A parental control system provides the ability to automatically filter a multimedia program content in real time based on stock and user specified criteria. The criteria are used to teach a learning module in the system what types of video program segments are to be considered sensitive or objectionable so that the module's understanding of what is sensitive and what is not can be applied to other video programs to provide real-time filtering. The multimedia program is broken down into audio, video, and transcript components so that sound effects, visual components and objects, and language can all be analyzed collectively to make a determination of whether offending material is being passed along in the multimedia program. The user has the option of training the system for any type of objectionable material, not just sex and violence.