Regulation of Children's Media

Professor Geoffrey Cowan moderated a panel discussion about regulating media for children. A video was shown illustrating the violence and sexual content of the media. A video clip also was shown from a child-friendly PBS Sesame Street program. They talked about the effect on children of growing up in an environment saturated by media. Among television, the Internet, iPods, movie screens, cell phones, and video games, often engaging with one or more simultaneously, American children average more than 45 hours per week with media, more than they spend in direct contact with their parents or in school. Topics included federal regulation, education about media use, child-friendly programming, self-imposed broadcaster codes of conduct, and lack of exercise and childhood obesity. The panelists responded to audience members' questions.

This program contains scenes some viewers may find objectionable.

The panel “Should Media be Regulated When it Comes to Kids?” was part of The Kids and close