Senator Wants Review of Media Violence

Senator Jay Rockefeller, Chairman of the powerful Senate Commerce Committee, announced his intention to pursue legislation in this session of Congress that will review the influence of violence in media on children. A release from his staff states that his legislation will direct the National Academy of Sciences to “examine whether violent video games/programming cause kids to act aggressively or otherwise hurt their well-being, and whether that effect is distinguishable from other types of media. It also would look at the direct and long-lasting impact of violent content on a child’s well-being.”  In addition to reporting back to Congress, the National Academy of Sciences would also send the results to the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission. 

Notably, the recent White House plan to address gun violence called for “Congress to provide $10 million for the CDC to conduct further research, including investigating the relationship between video games, media images, and violence.”

By Aaron Mercer
Vice President Government Relations

Published: January 25, 2013