Graphic images online

Parents worry about the graphic images children are exposed to in the media, but Americans in general are divided about what should be available on the Web. Nearly half of Americans disapprove of posting images online that have been deemed too horrific to run in newspapers and on TV, according to a recent survey by the Pew Internet & American Life project. But "24% went online to view some of the most graphic war images," and "of those who have seen the images, 28% actively sought them out." When viewed, the images elicit mixed feelings as well as mixed opinions. Pew found that, though "millions of Internet users want to be able to view the graphic war images and they see the Internet as an alternative source of news and information from traditional media ... many who do venture outside the traditional and familiar standards of the mainstream news organizations to look at the images online end up feeling very uncomfortable. Women are particularly opposed to the display of the images and are much less likely than men to have viewed the images online." Released late last week, the nationwide survey was conducted in May, when some of the most violent imagery was coming out of Iraq. Here's coverage of this survey by Newsday (New York), the Chicago Sun-Times, the Associated Press, and ClickZ Stats.