A recent study says that the TV, the Internet and other types of media really harm children. Researchers have done individual studies for years to learn how the mass media affects children. In a review released today, which analyses 173 of the strongest papers over 28 years, it is said that 80% agree heavy media exposure increases the risk of harm, including obesity, smoking, sex, drug and alcohol use, attention problems and poor grades. Furthermore, 93% of the studies have found that children with greater media exposure have sex earlier. Other studies link media use with obesity. The review brings enough evidence to convince people that the children's access to media must be limited.

Co-author Ezekiel Emanuel of the National Institutes of Health, urges Hollywood and technology makers to create entertainment that is less toxic and more family-friendly. An average child spends nearly 45 hours a week immersed in media, which is almost three times the amount of time they spend with their parents. For comparison, we can see that they spend an average of 30 hours of school. This can lead to only one conclusion, we must limit the access to media for our children, even if it's tougher to keep an eye on the kids' media use these days. Unfortunately, parents do not watch TV together with their children, like they used to. If they do this again, they'll be able to change the channel if they do not like what their children are watching.

The study's authors say policymakers must also establish clear limits on marketing products such as junk food to children. If we ignore these problems, this will lead to even higher rates of childhood obesity, type 2 diabetes, violence and teen pregnancy.