Both the Daily Mail and the BBC have been accused of fabricating anti-gaming articles claiming that video games can turn children into mindless zombies.
In its article headlined ‘Stoned with tiredness: Generation of children are becoming zombies because of late-night gaming sessions, claims charity’, the Mail states games such as FIFA 12 have caused a generation of children to become “living zombies”.
In the Daily Mail’s article, headline ‘Stoned with tiredness: Generation of children are becoming zombies because of late-night gaming sessions, claims charity’, they state that such games as FIFA 12 and Modern Warfare have caused an entire generation of children to become mindless “living zombies”.
Both the Mail and the BBC quoted Robert Hart-Fletcher of charity Kids and Media as saying: “Gaming is a phenomenon that’s been around quite a while. Now we are starting to see the effects in behaviour of young people.”
“In the past people had genuine relationships with empathy and compassion which has been replaced by this virtual relationship where they are not necessarily having to show empathy or compassion. That’s starting perhaps to change the way they interact on a day to day basis.”
However, Hart-Fletcher has now gone on record as stating that the quotes attributed to him are ‘completely fabricated’. Further more he states he’s even a fan of children playing video games, provided they’re suitable and played in moderation.
“Our stance is that gaming, being in constant contact with friends and playing with other gamers around the world, is good for most kids most of the time,” Mr. Hart-Fletcher told
