Media Violence and Children

Most children cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality. They [children] do not possess the ability to process information the same way adults do since they lack the necessary experience or judgement to evaluate what they see. Increased aggressiveness and desensitization in children due to violence in the media are major concerns among parents today. Therefore, young children are particularly vulnerable to the powerful images of violent behavior portrayed in the media. External factors such as …

…of what he or she watches and the general viewing habits he or she develops. To conclude, it appears that prolonged exposure to televised violence does have an important and consistent relationship to aggression. When children watch television they may be physically passive yet mentally alert. Their minds are ripe for absorbing ideas, information, and values. Television can be a powerful and influential teacher, so parents must ensure that the lessons learned are valuable ones.