An image of a hoodie-wearing child, approximately seven years old, screaming angrily.

Games and Learning is reporting today on a study which is very interesting. Editorial policy of Any Any is to link to any study discussed, so the actual study is here, it's called "Do television and electronic games predict children’s psychosocial adjustment? Longitudinal research using the UK Millennium Cohort Study"

The study took reports of TV and computer game playing time of 11,014 children.  The mothers of the children were asked questions about conduct problems, emotional symptoms, peer relationship problems, hyperactivity/inattention and prosocial behaviour in what the study called a "Strengths and Difﬁculties Questionnaire".  The key findings were effectively that computer games had no impact, and there was a minor impact from TV in children between 5 and 7 years old.

Despite these findings Australia is expected to maintain a government board and review board dedicated to reviewing every video game title before it can be lawfully sold, imported or in some cases owned.  That board will continue to arrange titles into categories, none of which seem to meaningfully matter.  

Maybe UK children are special.  Or Australian children might be.  I'm sure there's a good reason


Image: Mindaugas Danys