small screen News Digest of Australian Council on Children and the Media (incorporating Young Media Australia) ISSN: 0817-8224 No. 287 June 2012 Community child health expert Is too much violence finally speaks out ACCM President Prof Elizabeth Handsley enough for gamers? has welcomed Prof Vimpani’s comments In the wake of the passage of the Federal and said “ACCM has long considered chil- According to the kotaku website, even Government Bill to allow an R18+ classifi- dren’s exposure to violent and sexualised the video games experts may have had cation for computer games, and the June media to be a significant public health enough. launch of the “Growing up fast and furious” issue, and one that deserves far greater studies (edited by Dr Wayne Warburton examination and action from the federal After looking at what was on offer at the and Danya Braunstein), ACCM asked Government than is apparent at present”. recent E3 expo, the world’s premier trade community child health expert Professor “ACCM is calling for more parent- friendly show for computer and video games Graham Vimpani* about his views on the media regulation and evidence- based clas- and related products, game designer impact of violent and sexualised media on sification systems. Warren Spector is reported to have said, children. *Professor Graham Vimpani is Professor “The ultraviolence has to stop. We Professor Vimpani spoke out strong- of Community Child and Family Health have to stop loving it. I just don’t ly about the influence on children of at the University of Newcastle; Clini- believe in the effects argument at exposure to such media content. cal Chair of Kaleidoscope: Hunter Chil- all, but I do believe that we are He said “The negative impact of a diet rich dren’s Health Network within the Hunter fetishizing violence, and now in some in violence is a very important issue on New England Local Health District and cases actually combining it with an which the jury is no longer out. The ques- Senior Paediatrician in the Child Protection adolescent approach to sexuality. I tion is not whether children need to be pro- Team at the John Hunter Children’s Hos- just think it’s in bad taste. Ultimately tected from such material, but rather how pital in Newcastle. He is also a part-time I think it will cause us trouble.......... that is best achieved.” Senior Clinical Advisor in Child Protection I think we’re just appealing to an for the NSW Ministry of Health. He was adolescent mindset and calling it He continued, “I think it is very difficult to appointed a Member of the Order of Aus- mature. It’s time to stop.” quarantine adult only material (R18+) and tralia in 2007. prevent children from accessing it - given http://www.kotaku.com.au/2012/06/all- parental work patterns, and that adoles- http://www.racpcongress2012.com.au/ that-ultraviolence-bothers-the-people- cents are likely to be home alone more than speaker/professor-graham-vimpani/ who-make-video-games-too/ occasionally. Putting the sole responsibili- ty on parents to ensure their children don’t access R-rated material in games, in DVDs, or on the internet ignores the chaotic life- styles that many of the most vulnerable ACCM, in partnership with Concordia College, presents: children are exposed to and the fact that many kids have access to this hard- ware in their own bedrooms. It is simply Facing up to Facebook unrealistic to expect parents to be satisfac- What kids are doing online and how to keep them safe tory gatekeepers.” With well-known psychologist and author Prof Vimpani said, “It is likely that there is differential susceptibility such that the Dr Michael Carr-Gregg most vulnerable are most at risk from a toxic media diet.” He continued “An in- Hear what the latest research says children are doing online crease in the prevalence of disruptive be- and how to keep them safe. haviour disorders over the last quarter cen- Thursday 23 August 2012 at 7.30pm tury has been well documented in the UK, with double the rate of conduct disorder, a Concordia College Chapel, cnr Balmoral & Cheltenham Streets, Highgate. 50% increase in hyperactivity and a near- MC: Sonya Feldhoff, presenter of Afternoons 891 ABC Adelaide doubling of the rate of emotional prob- lems. Anecdotal evidence suggests similar Tickets are $27.50 with bookings online at developments have been taking place in http://www.trybooking.com/27195 Australia. It would be naïve to conclude that access to violent and sexualised media For further information: makes no contribution to this. How much, [email protected] rather than whether it contributes, is the Phone 08 8376 2111 question.” http://www.childrenandmedia.org.au/ CHILD HEALTH EXPERT SPEAKS IS TOO MUCH VIOLENCE IN GUEST EDITORIAL: HOW GAMES FINALLY ENOUGH? MICHAEL CARR-GREGG LONG CAN THE AFGC SEMINAR PEDDLE JUNK CLAIMS? FACEBOOK FOR UNDER 13s? small screen June 2012 p2 GUEST EDITORIAL S How long can the Australian Food and last month that the Obesity Policy Coalition’s Grocery Council peddle junk claims? proposal for restrictions on junk food advertising no. 287 June 2012 to children “isn’t backed by solid research or As our editorial this week we are reprinting part of an science in the world”. small screen article by Jane Martin, Senior Policy Adviser, Obesity Editor: Barbara Biggins OAM Policy Coalition. For details of where to find the full In fact, these claims are contrary to the Compiler: Caroline Donald article see below*. Editorial Board: Barbara Biggins, assessments of the evidence by peak international Jane Roberts, Judy Bundy, health agencies, including the World Health Kate Carnell’s claim that self-regulation of junk Elizabeth Handsley. Organization and the US Institute of Medicine, food advertising to children is “working” sounds and the consensus of Australian public health small screen is published at the rather flimsy in light of new research published in experts. beginning of each month and the Medical Journal of Australia over the weekend reports on the events of the that shows that self-regulation has had no impact previous month 11 issues per These reviews have all concluded that the year (Dec/Jan double issue) on children’s exposure to fast food advertising. evidence shows that food advertising influences Published by children’s food requests, preferences and Australian Council on It’s no surprise that Ms Carnell, CEO of the consumption patterns. Children and the Media Australian Food and Grocery Council and chief (ACCM) lobbyist for the processed food industry, would On the basis of the evidence, the World Health PO Box 447 be opposed to effective regulation of junk food Organization has classified heavy marketing Glenelg 5045 advertising. After all, her job is to protect the of energy-dense foods as a ‘probable’ factor South Australia commercial interests of the processed food promoting obesity. To put this in context, [email protected] industry, and reducing children’s exposure to ‘probable’ is the WHO’s second highest level of www.youngmedia.org.au junk food advertising would be contrary to those evidence classification after ‘convincing’, and is Tel: +61 8 8376 2111 interests. Fax: +61 8 8376 2122 used to denote that a relationship is probably Helpline: 1800 700 357 causal in nature. Nor is it surprising that Ms Carnell would ACCM is a national, non-profit consider self-regulation to be working: her main And as a result of this classification, the WHO community organisation. interest is in the effectiveness of self-regulation has made a series of recommendations for all Its mission is to promote a for keeping meaningful government regulation quality media environment for countries to take steps to reduce children’s Australian children. at bay – and on this measure, it is fair to say that, exposure to unhealthy food advertising as a so far, self-regulation is working. strategy for preventing overweight and obesity. No part of this publication These recommendations were recently endorsed may be reproduced without So, perhaps it should also come as no surprise permission of the Editor. by the World Health Assembly.................. that a number of Ms Carnell’s claims about junk Contributions are welcome. food advertising are somewhat fishy. *To read the full article with links to original sources go to the Croakey website at: Ms Carnell’s claim that there is no evidence http://blogs.crikey.com.au/croakey/2011/06/28/ linking food advertising with childhood obesity junk-food-advertising-to-kids-its-time-to-call-it-a- ACCM’s services are were repeated on Lateline last week. day/ supported by a grant “There is no evidence at all to link food advertising or the Obesity Policy Coalition website at: from the South Australian to obesity. Zero. Nowhere in the world.” http://www.opc.org.au/latestnews/opinion/pages/ Government And Ms Carnell’s claim in The Australian op20110629.aspx Should I buy my child a mobile phone? .....and what about video games? ACCM’s Web Page and The US based Common Sense Media website has Common Sense Media also has tips to help parents Broadband access some useful information and tips for parents in choosing video games for children and helping are supported by its who are thinking of buying their child a mobile children to get the most out of them. In an article Internet Service Provider phone. entitled “10 surprising ways to spot a great video game”they give parents suggestions for what As they point out, “most phones -- even basic to look out for and suggest suitable games for a Internode models -- are tiny handheld computers, with variety of age groups.