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Birmingham (pte011/18.02.2005/10:45) - There is an increasing risk that young children who watch violent imagery in computer games and on TV can become aggressive and emotionally disturbed, according to a new report. As the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk reports, a study by researchers at Birmingham University http://www.bham.ac.uk found that the effect was "small but significant" in the short-term and especially relevant for boys. According to the researchers, the effect was less clear for older children and in the long-term. The review, which is published in The Lancet, said that family and social factors were likely to affect the response too.
The research team reviewed six major studies on the effects of media violence on children. According to the report, violent imagery should be looked at in the content of public health and the wider effects on child welfare, families and the community. According to the report's author Kevin Browne, parents should exercise the same caution with violent imagery as they did with medication or chemicals around the home. "Carelessness with material that contains extreme violent and sexual imagery might even be regarded as a form of emotional maltreatment of the child," he said. "Producers also need to recognise the potential effects of their violent images on vulnerable audiences who might not have the capacity or the will to see violence in the context of the story."
The findings of the report have reignited the debate about the effect of computer games and TV violence. Previous research into the issue has produced mixed results. "It is common sense really," said John Bayer, of campaign group Mediawatch UK. "If children are watching violence on TV and playing violent computer games, it is not surprising they become aggressive. I think the link is especially strong with video games," he continued. "Children become isolated from the world when they play these games, some of which give you extra points for inflicting more pain, and don't know right from wrong. The games literally rot their brains," he added.
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