ADOLESCENTS ADDICTION
Impact of Video Games on Adolescents
Playing video games became an essential hobby for most of the kids around the world. Opinions and researches are controversial yet, like every other entertaining option, video games have their positive and negative aspects.
Among elementary and middle-school populations, girls play for an average of about 5.5 hours/week and boy’s for an average 13 hours/week.
AGGRESSIVENESS
Researchers concluded that players who had prior experience playing violent video games responded with an increased level of aggression when they encountered confrontation (Bushman & Anderson).
Time factor
Part of the increase in aggressive behavior is linked to the amount of time children are allowed to play video games.
Repetition factor
According to Gentile & Anderson, the continuous repeating of violent acts, throughout the video game, increases aggressive behavior.
Identification factor
Latest video games enable the player to take decisions and play accordingly thus, identifying to the video personage reinforces aggressiveness.
SOCIAL ISOLATION
Kids tend to feel proud winning the challenges imposed. In order to reach certain levels, much time is needed whereas kids may spend less time in other activities and interacting with family and friends.
WRONG VALUES
In many games, vengeance and aggression are rewarded while negotiation is not an option.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
Studies have shown that the more time a kid spends playing video games, the poorer is his performance in school (Anderson & Dill, 2000; Gentile, Lynch & Walsh, 2004).
Games improve the ability to concentrate in short bursts but damages long-term concentration (Psychology of Popular Media Culture, 2012).
HEALTH & OBESITY
Due to wrong postures and lack of exercise, video games provoke postural, muscular and skeletal disorders.
MANAGING TEEN MEDIA CONSUMPTION
Stopping your child of playing video games is NOT the solution; instead, there are many effective ways to decrease the negative impact they have on children.
• Do not install video games equipment in your child's bedroom.
• Set limits on how often and how long your child is allowed to play video games.
• Monitor the effect of video games on your child and observe his behavior
• Supervise your child's Internet use and online"video games".
• Limit your child’s video game playing when you notice that he is having a sedentary lifestyle. Encourage sports.
• Know the rating of the video games your child plays by respecting the ESRB rating. http://www.esrb.org
ESRB
Entertainment Software Rating Board
All major game companies now submit their new products for rating to specially trained raters at the ESRB.
• (EC) Early Childhood, Age +3.
• (E) Everyone, ages +6 and older.
• (T) Teen, ages +13.
• (M) Mature, ages +17.
• (AO) Adults Only (+18).
• (RP) Rating Pending.
POSITIVE EFFECTS OF VIDEO GAMES
Hand-eye coordination
There have been even studies with adults showing that experience with video games is related to better surgical skills. People can learn iconic, spatial, and visual attention skills from video games.
Mapping
Gamers build maps on their heads to navigate around virtual worlds.
Quick thinking
Making fast analysis and decisions. Bavelier: "Action game players make more correct decisions per unit time.”
Perseverance
In order to move to higher levels, Players keep on trying until they succeed even if they fail at first.
Logic
Memory
Multitasking
Concentration
Following instructions
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