FCC blames World of Warcraft for college dropouts
Just when you thought it was safe to play WoW it makes you drop out of college.
If you're in the market for more hyperbole and absurd government news, take a gander at this long-winded transcription of a speech by Federal Communications Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate at the Telecom Policy and Regulation Institute
The speech offers a glimpse into the viewpoints of our governmental policies of helping and fighting technological advancement at the same time.
With the explosion of educational resources available online, one might think parents would be 100% pleased with the internet's role in their children's lives. But surveys show just the opposite: a late 2006 survey that showed 59% of parents think the internet has been a totally positive influence in their children's lives--down from67% in 2004. You might find it alarming that one of the top reasons for college drop-outs in the U.S. is online gaming addiction-- such as World of Warcraft--which is played by 11 million individuals worldwide.
Even more concerning, the threat is no longer contained to the family computer. It is in the palmof your child's hand. Given the fact that approximately 60% of American teens have a cell phone, and that cell phones are being marketed to children as young as 6, I have, and will continue to, challenge telecom carriers to adopt initiatives to provide curriculum and education regarding safe use of their products--including internet safety, and the prevention of access to inappropriate websites by children.
Since, I'm heavy on anecdotes today, when I was a senior in college one of my roommates stayed up for two days to beat Legend of Zelda. In the process, he missed a final exam and told the dean he had a drug problem rather than admit to his video game addiction. He's now a deputy DA in Florida.
Via GamePolitics