When I was a child growing up in the 50's, I witnessed how quickly and readily we all adopted TV into our homes. The fact is, television has profound effects on children. The consensus of a wealth of research is that repeated exposure to media violence promotes aggressive attitudes and behaviors. Research also shows that even children who are not likely to become violent often suffer enduring anxieties as a result of watching television. Most children experience at least one episode in which a television show or movie induces nightmares or lasting fears, and it is quite common for children to have television-induced sleep problems lasting weeks, months, or even years.
Television news is a prominent source of children's fears.
Children often assume that what has happened in the news will happen to them next. But then, Congress in its wisdom enacted the v-chip legislation, so I was able to end my book by explaining that there is a new tool to help parents keep some of the harmful stuff out. One question that was being debated was whether the v-chip would be required to permit parents to block unrated programs. Although the FCC did not mandate this option, I encouraged parents to seek out the ability to block unrated programs in buying a new set, and I lobbied manufacturers to provide this option. I read in the trade press that the television industry was pressuring manufacturers not to provide unrated-program blocking.