It has been announced that Britain needs to crackdown on young people’s exposure to violent games, films and adverts. The Mothers against Murder and Aggression (MAMAA) group spoke out as Britain was again gripped by an epidemic of deadly youth violence and in recent weeks it seems to have got worse.

Co-founder Lyn Costello has said that ministers need to get to the root of the problem and tackle the culture that leads to the mindless, stabbings and beatings across the UK. Lynn said that “The thing we have to look at is why young people are so violent - not what weapons they are using. We speak to mothers whose sons are killed using bricks or snooker cues or knives. It’s not about the weapons. The problem is we are feeding our children on a diet of violence, with all the music they listen to and violent video games they play. I’m not a Mary Whitehouse character. I like a good action film, but I’m 55-years-old. It’s different for young people. Soaps like EastEnders show people being stabbed to death, and popular characters who solve problems with a gun. It influences them.”

Psychologist Tanya Byron who is best known for her work as a child behaviour guru on TV shows has said that a massive campaign to warn parents and teachers of the dangers is needed. At present, games showing sex or gross violence only require an age rating from the British Board of Film Classification.

Do you think that video games are to blame?

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