Call of Duty publisher Activision and Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, are being sued by the families of victims from the 2022 Uvalde elementary school shooting. Filed in California, the lawsuit asserts that these companies, alongside gun manufacturer Daniel Defense, played roles in "grooming" the shooter by promoting the AR-15-style rifle used in the tragedy. The suit alleges that the shooter became obsessed with the gun after playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and was further influenced by Instagram posts.

Could playing video games like Call of Duty influence violent behavior?n

While some argue a correlation, studies show that many people play video games without engaging in real-world violence. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) points out that countries with similar gaming habits do not experience the same levels of gun violence as the United States.

Background: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is a popular first-person shooter game known for its realistic depiction of warfare and a wide array of firearms. Launched in 2019, it has garnered both immense popularity and controversy, particularly around issues of violence and its portrayal of modern combat scenarios. The lawsuit highlights ongoing concerns about the potential societal impacts of such realistic game content.