This is not to excuse the media industry from accepting a share of the responsibility for the current situation. Continuing to deny any responsibility is unacceptable and even, unconscionable. It is important to distinguish, from research , the multiple and various effects of mediated violence. Increased aggression and meanness-that is, correlation between seeing mediated violence and being more violent now or in the future. Bystander effect-increased callousness and insensitivity to those around us who may be hurting.
Media violence can be addictive.
All young people don't view mediated violence as influential. Many see poverty, joblessness, drugs, gangs or parental neglect as more influential on a life-style of violence or crime. Research indicates that adults and children don't see the same TV-what is offensive or influential to one person of a specific age, gender, ethnic or class background may not be similarly offensive or influential to another. It is also true that media are so pervasive in our lives that few are aware of the impact of media at all-positive or negative. Particularly in regard to television, Americans have generally bought the myth of media as mindless entertainment without mush significance or consequence.