Violent video games should not be sold to minors. Exposing developing children to violence, especially where it is enacted by the player in a graphic manner, should not be something permitted. There are restrictions on other forms of explicit media because graphic content such as gore or nudity or simulations of violence against other humans should not be readily available or normalized to minors.
Intense debates surrounding the ethics of violent video games have been mainstream since the early days of gaming. The release of Mortal Kombat in 1992 sparked panic and concern in politicians, parents, and everyday people who were concerned with its graphic content. The creation of the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) in 1993 as a result of Mortal Kombat and similarly violent video games of the time marked the first true form of video game moderation.
According to a 2021 Harvard article by MD Claire McCarthy, “Multiple studies have shown that children exposed to violence may be more aggressive, and they may have behavioral problems. They may also become desensitized to violence, which may be the worst outcome — imagine a generation of children growing up thinking that violence is acceptable and unremarkable.”
Ultimately, if a parent chooses to buy a mature video game for their child, that’s their own choice. However, a child should be able to purchase age-appropriate games on their own, and consumer age restrictions should be enforced by sellers.
