Screen violence – real and fictional – harmful for kids, experts say

By Jacqueline Howard, CNN
3 minute read
Updated 9:15 AM EDT, Mon July 18, 2016
People observe a national moment of silence on Monday, July 18, in Nice near where a truck mowed through crowds on the Promenade des Anglais during Bastille Day celebrations. France is holding a national moment of silence to honor the 84 victims killed in the truck rampage.
People observe a national moment of silence on Monday, July 18, in Nice near where a truck mowed through crowds on the Promenade des Anglais during Bastille Day celebrations. France is holding a national moment of silence to honor the 84 victims killed in the truck rampage.
Luca Bruno/AP
French President Francois Hollande, right, and Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve take part in the observation of a minute's silence on July 18 at the Interior Ministry in Paris.
French President Francois Hollande, right, and Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve take part in the observation of a minute's silence on July 18 at the Interior Ministry in Paris.
BERTRAND GUAY/AFP/Getty Images
A ceremony is held at the Hotel de Beauvau at the French Interior Ministry to observe a moment's silence to honor those killed in the truck attack.
A ceremony is held at the Hotel de Beauvau at the French Interior Ministry to observe a moment's silence to honor those killed in the truck attack.
BERTRAND GUAY/AFP/Getty Images
People gather at a makeshift memorial on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice on Sunday, July 17. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the truck rampage, but the French interior minister said that any link between the attacker -- Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel -- and the terror group has yet to be established.
People gather at a makeshift memorial on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice on Sunday, July 17. ISIS has claimed responsibility for the truck rampage, but the French interior minister said that any link between the attacker -- Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel -- and the terror group has yet to be established.
VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images
A man takes in a tribute to the Nice victims left on a bench near the site of the attack on the Promenade des Anglais on July 17.
A man takes in a tribute to the Nice victims left on a bench near the site of the attack on the Promenade des Anglais on July 17.
David Ramos/Getty Images
A woman attends a vigil in Sydney on Friday, July 15.
A woman attends a vigil in Sydney on Friday, July 15.
Rob Griffith/AP
French Republican guards place the French flag at half-staff at the Elysee Palace in Paris on July 15.
French Republican guards place the French flag at half-staff at the Elysee Palace in Paris on July 15.
CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON/AFP/Getty Images
Taiwan skyscraper Taipei 101 is lit in the colors of the French flag on July 15.
Taiwan skyscraper Taipei 101 is lit in the colors of the French flag on July 15.
RITCHIE B. TONGO/EPA
People react at the scene of the terror attack on Nice's Promenade des Anglais on July 15.
People react at the scene of the terror attack on Nice's Promenade des Anglais on July 15.
Patrick Aventurier/Getty Images
People sing the French national anthem at a July 15 vigil in Sydney.
People sing the French national anthem at a July 15 vigil in Sydney.
Rob Griffith/AP
The town hall in Adelaide, Australia, is lit up in the colors of the French flag.
The town hall in Adelaide, Australia, is lit up in the colors of the French flag.
Brett Hobbs
Indian children in Ahmadabad attend a prayer ceremony.
Indian children in Ahmadabad attend a prayer ceremony.
Ajit Solanki/AP
Flowers outside the French Embassy in Moscow commemorate the attack victims.
Flowers outside the French Embassy in Moscow commemorate the attack victims.
Sergei Savostyanov/TASS/Newscom
Security personnel stand guard near Nice's Promenade des Anglais.
Security personnel stand guard near Nice's Promenade des Anglais.
Xu Jinquan/Cal Sport Media/ZUMAPRESS.com
A man near the French Embassy at Paris square in Berlin pays tribute to the victims.
A man near the French Embassy at Paris square in Berlin pays tribute to the victims.
ZUMAPRESS.com
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry lay flowers outside the French Embassy in Moscow.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry lay flowers outside the French Embassy in Moscow.
VASILY MAXIMOV/AFP/Getty Images
A woman places flowers outside the French Embassy in London.
A woman places flowers outside the French Embassy in London.
DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/Getty Images
A woman signs a condolence book in front of the French Embassy in Bucharest, Romania.
A woman signs a condolence book in front of the French Embassy in Bucharest, Romania.
BOGDAN CRISTEL/EPA
People gather near the site of the Nice terrorist attack.
People gather near the site of the Nice terrorist attack.
Sipa USA/Sipa USA
A pupil holds a white rose on the premises of the Paula Fuerst comprehensive school in Berlin, Germany.
A pupil holds a white rose on the premises of the Paula Fuerst comprehensive school in Berlin, Germany.
Rainer Jensen/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
The French and European Union flags fly at half-staff in front of the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, France.
The French and European Union flags fly at half-staff in front of the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, France.
FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP/Getty Images
The Effiel Tower is illuminates in the colors of French national flag to pay tribute to the victims of the Nice terrorist attack France on July 15
The Effiel Tower is illuminates in the colors of French national flag to pay tribute to the victims of the Nice terrorist attack France on July 15
Somer/Sipa/AP
A boy is comforted as people gather and lay tributes on the Promenade des Anglais on Saturday, July 16 in Nice, France.
A boy is comforted as people gather and lay tributes on the Promenade des Anglais on Saturday, July 16 in Nice, France.
Carl Court/Getty Images
People gather and lay tributes on the Promenade des Anglais on July 16, 2016 in Nice, France.
People gather and lay tributes on the Promenade des Anglais on July 16, 2016 in Nice, France.
Carl Court/Getty Images
A flower was laid on a blood mark of one of the victims of the deadly Bastille Day attack in the Promenade des Anglais in Nice.
A flower was laid on a blood mark of one of the victims of the deadly Bastille Day attack in the Promenade des Anglais in Nice.
GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP/Getty Images
The world reacts to Nice attack

Story highlights

Pediatricians offer new insight on what screen violence can do to children

Recent violence in the news can have a harmful impact on children, experts say

"It is not uncommon to see increases in nightmares"

CNN  — 

Dead bodies. Bloodied faces. Tears. Terror.

Those are just some of the things that children see when they view news coverage of violent events, such as the truck attack in Nice, France, on Thursday.

Screen violence – which includes violence in video games, television shows and movies – is associated with aggressive behavior, aggressive thoughts and angry feelings in children, according to a policy statement released by the American Academy of Pediatrics early Monday.