Should Parents Worry About Violence in Movies, Music, Games?
Sept. 12, 2000 — Music, movie, and video game companies often specifically target children when they market products supposed to be for “mature audiences only,” according to a report just released by the Federal Trade Commission. But the question most parents have is, do children really absorb the messages they get from these different venues? The answer, to some extent, is yes, many experts say. And some public health officials, pediatricians, and psychologists have expressed concern about the issue and are calling for changes. The FTC report, released Monday, found that: • Of 44 teen-oriented movies that were rated “R” for violence, some 80% were marketed to kids under age 17. • Of 55 CDs sold with parental warnings, marketing plans for about 25% of them were specifically aimed at teens. • Of 118 video games rated “mature,” 83 (70%) were promoted to children. • Nearly 85% of the time, children are able to easily buy music and games rated “mature.” • Just over 50% of movie theaters a
