Psychologists confirm that playing violent video games results in more contentious behavior.

In 2013, the American Psychological Association created the Task Force on Violent Media. The seven-member team conducted four meta-analyses—a review of existing literature. The group also reviewed more than 300 video game studies published between 2005 and 2013 to determine whether playing violent video games results in more violent behavior. During that time, many progressively violent video games flooded shelves and streamed into American homes. The group concluded that playing violent video games did in fact result in more violent behavior.

The confirmation is a hard pill to swallow for staunch advocates of freedom to create and play violent video games. Peter Gray, a child psychologist and research professor at Boston College, said, “I think that there’s harm in controlling children’s choices and behavior.” He continued, “Unless we can show that children are doing something harmful, we need to allow children to make their own choices.”

To think that there’s harm in guiding children’s video game choices is ludicrous. Parents should be involved in the content and time allotment when it comes to children playing video games.

However, children are not the only ones at risk of being affected by violent video games. In America, 155 million people play video games. On average, there are two video game players per video-game-playing home. Eight out of 10 American homes own a device to play video games; 51 percent of homes own a dedicated console. The biggest portion of players—30 percent—are 18-35 years old.

What are they playing?

In 2015, the most played game, by share of playing time, is League of Legends. The game is rated T for Teen but content descriptors include: blood, fantasy violence, mild suggestive themes, use of alcohol and tobacco. It additionally warns of “online features that may expose players to unrated user-generated content.”

Confirmation that playing violent video games leads to more violent behavior coupled with more violent video games accessible than ever means that parents and players must beware. To learn how to protect your children from the negative effects of playing video games, read “Protect Your Child’s Mind.”