Thu, Dec 20, 2012 | 13:00 GMT
US Senator proposes congress bill to research the impact of violent games
US Senator Jay Rockefeller has proposed a new bill to congress that – if passed- would task the National Academy of Sciences with thoroughly researching the impact of violent games and other violent media on the young minds. If passed, the bill could result in the largest study into the effects of violent games ever conducted.
On his website, Rockefeller said of the bill, “Major corporations, including the video game industry, make billions on marketing and selling violent content to children. They have a responsibility to protect our children. If they do not, you can count on the Congress to take a more aggressive role.”
If the bill is successful, the National Academy of Sciences will be expected to submit a report on its findings to Congress, along with the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission within 18 months.
Rockefeller’s bill follows a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, which has since raised new questions about the correlation between acts of violence, video games and other violent media.
The proposed research would look at the ties between exposing children to violent content, and their capacity for committing aggressive acts, damage themselves and to see if games have a different impact than say, violent movies. It aims to look at the far-reaching implications of said exposure beyond childhood and into adult life.
Rockefeller added in his statement, “With respect to violent video games, NAS must look at whether current or emerging aspects of games, like their interactive nature and the personal and vivid way violence is portrayed, have a unique impact on kids.
“Changes in technology now allow kids to access violent content online with less parental involvement. It is time for these two agencies to take a fresh look at these issues.”
What’s your take on the proposed study? VG247 offered up its own take of the events here.
Thanks Gamespot.
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Posted in: Legalities, Politics
Tags: Jay Rockefeller, National Academy of Sciences, Sandy Hook
59 comments
Older Comments
#51
YoungZer0
20/12/12, 5:16 pm
@49: “Regardless if children get effected by adult games I hope there will be a Law that forbids selling adult games to children.” Isn’t there one already?
#52
DeyDoDoughDontDeyDough
20/12/12, 5:23 pm
Everything Clupula said.
#53
Cobra951
20/12/12, 5:27 pm
Yes, there is.
A study? Oh, good. Then by the time it actually happens, people won’t be as focused on blaming the wrong things as they are now, unless of course there’s another big school shooting around that time. Memories are intense, but so short. I’ll take a study over knee-jerk legislation any day, and take my chances with the results, and their timing.
#54
DSB
20/12/12, 10:39 pm
@45 If you really wanted to get serious about legislating, you could always hold parents accountable for their children accessing that content on their computers, while they’re in their custody.
Since parents are most often directly responsible for buying that content for their kids, you’d actually be targeting a responsible party, even if it’s still virtually unenforceable.
But let’s not kid ourselves that it’s actually about keeping kids safe, it’s about impressing their parents with another round of base fear mongering, reassuring the parents that nothing is their fault, and that it’s all the big bad industry trying to poison their undoubtedly stellar efforts.
#55
Da Man
21/12/12, 9:05 am
I hope they restrict the sales just to make overgrown nerds who get a boner from playing video games for 12 year olds type even more walls of deluded bla bla bla.
You have to wonder what kind of backwards and/or deprived person thinks pressing buttons on a gamepad is in any way related to visiting a concert.
Probably the same kind of person who ‘s that desperate to make his life more exciting as to fight for companies selling him software because apparently those companies ‘express themselves’.. which apparently leads to the person pressing buttons also expressing himself.
Oh well, at least folks have something to do with their time.
Anyway, looking forward.. Perhaps more developers will start making videogames instead of qte demos too.
#56
Christopher Jack
21/12/12, 9:43 am
@55, For someone who claims they only have enough time for a game session or 2 per week, you seem to have no issues being on this site for hours frothing your normal bs.
#57
Da Man
21/12/12, 9:50 am
Yes I do, dude. Sometimes I have hours for you and your inane angst, it’s when I have to be in messenger but don’t really have to do anything time consuming.
For some odd reason I’m still less online than most of these guys.
Now tell me more about art and governments.
There’s nothing bs about pointing out inadequacy.
#58
Ireland Michael
21/12/12, 9:58 am
@56 Stop giving him more incentive to keep trolling.
#59
Da Man
21/12/12, 10:07 am
^The irony..
For an attention seeking, internet dwelling person who enjoys posting deliberately pseudo-original remarks to get a pseudo-discussion which is basically who copy pastes the better, you sure do lack it, Lolconner.
Older Comments