There is actually a large amount of people over the age of 46 that read comics. A lot of people don't like "comics" on Facebook. I don't. I just really don't like random sh*t in my timeline. And a lot of people of 46 just don't have Facebook. Also take into account the people that are lying. There are tons of people that have read one graphic novel and say that they read comics. A lot of people don't even know the difference. There is a lot to take into account. At my age, people aren't even using Facebook anymore and I'm only 22. No one wants their personal information online for everyone to see. Youth is obsessed with social networking. I'd suspect that is the reason so many young people "like" comics.
And no, comics are not for kids. If they were, the industry would fail. Comics are essentially a new way to tell stories. Is television too graphic? That is the same question. There are certain tv shows that are for a younger audience just as there are certain comics for a younger audience. And they should be for adults rather then kids. I think a big problem with the big two publishers is that they don't know who they're selling to. They making adult comics, but adding elements that kids would like. Then in comics, at times, they'll hold back. Instead of showing someone getting shot in the head, there'll be a silhouette. You can argue that it works better in the story and that you didn't want it to be gory on the page, but it happens way too often for it not to be for a younger age.
Overall, I think they censor a lot in comics because the general public thinks that comics are for kids. If the media finds one things they don't like in comics, it goes all over the news. And that would ruin the industry. For that reason, mainstream comics can never be fully "adult." They have to be in that niche. A niche that could actually work for them because a slightly younger audience becomes interested. And this audience is full of "kids." Maybe they're older kids, but these kids will buy the products and will help the industry prosper.
So yes and no. It's a complicated question.
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