Media, Video Game Violence Poses Public Health Threat: New Study
This latest study reviews more than 50 years of research related to the social impact of video game, movie, television and Internet violence, and clearly demonstrates that exposure to virtual violence increases the risk of violent behavior in the viewer -- particularly among kids. The risk is so significantly increased, according to researchers, that the only public health effect larger than the effect of media violence on aggressive behavior is the effect of cigarette smoking on the development of lung cancer.
U.S. children spend an average of 3 - 4 hours per day watching television. Researchers point out that more than 60% of television programs contain some level of violence, and 40% of those contain heavy violence. Scientists caution that as with other public health threats, not every individual who is exposed will necessarily exhibit symptoms of exposure -- in this case, aggressive behavior -- but the threat should be more seriously addressed as a matter of public health, nonetheless.
Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:
- A study showing that playing evening video games impairs sleep and memory
- A study showing that language development DVDs can be harmful to toddlers
- A study showing that infant television exposure influences behavior
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