Government Launches Games Violence Study October 10, 2007
Read more Consoles , Games , Online , PC , PS3 , Xbox
Just as Manhunt 2 has been asked forced to lay down its cleaver – again – by the BBFC, the government has just sanctioned a report into the link between games violence and the effects on the nation’s whipper snappers.
TV shrink, Dr. Tanya Byron is to head the ‘Byron Report’ which will last for six months, acting as a ‘call for evidence’ into violent computer games and their effects on kids and also how to protect them from inappropriate online material. Speaking at the launch, Byron said:
"Video gaming and the internet themselves are a very positive and important part of children's and young children's growing up and learning and development. But it is also about saying where are the risks?"
New technology is giving kids opportunities to learn, have fun, be creative and communicate in ways that previous generations could only dream of. But many parents still feel ill-equipped to help their children navigate this technology safely.
"By issuing my call for evidence today, I want to start a debate about how Government, industry and society as a whole can support parents to guide our children into the virtual world, with the same confidence as when we show them how to stay safe in our local community.”
More education for parents regarding games will be high on the agenda, especially since many of them don’t bother looking at age ratings before they buy their kids games. Odd really, when you think that the age classification symbols on games are the same ones used on DVDs which, ironically, they probably use when choosing movies for their little cherubs. Go figure.-Martin Lynch
Editor and Contributor | Martin Lynch
Contributor | Tamlin Magee
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