Alawi PAGE 6 Mustafa Alawi COMM-2200 Hobbe, B May-26-2015 Media Violence and Children A. Introduction 1. Today, with the media fast becoming an indispensable part of life for people of all ages, its impact, both positive and negative, cannot be undermined. 2. Portrayal of violence in media is always a disturbing issue and a matter of controversy; however its influence on the youth and children can be extremely adverse (Kotrla, 51). 3. It is not easy to define violence on television, magazines and even in playstations which are increasingly becoming popular among children. 4. From the perspective of children anything that signals aggressiveness can be violence ranging from heated arguments in chat shows to fight between two cartoon characters. 5. Despite the detrimental aspects of media, it is extremely influential in human progress and there is an urgent need to address media’s responsibility towards society, especially children, to make the media more approachable in the modern world (Meganck, 50; Felson, 103). B. Impact on children 1. Since the advent of television and video games for children, it has become a matter of concern for parents, teachers and psychologists regarding the impact of media violence on children considering the fact that young children are inclined toward emulating the actions depicted on television. 2. Research has shown that there are three major impacts on children: First, children become emotionally immune to the pain of others; Second, children cultivate a fear about their surroundings, and third, children tend to develop aggressiveness and can tend to harm others. “Many of the most popular video games, such as “Call of Duty” and “Grand Theft Auto,” are violent; however, as video game technology is relatively new, there are fewer empirical studies of video game violence than other forms of media violence” (APA). 3. Sex and violence in media have increased to a very large extent ever since the inception of modern technologies. 4. A different perspective is needed in order to extract a sense of reality out of films and movies. This evil element has also been spreading to various forms of media such as magazines and playstations (Fedorov, 57). 5. Parents and teachers across the globe argue that media portrayals are able to dictate the moral perspective of the society, especially the young generation. 6. There is little tolerance for sex and violence among parents, and so media needs to consider making changes (Kotrla, 51). 7. The current generation of children can imbibe unethical behaviour from the lessons they acquire from the media and consider such behavior as normal. A more subtle approach towards portraying these vices is necessary to secure a bright future for children (Kotrla, 51). 8. In addition, children need education on how to view sex and violence portrayed in the media to protect them from harmful impacts (Kotrla, 51). 9. The violence and aggression that are constantly being depicted in t.

1. Alawi PAGE 6
Mustafa Alawi
COMM-2200
Hobbe, B
May-26-2015
Media Violence and Children
A. Introduction
1. Today, with the media fast becoming an indispensable part
of life for people of all ages, its impact, both positive and
negative, cannot be undermined.
2. Portrayal of violence in media is always a disturbing issue
and a matter of controversy; however its influence on the youth
and children can be extremely adverse (Kotrla, 51).
3. It is not easy to define violence on television, magazines
and even in playstations which are increasingly becoming
popular among children.
4. From the perspective of children anything that signals
aggressiveness can be violence ranging from heated arguments
in chat shows to fight between two cartoon characters.
5. Despite the detrimental aspects of media, it is extremely
influential in human progress and there is an urgent need to
address media’s responsibility towards society, especially
children, to make the media more approachable in the modern
world (Meganck, 50; Felson, 103).
B. Impact on children
1. Since the advent of television and video games for
children, it has become a matter of concern for parents, teachers
and psychologists regarding the impact of media violence on
children considering the fact that young children are inclined
toward emulating the actions depicted on television.
2. Research has shown that there are three major impacts on
children: First, children become emotionally immune to the pain

2. of others; Second, children cultivate a fear about their
surroundings, and third, children tend to develop aggressiveness
and can tend to harm others. “Many of the most popular video
games, such as “Call of Duty” and “Grand Theft Auto,” are
violent; however, as video game technology is relatively new,
there are fewer empirical studies of video game violence than
other forms of media violence” (APA).
3. Sex and violence in media have increased to a very large
extent ever since the inception of modern technologies.
4. A different perspective is needed in order to extract a
sense of reality out of films and movies. This evil element has
also been spreading to various forms of media such as
magazines and playstations (Fedorov, 57).
5. Parents and teachers across the globe argue that media
portrayals are able to dictate the moral perspective of the
society, especially the young generation.
6. There is little tolerance for sex and violence among
parents, and so media needs to consider making changes
(Kotrla, 51).
7. The current generation of children can imbibe unethical
behaviour from the lessons they acquire from the media and
consider such behavior as normal. A more subtle approach
towards portraying these vices is necessary to secure a bright
future for children (Kotrla, 51).
8. In addition, children need education on how to view sex
and violence portrayed in the media to protect them from
harmful impacts (Kotrla, 51).
9. The violence and aggression that are constantly being
depicted in televisions and playstation games cause children to
view violence as form of entertainment (Felson, 104).
10. The harmful information that media is conveying is
adversely shaping the society and negatively influencing the
psychology of children. A majority of the children will grow up
with their behaviours getting influenced by the lessons they
acquire from the media (Felson, 104).
11. According to a 15 year long survey conducted by

3. University of Michigan, aggressive and violent behaviour in
children caused by watching TV can continue in their
adulthood. In another 17 year long survey it was found that
violent acts are more common in teenage boys who have
watched excessive TV than those who have not (Boyse, 2010).
12. Ever since media has been synonymous with providing
information, entertainment or education in realistic fashion,
there have been numerous laws and regulations in the United
States that protect and govern the media -- movie makers in the
United States have been subjected to court room battles to
retain the identity and originality of their films for depicting
sex and violence (Meganck, 50).
13. Similarly, it is illegal in some states to sell print media
with nudity or violence to under age children (Gauntlett, 90).
C. Recommendations
1. As part of responsibility towards the young viewers, media
has many options to reduce the impact of sex and violence on
the public.
2. State should employ strong viewership restrictions on
entertainment and information with instances of sex and
violence.
3. Measures should include indicating viewership of violent
and sexual materials in the media to be approached by users
according to their age. It will help to reduce the number of
youth with access to media that can adversely affect their
behavior (Jones, 45).
4. Enforcing appropriate restrictions will eventually reduce
the popularity of movies with sex and violence (Jones, 45).
5. With less movies made on these subjects, the young
generation will be spared from watching these negative
elements on the screen. Thus, negative impacts from such
movies can be reduced on the youth who heavily indulge their
time in watching movies.
D. Conclusion
1. There are varied views on what is suitable and what is not
suitable for children along with criticisms about group rights

4. regarding censorship.
2. Censorship also has the power to encourage or discourage
freedom to read among children individually and collectively.
3. Media shapes the attitudes and opinions of children
depending on the message they portray. They can inject
different negative sentiments in society.
4. Excessive violence will prompt young viewers to do the
same, as they have limited sensibilities to judge between right
and wrong.
5. The media is extremely influential in determining the
behaviours and characters of the young members of society.
Works Cited
APA “Television and Video Violence”, American Psychological
Association, 2015, May 25, 2015 from:
http://www.apa.org/action/resources/research-in-
action/protect.aspx
Boyse, Kyle. “Television and Children”. Univ. of Michigan.
August 2010, May 25, 2015 from:
http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/tv.htm
Fedorov, Alexander. Children and Media Violence: Comparative
Analysis, Saarbrucken, Germany: Lambert Academic
Publishing, 2010
Felson, Richard. “Mass Media Effects On Violent Behavior”,
Annual Review of Sociology, 22 (1996) 103–28
Gauntlett, David. Moving Experiences, second edition: Media
Effects and Beyond, London: John Libbey, 2005

5. Jones, Gerard. Killing monsters: why children need fantasy,
super heroes and make-believe violence, New York: Basic
Books, 2002
Kotrla, Bowie. “Sex and Violence: Is Exposure to Media
Content Harmful to Children?” The Journal of the Association
for Library Service to Children, 5.2 (2007) 50-52
Meganck, Shana. Sex and Violence in Advertising, Richmond:
Virginia Commonwealth University, 2007