Regulating Violence in Entertainment

Many Americans, including members of the medical community, believe that exposure to violent entertainment harms young people. Video games are a particular concern because they may teach players how to commit violent acts. Some argue that violence in entertainment is so serious a problem that the government should protect people from it and regulate it, as has been done with tobacco. Opponents of regulation contend that the scientific evidence linking violent entertainment to real-world violence is far from conclusive and that restricting access to it would be unworkable and perhaps counterproductive. Regulation also raises constitutional issues because entertainment is protected speech under the First Amendment, and courts require the government to have a compelling reason to restrict such speech. In Regulating Violence in Entertainment, learn how this debate is likely to intensify, as more realistic and interactive forms of violent entertainment become available.