Violence in the Media is Not to Blame for the Effect on Children Essay

The Effect of Violence in the Media on Children Television, movies, and video games are a big part of children’s lives in today’s technologically advanced society. However, there is a big controversy questioning the effects of these media outlets on children. Much of society claims to have proof for the belief that media violence affects children negatively. However, I am skeptical of the evidence that is stated to prove that claim. I feel that society has placed the blame on these mediums for the violent acts, however serious or trivial, that children commit way too easily, before they even begin to examine the parenting of today’s society. Television, movies, and video games are not the primary causes for acts of violence and other crimes committed by kids. They are only singled out due to the violent images and plots that they depict which leads one to believe that since children view these violent scenes they will imitate unconditionally for lack of better judgment. When a kid commits a violent act, the crime is often blamed on the television program that the child watched, the movies the child saw, or the video game the child just played. But if one were to actually go about censoring television shows, cartoons should be censored first. People will start trying to stop kids from viewing violent images such as shows like the Power Rangers or The Ninja Turtles. I do not think that shows like this should be censored so a kid can’t watch them. I think that by censoring the images it will just make kids want to see them more. Kids are attracted to violence and if they can’t see it on television or in movies, they will easily see it outside when they play at the playground or something. Violent television, movies and especially video games offer a way for kids to see what violence is without actually committing any crimes or hurting anyone. Before humans could see or engage in virtual violence, we watched or committed real violent acts. Take, for example, the ancient acts of the Romans. They would watch gladiators fight and kill each other before they could find their violent entertainment in television. Most people won’t admit that they like violence in television, movies, and video games, but I think that they offer a way to see the violence without actually hurting anyone. If we censor or ban it, we will be forced to find our violence elsew... ... is engulfed with opinion and restrictions on studies that are looking for a single answer, in most cases one that points the finger at violent media. But, if we can properly make parents and people aware with good information, we can start paying attention to the real problems, rather than television, movies, or video games. Our society would become much better overall as well. People are quick to blame violence in our society on television, movies, or video games because they are simple and easy targets. I think we have to stop looking at television for the cause of kids and violence and attack the real causes for the violence in our society. Violence in television, or movie, or video game will not make a kid kill someone else. A lot of kids watch violent images all the time, and only a very small percentage of them actually commit violent crimes. In conclusion, violence on television, movies, and video games is not the real problem. The problem is that we wrongfully blame these media sources for violent crimes and if we can get rid of this theory on this issue, then and only then do I believe that we can start solving the real p roblems of kids and violence in our society.