What’s the first question parents ask when their kid comes begging to play a violent shooter-type game? Is there blood?
Kids are often good at making strong arguments for why they should be allowed to play non-gory but murderous games like “Fortnite” and “Among Us.” Even in “Minecraft,” there are skeletons, zombies and pillagers to kill. Kids will say they understand the difference between games and real life. And besides, they’ll argue, these popular games are cartoonish—cute, even.
Do the children know best here? If so, why do parents still have a nagging suspicion that these games are harmful in some insidious way?
Decades of research haven’t established a firm link between violence committed in games and violence committed in real life. Yet questions persist about the subtle effects that violent games have on developing minds. The…
