What is the term for the exclusion of material that might be harmful or offensive to certain groups of people?

The term for the exclusion of material that might be harmful or offensive to certain groups of people is censorship. Censorship involves the suppression or restriction of content that is deemed undesirable, inappropriate, or dangerous. This can apply to various forms of media, including literature, film, and online content, where certain viewpoints, language, or representations may be limited to protect specific audiences from potential harm or offense.

Censorship seeks to balance freedom of expression with the responsibility to prevent the dissemination of material that could incite violence, hate, or other negative consequences. In contrast, regulation refers to the implementation of rules or laws, moderation typically involves monitoring and guiding discussions, particularly in online forums, and control implies a more general authority over information without the specific focus of protecting against harmful material. Thus, censorship specifically captures the intent behind excluding content to safeguard particular groups from harm or offense.