ABSTRACT
It is no secret that electronic media-be it television, video games, computers, or other technology-have come to play major roles in the lives of America’s children. Estimates of the amount of time children spend viewing television vary widely (from 11 to 28 hours per week), but numerous studies indicate that American children spend more time watching television than in any other activity except sleeping (e.g., Anderson, Field, Collins, Lorch, & Nathan, 1985; Huston, Watkins, & Kunkel, 1989; Huston, Wright, Rice, Kerkman, & St. Peters, 1987). VCR penetration has been estimated at 93% of American households (Lin, 2001), and cable television is present in 60% to 70% of American homes (Wills, 1995).
