No. 258 October 09
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
small screen News Digest of Australian Council on Children and the Media (incorporating Young Media Australia) ISSN: 0817-8224 High volume video gamers have more No. 258 October 2009 difficulty staying attentive determine attention. In the task, individu- Adelaide seminar als identified the color of a word when the Iowa State University news reports that color and word matched, or did not match. a new Iowa State University study has Bratz, Britney & Bralettes: It takes longer to indicate the color when found that high volume action video game play- the word does not match. The sexualisation of childhood ers -- those who play around 40 hours per week -- have more difficulty keeping focused on tasks The study found that reactive attention requiring longer, more proactive attention than control -- described as happening “just in Steve Biddulph, author & psychologist those who play video games for less than a cou- time” -- was similar in the two groups of Julie Gale, Director, Kids Free 2B Kids ple of hours a week. gamers. But brain wave and behavioral Elizabeth Handsley, Vice President ACCM measures of proactive attention were sig- The study, published in the professional nificantly diminished in the frequent video Chair: Matthew Abraham ABC Radio journal Psychophysiology, also supports re- game players. search published within the last year es- 7 for 7.30pm Monday 23 November 2009 tablishing a positive association between “It’s not clear what the effects would be if being addicted to playing video games and we tested people who were playing 10 or Immanuel College having Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). 20 hours a week,” West said. “So we don’t 32 Morphett Road, Novar Gardens SA know if it’s a graded effect or threshold ef- Rob West, one of the study’s authors, an as- fect -- like maybe 10’s OK, but 20’s not. We sociate professor of psychology said, “Our Tickets $27.50 don’t have those kinds of data yet. thinking right now is the sort of real world [email protected] effect that you might be seeing is that these “As you can imagine, this study could have Ph 08 8376 2111 are individuals who would really have dif- implications for classroom and work per- ficulty trying to maintain their attention formance for those people who play a lot Book now - filling fast! independently over time. So if they’re en- of video games,” he added. gaged in some activity that doesn’t really capture their attention -- like maybe a class- Kira Bailey, Robert West, Craig A. Ander- Inquiry into impact of violence son. (2009) A negative association be- room lecture, or studying in a quiet space on young Australians -- they’re going to have difficulty maintain- tween video game experience and proac- ing attention on their own.” tive cognitive control. Psychophysiology. ACCM has lodged a submission with Early View, October 2009 the House of Representatives Stand- ISU psychology graduate student Kira Bai- ing Committee on Family, Community, ley led the study. The authors also includ- http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2009/ Housing and Youth Inquiry into the im- ed Distinguished Professor of Psychology oct/attention pact of violence. ACCM has argued that: Craig Anderson, director of Iowa State’s Professor Elizabeth Handsley and Center for the Study of Violence. • the evidence from the reliable body Dr Michael Rich have pleasure in of research on the impact of media In the study, data was collected from 51 announcing: violence on the young is compelling Iowa State undergraduate men (ages 18 • media violence is a contributor to the to 33) who were nearly evenly divided THE HARVARD-AUSTRALIA incidence of violence in real life between those who reported playing less SYMPOSIUM ON MEDIA USE & • short term exposure to media vio- than a couple of hours of video games per CHILDREN’S WELL-BEING lence increases the predisposition to week, and those who played video games aggress for both chidrenand adults an average of 43 hours per week. 18 February 2010 regardless “We were not actually measuring the most Flinders University • repeated exposure to media violence extreme ends,” West said. “There were ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA is likely to have further deleterious people who we were unable to recruit and effects, including greater fear, a hos- have data for who have higher rates than 43 Scholars and professionals from a range of tile bias whereby others are seen as hours per week. So this is probably on the disciplinary backgrounds will be invited to threatening and dangerous, greater high end, but it’s certainly not the highest. contribute their insights on the question of hostility, desensitisation to further You get some undergrads self-reporting how best to work together for the protection and depictions of violence, beliefs that they’re playing 9 or 10 hours a day.” enhancement of children’s interests. normalising aggression and detailed and generalised scripts for aggressive Electrical activity in each subject’s brain was Inquiries: behaviour recorded through EEG’s from their scalp [email protected] • it is one factor about which we can while they were engaged in the computer +61-8-8201-5256 take effective remedial steps. Stroop Task -- a standard measure used to Video gamers and attention US children watching more TV Editorial: ACCM’s views on the Adelaide seminars Free TV Code review Smart choices for your health? small screen October 2009 p2 EDITORIAL ACCM’s views on the conduct of the the proposed revisions to the Code Free TV code review at this point with care. no. 258 October 2009 The Australian Council on Children and the 3) The proposed amendments to 3.14 small screen Media has been a participant in the recent review (which have the effect of relaxing of the Free TV Code of Practice. There are some the present restrictions on the Editor: Barbara Biggins OAM promotion of MA programs) cause Barbara Biggins Compiler: Caroline Donald aspects of this review which concern us. These OAM Editorial Board: Barbara Biggins, include: ACCM some considerable concern. Hon CEO Jane Roberts, Judy Bundy, Elizabeth Handsley. 1) This review was not structured as an open As stated in our submission to Free TV, we know ended review: that parents object to being ambushed by promos small screen is published at the a) There was no open invitation for the public of M programs in early evening hours now, and beginning of each month and to freely comment on any aspect of concern to reports on the events of the will resent this provision being extended to MA them. previous month 11 issues per programs. Such promotions are required by the year (Dec/Jan double issue) b) No general issues paper released Free TV Code to be “sanitised” to be acceptable in Published by c) The public were invited to comment on the some time slots. Australian Council on changes that Free TV had already decided Children and the Media they wanted to make (viz via a “marked In the view of ACCM such “sanitised” promotions (ACCM) up” document, with explanatory memo. The are misleading in that they do not convey the PO Box 447 Explanatory Note invited the public to make actual nature of the program being promoted. Glenelg 5045 comment on “the proposed revised Code” . Further the classification of such programs mostly South Australia appears for a very few seconds only. [email protected] The ACCM believes that the presentation of the www.youngmedia.org.au Review documents would not have encouraged ACCM has asked ACMA to consider the question Tel: +61 8 8376 2111 the general public to make comments outside of of whether by approving such provisions (if it Fax: +61 8 8376 2122 Helpline: 1800 700 357 the proposed changes, and queries whether this intends to do so) it is in effect giving its imprimatur method provides “an adequate opportunity for to a misleading practice. ACCM is a national, non-profit the public to comment” on the Code. (this aspect community organisation. has to satisfy the Australian Communications 4) Summary of submissions supplied to ACMA. Its mission is to promote a quality media environment for and Media Authority). Australian children. We understand that Free TV summarises the 2) The Explanatory Note and Explanatory Table public submissions received, and does not No part of this publication contained statements about proposals for changes in fact provide ACMA with full copies of all may be reproduced without to the promotion of M and MA programs that submissions. permission of the Editor. were not consistent with the “marked up” version Contributions are welcome. of the Code. We have asked ACMA to consider whether this practice (if it is the case) hinders ACMA in We drew attention in our submission to what its deliberations of whether the revised Code ACCM’s services are appears to be a drafting contradiction between “provides adequate safeguards for the matters it supported by grants clauses 3.6 and 3.14 of Program promotion covers”. from the section. We have also asked ACMA to examine South Australian Government A cautionary note on A Christmas Carol Parents are warned that this is not a film for young children. It certainly deserves the PG rating with DIARY DATE the guidelines “Mild themes and scary scenes” ACCM’s Web Page and which it was given by the Australian Government Broadband access Classification Board Sex, violence and rock’n’roll: are supported by its Reviewing the evidence for Internet Service Provider ACCM’s reviewer suggests that the film is not recommended for viewers under 8, with parental media effects on children Internode guidance recommended to 13, as children in the 8-13 age group may also be disturbed by scenes of Sydney, Friday March 19 supernatural events and frightening characters.