Television's Effects on Children The American Psychological Association released a warning today about television's generally negative effects on children. According to the APA's report, the average American family watches eight hours of television a day, and the average teenager has spent more time watching television than learning in a classroom. The report stated that in today's society, television has taken the place of physical childhood activities and more stimulating media such as books and radio shows. Instead of stimulating a child's imagination, the APA said, television "encouragesblandness in the child" and "burn(s) out the wiring of a child's imagination."The APA report claimed that the goal of television networks is to make money by attracting advertisers. Networks have found that companies will pay more money to advertise during popular television programs, namely those which contain violence and sexuality.In the past ten years, the APA has advocated the developing and implementing of a program that will significantly decrease the amount of violence on television. The APA's Council on Children, Adolescents and Their Families was instrumental in forming a July 9 agreement between the television industry, 19 child advocacy organizations and Congress. According to the APA's report, the agreement is a proposal to the FCC that "lays out the terms of a voluntary rating systemthat will flash symbols at the start of programsthat contain violence, sex and objectionable dialogue." The system will work alongside the recently developed "V chip," a computer chip that will be installed in almost every new television set by next year that allows parents to program their sets to screen out any show above a desired rating level. The APA hopes that by giving parents this power, children's television viewing habits will improve. ...
