public in some ways. Firstly, this type of description can provoke anxiety and fear among the public. These feelings could distort the view of citizens about their community, in other words, they might not feel safe or trust other people living around them. Secondly, if this type of description is shown too frequently in the media, it can normalise violence and illegal acts. This normalisation is extremely dangerous to the public, particularly to children for they would grow up thinking that committing a crime is a normal practice.

However, I think detailed description of crimes can be helpful to society. This type of description can help to raise awareness among people, that is, it can give the public more insights into criminal acts. By having these insights, people in general may be more alert, know how to protect themselves better and to react to a crime when it occurs. In addition, a real description of crimes can show the authority how severe criminals are getting so that they can pass stricter laws or to employ more effective measures to combat these crimes and to protect the citizens.

In conclusion, although portraits of criminal acts can have some negative influences on society, in my opinion, they are of importance and therefore should not be limited.