Walsh D A, Gentile D A
National Institute on Media and the Family, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.
Pediatrics. 2001 Jun;107(6):1302-8. doi: 10.1542/peds.107.6.1302.
Numerous studies have documented the potential effects on young audiences of violent content in media products, including movies, television programs, and computer and video games. Similar studies have evaluated the effects associated with sexual content and messages. Cumulatively, these effects represent a significant public health risk for increased aggressive and violent behavior, spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and pediatric pregnancy. In partial response to these risks and to public and legislative pressure, the movie, television, and gaming industries have implemented ratings systems intended to provide information about the content and appropriate audiences for different films, shows, and games.
To test the validity of the current movie-, television-, and video game-rating systems.
Panel study.
Participants used the KidScore media evaluation tool, which evaluates films, television shows, and video games on 10 aspects, including the appropriateness of the media product for children based on age.
When an entertainment industry rates a product as inappropriate for children, parent raters agree that it is inappropriate for children. However, parent raters disagree with industry usage of many of the ratings designating material suitable for children of different ages. Products rated as appropriate for adolescents are of the greatest concern. The level of disagreement varies from industry to industry and even from rating to rating. Analysis indicates that the amount of violent content and portrayals of violence are the primary markers for disagreement between parent raters and industry ratings.
As 1 part of a solution to the complex public health problems posed by violent and sexually explicit media products, ratings can have value if used with caution. Parents and caregivers relying on the ratings systems to guide their children's use of media products should continue to monitor content independently. Industry ratings systems should be revised with input from the medical and scientific communities to improve their reliability and validity. A single ratings system, applied universally across industries, would greatly simplify the efforts of parents and caregivers to use the system as well as the efforts of outside parties to monitor the use and validity of the system.
众多研究记录了媒体产品（包括电影、电视节目以及电脑和电子游戏）中的暴力内容对年轻受众的潜在影响。类似研究评估了与性内容及信息相关的影响。总体而言，这些影响对公众健康构成重大风险，包括攻击性行为和暴力行为增加、性传播疾病传播以及青少年怀孕。作为对这些风险以及公众和立法压力的部分回应，电影、电视和游戏行业实施了分级制度，旨在提供不同电影、节目和游戏的内容信息以及适合的受众群体。
检验当前电影、电视和电子游戏分级制度的有效性。
小组研究。
参与者使用儿童评分媒体评估工具，该工具从10个方面评估电影、电视节目和电子游戏，包括媒体产品根据年龄对儿童的适宜性。
当娱乐行业将某产品评定为不适宜儿童时，家长评分者也认为该产品不适宜儿童。然而，家长评分者不同意行业对许多标明适合不同年龄段儿童的分级的使用方式。评定为适合青少年的产品最令人担忧。不同行业之间甚至不同分级之间的分歧程度各不相同。分析表明，暴力内容的数量和暴力描绘是家长评分者与行业分级之间存在分歧的主要标志。
作为解决暴力和露骨色情媒体产品所带来的复杂公共卫生问题的一部分，分级制度若谨慎使用可能具有价值。依赖分级制度来指导孩子使用媒体产品的家长和照顾者应继续独立监测内容。行业分级制度应在医学和科学界的参与下进行修订，以提高其可靠性和有效性。一个在各行业普遍适用的单一分级制度将极大简化家长和照顾者使用该制度的努力，以及外部各方监测该制度使用情况和有效性的努力。
