Violent films viewed by millions of children, study finds

In a study published in the August issue of Pediatrics, Dartmouth Medical School researchers found that violent movies attract, on average, 12.5% of 10- to 14-year-olds in the country, with boys, minorities and children whose parents don't restrict viewing habits seeing the most gore. The study did not ask children how they were able to watch the films -- whether by download, cable TV, rental or purchase of a DVD, or the old-fashioned way of sneaking into the theater. But researchers noted that as movies become more accessible, it's important to take note of the extent of kids' exposure to violence, especially since the ratings system can seem vague in describing how a film earned its rating.