Throughout the past several months, there’s been a lot of buzz around the effects of violence in gaming on young minds. In January, President Obama proposed funding to research this relationship following a series of gun-related fatalities.
As games become increasingly bloody and more realistic, many wonder whether a daily dose of violent gaming nurtures aggression in children. While children can consume TV and movies as passive viewers, video games require interaction, which is thought to have more influence over the growing mind.
The findings are mixed. While a recent study by Ohio State University concluded that violent games could increase aggression over time, it was “impossible to link games to violent criminal behavior.” Based on another study, the Supreme Court struck down a California law in 2011 that restricted the sale and rental of violent video games to minors, due to insufficient evidence that the two were connected.
What’s your take: In the long term, does violent interactive media – such as video and mobile games – foster aggression in children?