Children, Adolescents and Television

In 1984 the American Academy of Pediatrics' Task Force on Children and Television issued a statement¹ that cautioned pediatricians and parents about the potential for television to promote violent and/or aggressive behavior and obesity. The influence of television on early sexual activity, drug and alcohol abuse, school performance, and perpetuation of ethnic sterotypes was also stressed. Advances in our understanding of the effects of television on children have prompted this update of the Academy's policy.