Positive and Negative Effects of Video Games Essay

Joan Jett’s song, “I don’t give a damn bout my bad reputation” may seem to express the sentiment of the video game industry. Despite being accused of impairing academic achievement, leading to obesity, and contributing to violent behavior, the video game industry continues to market to children and to create an increasing number of violent games. Gamers are said to be isolated, antisocial, and lazy. It appears that this billion dollar industry has a blatant disregard for the public’s wellbeing. However, the negative reputation of the video game industry and the stereotype of gamers is not accurate. The video game industry has been blamed for enabling a sedentary lifestyle, even though they have created fitness games targeting health conscious gamers to engage in physical activity. Playing video games is also blamed for diverting students’ attention away from academics even though many video games are created that focus on education. The violent video games are blamed for leading to violent behavior despite the lack of scientific evidence. Not only is there a lack of evidence that video games cause detrimental effects to players, but there is actually evidence to the contrary. Although many people believe that playing video games can be harmful, playing video games can be beneficial to the player because they can improve your health, mental capabilities, and behavior.

Video game effects are relatively new in modern society. Even though these games are often entertaining, the content of the game has been increasingly more and more violent as technology becomes more prevalent. The popularity of violent video games has caused an increase in controversy. Parents and experts feel that some games are just too violent and they demand the government to regulate the sales of these games. However, violent video games do not cause an increase in aggression, in adolescents. The forceful plan by the government is caused by an exaggeration of the effects of violent video games and this plan are indeed pointless.

Video games have been argued about for decades. Some people have argued that video games are linked to violence. However, new research shows that video games can be used for therapeutic purposes, exercise, stress relievers, positive interactive learning, hand eye coordination, and different types of patient treatment for people all around the world.

Video Games have come a long way since their first introduction into the main stream. With video games becoming more sophisticated and using advanced technology, it seems as if video games are closing in on the gap between games and reality. However, as video games become ever so life-like it brings up the question of if the violence associated with video games is having a negative consequence. There have been many accusations over the years over the harm video games are causing children and teenagers. Experiments have been conducted trying to associate a link between video games and aggressive behavior. Even the media has been known to point fingers at video games for the cause of children

for 3 hours a week, while the other set played none. The set who played the

Many young children and teenagers have heard their mother’s incessant plead to get away from the screen and to go outside or pick up a book for once instead. The urge to play “just one more level” before starting that homework or doing those chores can be quite distracting. But are video games really as awful as Mom exclaims or as brutal as those TV ads depict? It turns out that video games can have a strong impact on participants’ lives in both positive as well as negative ways.

o Improved ability to rapidly and accurately recognize visual information - A study from Beth Israel Medical Center NY, found a direct link between skill at video

There is many positive things about playing video games, Improves your motor skills which all around will help you be more active and be more up lifting during activities. Fitness and nutrition is a big part of video games too, playing madden, nba, and mlb sports games whenever you want to whether it's rainy or snowy outside. You can learn so many skills that you will actually use in real life. So many people complain why videogames are so bad because staring at the screen for so long will make you go blind which is false. As a parent you can sit down next to your kid and have a nice time. Bonding with your kid with something that makes them happy is good. The dedication and teamwork that goes into some games will help them become a good leader in the future, and have good cooperation skills. Through the natural process of learning and victory required in gaming, players gain confidence in their abilities to overcome obstacles through persistence. Playing video games may also help children develop problem solving skills as well. Games that are easy to access and can be played quickly such as Minecraft can improve players moods, promote relaxation. Children who are shy and lack confidence when socializing with their peers may have an easier time opening up while playing video games. Approaching someone you hardly know, like a new classmate or coworker, and striking up a conversation can be quite

Many people believe that gamers are antisocial, raged filled, and mentally unstable people. These false actuations of games can have a negative impact on its player base. Such as; games lower your intelligence of its players, it makes them more violent, and isolates them from human contact. Video games have always had a bad wrap from the start and being constantly bombarded from several relentless media outlets. For example, ever since shooting games became popular it’s been the source of blame for recent shootings. When really the real problem isn’t video games, but the person who doesn’t have a reasonable process of thinking or simply you could call them deranged. There’s just so many factors you can debate about saying why or just finding an escape goat. I simply can’t handle when people come to a conclusion of saying the source of the problem is video games because that person plays them. When people make that statement I just find them insanely ludicrous.

Most of the research done on video games tends to be done on the possible negative effects associated with the medium. From aggression and violence to the connection to mood disorders, video games tend to get a bad reputation. However, there are studies that have been done about the possible positive effects of games as well. There are definitely fewer positive studies than negative, but they are out there for those who search them out. The study that was used by Kendall Ashley in her article “How Videogames Can Help with Depression and Anxiety”, was not one of those studies.

Yesterday a child killed 16 people and injured many more in less than 20 mins. He is just a child, how is this possible? Video games have become more popular with children, and adolescents, copious amount of video games exposes children to violence. Did you know that children and adolescents who played more violent games were most likely to report aggressive cognitions and behaviors? (Toppo 2015) In today's society, violent video games such as “Call of Duty” have a negative effect on health, growth and development, and posing a bad influence for children and young adults. Due to the advancing technology video games are becoming more popular, therefore having a negative effect on children and young adults.

Imagine this; thousands of your brain cells are lost, rotting away as you sit at therapy to help your dementia, all due to one thing you couldn’t win. A video game you constantly play for “fun”. People have constantly argued whether video games are good or bad for you. Parents are highly against this due to the affect it may have on their children, while as kid believe they are good for themselves because they solve problems, make better decisions for a character and how to use your supplies, according to theconversation.com. Although video games give us life skills such as liability driven strategy, video games are harmful to our brain, emotions and children, and are extremely harmful for you so you shouldn’t play them continuously.

Video games and people who play them are usually spoken of in a negative connotation because of the stereotype’s surrounding them. This is understandable because most games that people think about when they hear “video game” are the kind that involves sitting for hours on end and involving very little movement. “Aren't they all overweight for lack of physical activity, plus a steady diet of power drinks and junk food?” (Danforth, Health through gaming, 2011). This common way of thinking about the topic of gaming has been burned into a majority of the public’s mind through the media. The media, however, does not cover the side of gaming that is admittedly more hidden from those who do not search for the facts. There is a surplus of video games that are not recognized to be healthy or they are not recognized as video games because they are healthy. Although it is generally disparaged by many, gaming is a convenient and viable way for people to strengthen their body and their brain because gaming provides physical activity, it is used for education in households and schools, and it keeps you mentally stable.

In today’s society majority of teenagers spend their time playing video games. A study shows that approximately 77% of males and 57% of females, ages 18-29, play video games (Tribune Content Agency, 2015). With video games becoming increasingly popular many ignore the negative effects they have on society. One of the most popular video games played is “Call Of Duty”. The video game “Call of Duty” should not be played due to the negative effects it has on society including enhancing aggressive behavior, teaching negative values such as bullying, and desensitizing children from violence.

Video games are one of the most popular entertainments in our modern societies, and one of the best media of choice, targeting people from different varieties and ages. They first started in 1972 as a computer tennis game called pang, and then improved by increasing quality, and huge variety, until reaching how they are today with HD editions and virtual reality and lots of other versions, which made it more spread and immersed in our society specially between adolescences and children. Making them more dipped in world of games that they completely separate from their surroundings, and spend hours and hours in front of a screen. Leading to several health, mental, physical, social, family, school problems, and some of these might be severe. To date much of the impacts have been negative focusing on its potential harm, with increasing number of people playing video games daily, the world is going to face serious problems.