How many times have we heard that videogames are corrupting kids? But despite all the concern, the industry is doing a better job at self-regulation than critics might think.
The Federal Trade Commission released a report this week finding that game makers are doing a better job of protecting kids that those in the movie and music business. "Retailers are enforcing age restrictions on the sale of M-rated [mature] games to children, with an average denial rate of 80 percent," the report says. But there are still gaps. Kids are buying M-rated games using gift cards online, and also accessing them on mobile devices.
"It will be particularly important to address the challenges presented by emerging technologies – such as mobile gaming – that are quickly changing the ways that children access entertainment," FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz says.
David Kushner is the author of many books, including Masters of Doom, Jonny Magic & the Card Shark Kids, Levittown, The Bones of Marianna, and Alligator Candy. A contributing editor of Rolling Stone, he has written for publications including The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Wired, and The New York Times Magazine.
