Matthew Sanders: America needs to curb its appetite for violent media

Children exposed to violent programming at a young age have a higher tendency for violent and aggressive behavior later in life.

Accordingly, research of Ohio State Professor Brad Bushman indicates persistent and statistically significant link between aggression and violent entertainment and video games.

Of deniers he says, “The entertainment industry is probably reluctant to admit that they are marketing a harmful product, much like the tobacco industry was reluctant to admit that they were marketing a harmful product.” Alarmingly, research also indicated that news reports more frequently denied the negative effects of violent media.

We regularly hear messages from our First Lady promoting the lifelong benefits of producing and eating more healthy food. Likewise, parents must carefully govern their intake of violence, and media creators should be more socially responsible in their movies and games.

Matthew studied economics at Brigham Young University and business and government at Harvard University. He is a GM at Deseret Digital Media where he oversees Deseret Connect and Deseret News Service. msanders@deseretnews.com or @Sanders_Matt