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22 September 2003
Computer game violence does hurt children:
expert researcher challenges international classifiers
Professor Anderson, Chair of the Department of Psychology at Iowa
State University, leading international expert in the field of computer
games research, and commentator on media violence is expected to
throw down the challenge to Australian and international classifiers
at the OFLC’s international ratings conference in Sydney this
week.
Professor Craig Anderson’s keynote address, entitled “The
Effects of Playing Violent Video Games”, will include solid
research evidence that violence in computer and video games does
cause harm to children. Speaking before the conference, Professor
Anderson stated: “The research evidence is clear, concise and
consistent: there is no doubt that exposure to violent media increases
aggressive behaviour in the short term and throughout the life span.”
He added “It is time that public policy allowed itself to be
informed by the research.”
Barbara Biggins, Manager of the Australian Council for Children
and the Media, trading as Young Media Australia (YMA), was more
outspoken when asked why she thought regulators were slow to act
in response to such clear evidence. She said “Community concerns
about the impact of media violence have been mounting over the years,
and yet classifiers and regulators choose not to use this evidence
to improve their classification systems so that they are more effective
in protecting children. Professor Anderson’s concerns are strongly
supported by a growing body of children’s professionals who
deal on a daily basis with children and families. They see the influence
of violent video games, marketed to the young, by a careless, multi-million
dollar computer game industry.”
YMA is committed to promoting better choices and providing stronger
voices in children’s media. It is Australia’s only national
advocacy organisation representing the interests of children and
young people in relation to print, electronic and screen-based media,
and provides a valuable resource for legislators, regulators and
the media. The Young Media Australia Helpline (1800 700 357),
which recently celebrated one year of operation, is available 24
hours a day, seven days a week for parents and caregivers who wish
to discuss any aspect of the impact of the media on children.
For more information or to arrange an interview,
please call Barbara Biggins on 0403 005 736
or Pamela Wright or (08) 8376 2111.
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