Fears over effects of Squid Game on children
ABRISTOL University lecturer has warned parents of the dangers of shows such as Squid Game saying it can have a behavioural impact on children.
Dr Nilufar Ahmed spoke to Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on ITV’s This Morning about the impact the hit Netflix show can have on children.
Schools and parents have raised serious concerns about the levels of violence shown in the 15-rated series, which was created in South Korea but has become a global hit.
Some schools have sent letters to parents about these concerns, worrying playground trends have emerged, and the public conversation around violence on TV has picked up.
Speaking on the programme, Dr Ahmed spoke about the link between violent material and the behaviour of children.
She said: “There’s lots of research that shows that children who watch violent programmes sleep less well than children who don’t have exposure to those kinds of material.
“So it does affect children’s sleep, which of course will impact everything else; it’ll impact their performance at school, how well they’re feeling, their interaction with their peers.
She did clarify that just because you watch something violent, “it doesn’t mean that you will necessarily go out and be more violent”, but added: “There is a correlation.”
“Children who watch violent programmes may display more aggressive behaviours, but that can be mediated by things like having conversations with children, understanding, getting them to think more empathetically,” she said.
“So if this was real, if you saw your friend being hit, how would you feel about that?
“[It’s about] creating more real conversations.”
Schofield referenced the ever-present fear in parents that TV shows and films can have a negative effect on children, saying that his parents were “terrified” that the Amityville Horror film series would “mess me up”, adding: “I don’t think it did”.
Squid Game is one of the most popular shows to watch right now, having become a global phenomenon.
Netflix this week announced that the series is their biggest-ever global debut hit, attracting more than 111 million viewers worldwide.