The Evolution of Virtual Violence: How Mobile Screens Provide Windows to Real Violence.

Abstract

Public discussion of child and adolescent exposure to “virtual violence” typically focuses on the simulated violence that occurs within gaming applications and the glamorized or normalized violence depicted in television and movies. Historically, the American Academy of Pediatrics has also framed virtual violence in this way, as virtual consumption of either simulated or fictional violence.1–4 This traditional perspective is well-described in the most recent Virtual Violence Policy Statement, published in this issue of Pediatrics .5 However today, youth have unprecedented access to portable devices with internet, photo, and video capabilities6–10 that fundamentally change the scope, magnitude, and outcomes of virtual violence exposures by providing access to real violence that can be captured and consumed, virtually. In contrast to the fictional violence Christakis et al5 caution against, now youth can produce, view, and share problematic content,11 including images of community violence, school violence, sexual violence, and police violence on their smart, portable devices. Some social media feeds even provide unsolicited and unwelcome exposure to acts of actual terrorism, gender violence, and war. Mobile exposures to real violence are distinct from the simulated violence depicted … Address correspondence to Rhea W. Boyd, MD, Pediatric Urgent Care, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, 795 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94301. E-mail: rheaboydmd{at}gmail.com