Last year, there were a series of articles in several major weekly news publications that dealt with the issue of violence on TV. One of the most disturbing revelations in these articles was the total number of hours per day that kids had access to shows that routinely focus on violent or criminal behavior: shooting deaths, physical assault, use of weapons, illegal drugs, forced sexual encounters and other criminal activities. Shows based on these themes are available up to six hours per day on network television. When you add in cable TV, that average increases to almost eight hours per day. 

The news publications labeled “kids” as children ages 10 to 16 years. Due to the use of a rating system similar to the movie industry, television programmers are required to warn viewers in advance of sexually explicit or violent material so that parents can limit their kids’ access to these shows. But, does this really help? This question stirs a lot of debate and controversy among parents, teachers, church leaders and the entertainment industry.  When you look at some of the top-rated TV shows, many of them contain violent themes.  Many of these shows are aired after 9 p.m. when kids are supposed to be either in bed or doing their homework. The networks insist that their target audience for these shows is adults 18 years and older. But, almost half of the kids under 12 years of age have televisions in their rooms and can watch these shows if parents are not vigilant.

Many of the newer TV sets and cable programming include an option that allows parents to block certain shows and network transmissions. This is a great way to restrict your kids’ access to violent and sexually explicit material. Unfortunately, many school kids return to an empty house because both parents are working, so they watch TV at a friend’s house or re-program the remotes that are used to block certain stations or shows.  Parents have to be computer literate in order to operate today’s TV sets and cable programming options.

If we assume, for a minute, that parents are in charge of programming their TV sets and cable shows, what about controlling video games? The manufacturers of the X-Box, Play Station, Game Cube and related computer-aided video hardware boast that more than 50 million Americans own their equipment. Take a close look at the video game advertisements that are shown in the early evening hours when kids are watching television. They promote extremely violent games: car theft, drug and gang wars, paramilitary groups, ultimate fighting, police chases, alien invasions and related themes.  Manufacturers always close with a standard warning about the content of the games and age restrictions. When young kids see the age restrictions and warnings for violent content, that’s a signal to purchase these games. Video game retailers are supposed to verify that the purchaser is 16 years or older when they sell age-restricted games, but most do not challenge the adolescent buyers. Many of the sales people themselves are under 18 years of age. With an average sales price of $34.95 to 49.95, the profit generated by these games is staggering.

What’s even more disturbing is the use of enhanced computer graphics to simulate the violence and sexual content in many of these games. The manufacturers invest millions of dollars into research and development to make the games more visually appealing. In some games, the players score points by killing more of the “bad guys” and accumulating murderous weapons. What a great way for kids to prepare for bedtime! Many of these games are also available for hand-held play units that are no bigger than a cell phone.  This makes it much easier for kids to play these games without their parents’ knowledge.  Kids swap or trade game cartridges with friends so that even when parents restrict the games that their kids can play, it’s almost impossible to police what they’re doing.

In the past few years, some attorneys have tried to use repeated exposure to violent TV shows, video games and movies as a defense for the actions of their clients. Defense attorneys claim that these shows or games engendered reactions in their clients that led to violent behavior. Some expert witnesses, usually psychiatrists or psychologists, explain that these violent acts were “suppressed urges” that were triggered by exposure to certain video games, movies or TV shows. Who knows, maybe this is a demonstrable side effect of violent shows and games.

What can parents, teachers and church leaders due to limit the damage that these shows and games have upon children? In my estimation, the single greatest thing we can do is educate kids about the negative images that these shows and games create. What redeeming values can kids learn from shows or games that focus on death, brutality, murder, sexual misconduct and illegal drugs? One church leader wanted to take all of the Sunday school kids to see “The Passion of Christ” so they could understand what Jesus experienced when being crucified. Many parents objected to this decision and complained that many scenes were too graphic and brutal for kids younger than 16 years of age. I wonder if these same parents know what types of TV shows or video games their kids are watching or playing?

Unfortunately, we live in a violent world today where images of death, brutality, sexual misconduct and murder appear on the nightly news and cable TV throughout the broadcast day. However, parents, teachers and church leaders must spend time teaching kids about the reality of these events versus the contrived actions that are carried out in television shows, video games and in movies. Kids have to understand how to separate reality from entertainment, as uncomfortable as this may make many adults feel, so that they do not lose sight of how the world reacts to violent and anti-social behavior. Kids cannot “act out” what passes for entertainment and not understand the negative consequences of their actions. Educating kids about these differences is one way that we can help them separate fact from fiction and not suffer from overexposure to what constitutes entertainment today.

That’s my viewpoint. As always, I welcome your comments and questions