Does a state need to prove that violent video games cause physical and psychological harm to minors?
California argues that the First Amendment does not require a state to provide a direct causal link between violent video games and physical and psychological harm to minors. See Brief for Petitioners at 48. California cites studies showing a relationship between playing violent video games and aggressive or antisocial behavior in minors. See id. at 52–56. Relying upon the standard in Turner Broadcasting, Inc. v. FCC, which requires courts to uphold the legislature’s judgment if its determinations were based upon substantial evidence, California asserts that these studies were more than sufficient to support California’s decision that violent video games were harmful to minors. See id. at 11, 48. California also argues that evidence of direct causation is impossible to obtain because researchers cannot ethically or practically isolate minors from all other forms of violence to determine if violent video games have a negative physical or psychological impact. See id. at 48–49. Entertain
