Many parents believe that television has a detrimental impact on youths. According to a 1999 survey conducted by the Annenherg Public Policy Center, well over 70 percent of parents believe that watching television decreases the time youths spend reading, imparts youths with materialistic values, and arouses youths’ interest in sex. The majority of parents also report that television “adds to the loss of child innocence.”

Perhaps parents have compelling reasons to fear the influence of television on youths. One study claims that the average youth sees one thousand murders, rapes, and assaults on television every year. In addition, another study reports that 57 percent of all television programs contain violence, while 67 percent of these programs portray violence as humorous. As a result, some analysts suggest that youths, especially younger children, experience “re-entry syndrome” shortly after watching television, which causes...