Children and adolescents are spending more and more time on screens whether that is a cell phone and social media use, a tablet, playing video games, or watching television and movies. When children consume violent content on these devices and platforms, it can cause significant problems for a child’s developing brain. Within the last decade, screen violence has spread globally and is easier to access due to the changes in technology and the accessibility of the content.
When a young child consumes violent content, their developing brain does not always know the difference between fantasy and reality. Children and adolescents are more impressionable and may view common themes in media such as violence, sex, drugs/alcohol abuse as acceptable, typical, or safe. Behaviors and attitudes around these topics and exposure to this type of media can be overwhelming and difficult for a developing brain to process and understand.
Ways violent media exposure is harmful to children/adolescents:
In the United States, the first congressional hearing was held in 1952 on the links between violent television and homicides (Christakis et al. 2016). Since then, the accessibility and violence in media has become more prevalent, and hundreds of studies have been conducted over the years that have concluded that violent media consumption negatively impacts children and their developing brains. Many studies have shown that consuming violent content caused children to have more aggressive thoughts, feelings of anger, and observed or reported aggression. Results of these studies have also shown that children/adolescents can also:
- “become “immune” or numb to the horror of violence
- gradually accept violence as a way to solve problems
- imitate the violence they observe
- identify with certain characters, victims and/or victimizers” (Klang & Turcotte, 2021).
Children/adolescents “that have emotional, behavioral, learning, or impulse control problems may be more easily influenced by on-screen violence. The impact may be immediately evident in the child’s behavior or may surface years later. Young people can even be affected when the family atmosphere shows no tendency toward violence” (Klang & Turcotte, 2021). It is critical that parents/caregivers monitor the content and media that their children are consuming and to also limit the amount of screen time your child has access to. This will support the health and safety of your child and their developing brain.
Jessica Butler, M.A., Rita Vatcher, LMHC, MCCS, CAGS, RPT-S™
References
Anderson, C., Gentile, D., Hunt, A., Prot., S., (2014). Life lessons: Children learn aggressive ways of thinking and behaving from violent video games, Iowa State University. March 24.
https://www.news.iastate.edu/news/life-lessons-children-learn-aggressive-ways-thinking-and-behaving-violent-video-games
Brooks, L., & Otte, J. (2025). Risks to children playing Roblox ‘deeply disturbing’, say researchers. The Guardian. Accessed, 7.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/apr/14/risks-children-roblox-deeply-disturbing-researchers
Christakis, D., Hill, D., Ameenuddin, N., Chassiakos, Y., Corss, C., Fagbuyi, D., Hutchinson, J., Levine, A., McCarthy, C., Mendelson, R., Moreno, M., Swanson, W., (2016). Virtual Violence. Pediatrics, Council on Communications and Media,138 (2): e20161298. 10.1542/peds.2016-1298.
https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/138/2/e20161298/52469/Virtual-Violence?autologincheck=redirected
Fishman, A., (2026). Roblox Isn’t a Game, Psychology Today, April 10.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/video-game-health/202511/roblox-isnt-a-game?msockid=3f7ade67090161af2897c8090842604a
Health–Americas, T. L. R. (2023). Screen violence: a real threat to mental health in children and adolescents. Lancet Regional Health-Americas, 19, 100473.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10025407/#main-content
Klang, J., Turcotte, J., (2021). Screens, Violence, and the Impact on Children. Brown Health University, August 10.
https://www.brownhealth.org/be-well/screens-violence-and-impact-children
Ybarra, M. L., Mitchell, K. J., & Oppenheim, J. K. (2022). Violent media in childhood and seriously violent behavior in adolescence and young adulthood. Journal of Adolescent Health, 71(3), 285-292.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10177625/