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The short answer to this question is yes…and no. There are some things that we know for sure, and some things that remain hotly contested. There is, for example, a lot of information out there about the link between media violence and adverse health effects. Most of these studies measure levels of aggression displayed across a range of kids who have varying levels of exposure to media violence. Newer techniques actually measure the brainwave activity of kids while they are playing violent games, and then again at several intervals afterward. Some of these studies are longitudinal, monitoring and comparing specific groups of kids for years. We’ve reviewed a significant sampling of this research. In the end, our position is concerned -but not convinced- that violent video games make violent kids. We discuss this issue in more detail on the Social-Psychological page.

For the record, we should state our opinion that all of the dangers associated with video game usage can be mitigated, or eliminated, by the simple techniques of moderation and parental guidance. With that in mind, the next several pages will turn your attention to the known dangers associated with contemporary video gaming, and tell you how to avoid them.
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