Too often I hear mention of
Duke Nukem,
Quake, and other admittedly violent video games and how children should not be allowed to play them. I
wholeheartedly agree that children should not be exposed to violence on television and in music;
video games are even more of a threat because they force children to participate in the violence. However, the issue that the
media has failed to address is that parents, not video game manufacturers, are responsible when children play violent games. Consequently, the parents are to blame when a child reacts violently to a game he should have never played in the first place.
This is a problem that we can’t afford to ignore. Children are showing an increased interest in video games; the video game industry makes up thirty percent of the toy market. According to a recent study by the Media Analysis Laboratory in British Columbia, eighty percent of teens between the ages of eleven and eighteen play video games at least five hours a week. So-called “heavy” gamers play up to twenty hours per week. Studies do indeed show a correlation between violent video games and aggressive behavior. Child psychologist Mark Genius says, “Kids learn by modeling.” Psychologists such as Dr. Craig Anderson have conducted scores of studies to support this claim. Anderson found that violent games, such as Mortal Kombat and Doom “increase aggressive thoughts and behavior in adolescents.” One third of the games cited as favorites by children under twelve carry a “Teen” or “Mature” rating. Children involved in British Columbia’s study said their parents have few rules regarding what children can play, and parents only recognized seven out of forty-nine of their children’s favorite games.
Video games are today’s babysitter for parents who have little time to spend supervising children. I understand that many times both parents work full-time jobs, but I can’t excuse parents who let their children avoid responsibility in the name of Nintendo. The B.C. study reports that a fifth of the subjects gave up homework and chores to play video games. Among other things given up were family activities. Why did these negligent parents allow their children to substitute Max Payne for a day at the park?
Don’t get me wrong; I am an avid gamer. I spent many days as a child playing Mario and the Final Fantasy series. The amount of time I could play was limited and I was not allowed to buy games depicting excessive violence and gore. Gaming was a family activity. When I got an Atari for my eighth birthday, my family played it with me. Instead of allowing the system to drive a wedge between my parents and I, we became closer as a result of it. Parents need to show interest in their children’s activities. They may not realize that the computer is not merely an educational tool; it can be used to play games gorier than many horror movies. If parents monitor what games their children are playing, they can turn gaming into a positive experience. To this day I enjoy non-gory titles, such as Final Fantasy and Microsoft Flight Simulator. These are imaginative games that build problem-solving skills. I encourage parents to buy these games for their children, play with them, and limit the time their children can spend playing.
The reason video game manufacturers place “Mature” ratings on games is to inform parents of violent content. Blaming manufacturers and retailers for selling games to children is like blaming the FCC for airing Cops. Games that carry a “Mature” rating were made for mature adults to play. The media places emphasis on sanguinary scenes from “Mature” titles and forgets that these games shouldn’t enter a child’s home. Mature adults have the freedom to choose a gory game. But, parents, let’s not forget that children do not.
We need to keep the real issue in mind when addressing a topic of this importance. Let’s not lose sight of the problem. When the minds of children are at stake, let's not turn this into an issue of corporate negligence. Parents, you control what your children do. Get them interested in productive activities like playing outdoors, reading, or biking. Play nonviolent video games with them. Whatever you do, be aware of what they are doing and show interest in their activities. Don’t let Sega watch your children for you.