‘Spanking never hurt me none!’ Angry conservatives lash out at CNN report against spanking

The American Academy of Pediatrics has doubled down on its recommendations against spanking and other forms of corporal punishment for children -- and CNN faced immediate backlash for reporting the guidelines.

The pediatricians' group recommends that adults caring for children use positive reinforcement, as well as setting limits and expectations, rather than spanking, hitting, threatening and humiliating.

The policy statement updates -- and strengthens -- guidance published in 1998, and social media users complained that physical punishment was necessary to discipline children.