NCJ Number
148181
Date Published
1994
Length
54 pages
Annotation
This packet provides information on Federal inquiries into television violence and the efforts and plans of the television industry to control children's exposure to television violence.
Abstract
The continuing debate on the effects of television violence has recently generated a new round of congressional and public interest. Many parents believe that television has glorified violence and fear that their children are receiving a message that violence is an accepted way to resolve conflict. Congress is now addressing this issue with hearings and legislation. Legislative proposals include requiring the Federal Communications Commission to evaluate and report on violence in TV shows, requiring that all TV sets sold in the United States include a "V-chip" capable of electronically blocking all violent shows, and requiring ratings of TV shows similar to the motion picture rating system. This packet contains copies of newspaper articles that discuss various issues pertinent to the effects and regulation of television violence, including efforts by the television industry to monitor itself. A Congressional Research Service Report for Congress examines what technology can do to control children's exposure to television violence. The technical solutions considered are a violence rating system that assigns ratings to those shows deemed excessively violent and a blocking device that would allow parents to keep their children from viewing violent shows. Policy options are reviewed.