Harmful Effects of TV and Games on Children - Research Paper Example

 Harmful Effects of TV and Games on Children Today, an amplified rate of violence among children and young adults is one of the most significant concerns encountered by parents. However, we barely do without contemplation to the truth that entertainment medium such as television and video games; can be a chief contributing factor to the rising trend of aggressive behavior with children today. Television is a visual medium, often referred to as an “idiot box”. Generally appealing to the eye and not to the brain, it causes destruction to children’s innocence, lures them to violence, and gives sexuality misinformation. In a research by Dr, Eugene V. Beresin of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, he found a connection between televised aggression and violent behavior among children and adolescents. In his article, “The Impact of Media Violence on Children and Adolescents: Opportunities for Clinical Interventions,” Beresin mentioned that in the 1950s, barely ten percent of American homes had a television, whereas nowadays, ninety-nine percent of households have televisions, with more than half of them having a television in the children’s bedrooms, thereby presenting a bigger chance to watch programs devoid of parental control. In recent studies, children engage in TV viewing for more or less 28 hours per week, which is more than their actual school hours. An average American child will view over 200,000 violence acts, as well as over 16,000 murders by the age of 18. Regular TV programs are surveyed to display 812 acts of violence per hour. Cartoons, which parents thought to be harmless and purely entertaining, usually show up to 20 violent acts in an hour (Beresin). Imagine the extent of damage brought upon an innocent child’s mind by an attractive flashing boob tube. Children are great imitators of everything they see, particularly the violence they witness on TV. Because they do not know the distinction between realism and make-believe, they have higher susceptibility to violence adaptation to real life situations. Several animated TV programs show acts of violence as enjoyable and funny. TV heroes beat up the villains, wrongly sending a message to youngsters that aggression is customary and justifiable. Too much exposure to televised aggression produces children who are insensitive to human sufferings. It diminishes their reserves and directs them towards more violent behavior. In an article, “The Debilitating Effects of TV on Children” by Dr. John Grohol, the CEO and founder of Psyche Central, he said that, “Teens who watch more sexual content on TV are twice as likely to be involved in a pregnancy over the next three years than their peers.” However, he also said that “TV isn’t evil; it is a powerful media that has a well-understood impact on a child’s or teen’s development” (Grohol). Most likely, children obtain sexuality information from television. TV programs such as prime time shows, soap operas, music videos, and even commercials, have sexual content. Based on Kyla Boyse’s article, “Television and Children” which was reviewed by the faculty and staff at the University of Michigan, the amount of sexually categorized scenes in today’s televised media has almost doubled since 1998. The top 20 most-viewed programs by teens show high sexual content (Boyse). What is more morally damaging to the adolescent’s mind is that some sexual intercourse scenes portray couples who are mere acquaintances only; some are even complete strangers. Because majority of education institutions do not teach proper sex education and not all parents discuss comfortably with their children about sex and sexual relationships, contraception and sexually transmitted diseases, children tend to get full sexual information and misinformation from TV. Over exposure by teens to sex on TV raises the likelihood of premarital sex, thereby resulting to unwanted pregnancies. However, we should not forget that television has its positive side too. It also provides entertainment and education. Programs such as Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel and History Channel provide education about different cultures, opportunity to travel the globe, and new avenues for children. Sadly, the majority of children do not prefer quality television programming. This is where the parents intervene. They should give advice on positive programs suitable for their children’s age and personality, watch TV with them, and set time limits on TV viewing. Video games are believed to be one of the most significant advancements in the entertainment field of children and young adults. At its best, video games provide maximum entertainment, but at its worst, these modern innovations present serious damaging outcomes on children. An article from Science Daily, named “Violent Video Game Play Makes More Aggressive Kids, Study Shows,” says that according to Professor Craig Anderson of Iowa State University, violent videogame play adds to the players' violent behavior and increases the likelihood of violence in dealing with problems. Anderson is intent in proving that over exposure to violent video games is the culprit of aggressiveness in the youth today, regardless of their age, sex or culture (“Violent Video Game Play Makes More Aggressive Kids, Study Shows”). Why is violent video game more hazardous than violent televised media? Video games are interactive and put the player in the actual game world. Players play as main characters or heroes who murder or punish the “bad guys”. Violent acts of heroes are often prized, thus creating in children a sense of justifiable violence. The interactive participation of children in the aim-and-fire video games allows mastery of their shooting skills, which ultimately develop into impulses and instincts. The child’s newly developed aggressive instincts, together with improper upbringing can create a tremendously violent mind. In California Congress, a bill was reinstituted by Rep. Joe Baca (D-CA) that would oblige all teen and adult video games to contain a label: "WARNING: Excessive exposure to violent video games and other violent media has been linked to aggressive behavior." However, this bill was counteracted by a campaign from the Entertainment Consumers Association (ECA), as was written in the article, “Don’t Warn Parents about Harmful Effects of Video Game Violence”. The ECA protested that the bill "is an unconstitutional restraint on speech that will harm consumers and parents alike." The protest also argues that there is no real evidence on the relation between violent media and violent behavior. Although the reinstituted bill would not make restrictions on the video game content, still it gained a lot of disapproval from the Entertainment Consumers Association and several video fans and gaming blogs (“Don’t Warn Parents about the Harmful Effects of Video Game Violence”). Majority of violent video games have age restrictions and labeled as “For Adults Only”, which is the best way to prevent accessibility to children. On the other hand, once it is purchased from a store and ends up in the home, or when it is downloaded to a home computer, this violent game would eventually be played by a minor or a younger sibling. Minors’ minds can be easily corrupted. The children, still in their mental development stage, every so often could get the wrong perception from violent video games. Because of their innocence and lack of experiences and knowledge of the “real world”, they are easily susceptible to the belief that the best way to achieve victory is through power and violence. Some of us may have heard of the story that happened in 1999 in Colorado’s Columbine High School when two students massacred twelve of their friends and teachers prior to committing suicide. The two students were confirmed to be avid fans of the violent game Doom. Of course, we cannot conclude that the game directly caused the killings; however, we have to admit that it undoubtedly had a triggering effect. Video games, however, can have some advantageous effects on children. When played properly and in moderation, games can develop eye-hand coordination, problem solving skills, common sense, fast thinking, multitasking, decision making, and teamwork. Parents play vital roles of making certain that the negative effects of video games do not prevail over the positive ones. They have to set rules on time limits for video game play, take into consideration the video game rating, participate in the game play, and explain the destructive consequences of violence. Parents should likewise encourage their children to take active participation in functional activities rather than in addictive video games. Works Cited Beresin, Eugene V. “The Impact of Media Violence on Children and Adolescents: Opportunities for Clinical Interventions.” American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2009. 20 Mar. 2010. Boyse, Kyla. “Television and Children.” University of Michigan Health System. Nov. 2009. 21 Mar. 2010. “Don’t Warn Parents about Harmful Effects of Video Game Violence” Wellsphere. 9 Apr. 2009. 20 Mar. 2010. Grohol, John M. “The Debilitating Effects of TV on Children.” World of Psychology. 27 Sept. 2009. 20 Mar. 2010. “Violent Video Game Play Makes More Aggressive Kids, Study Shows.” Science Daily. 2 Mar. 2010. 20 Mar. 2010. Read More