NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH SAYS TELEVISION HARMFUL TO CHILDREN

Heavy exposure to television, movies and video games increases the risk of sex, drug and alcohol use, smoking, obesity and poor grades in children and teenagers, according to a new report by the National Institutes of Health. The NIH report reviewed 173 previous studies and 30 years of research about the effects of media consumption on children and found that links between media consumption and early sexual activity are particularly strong. For example 93% of the studies found that children with greater media exposure have sex earlier.

The NIH study’s co-author Ezekiel Emanuel says with the average child spending nearly 45 hours a week immersed in media — almost three times the amount of time they spend with their parents – it’s important to limit children’s use of media. The report urges Hollywood and technology makers to create entertainment that is more family-friendly and less dangerous to children. It was recommended that policymakers should work to protect children from the harmful influences on television.

Source: Parent’s Television Council

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