Video-games: Good or Bad?

Video-games are bad for your eyes and health - said by every parent ever. We’ve all heard it before, we've all been there before: enjoying a good video-game late at night and wanting to just keep going and going. Irritating pleading from the mother to get away from the game and do something worthwhile; the urge for “just one more level Mum”. However, your favourite screen-time and hobby may not be as horrible and dangerous as mothers claim it to be.

A study showed that 91% of children aged 2-17 years old play video games, but does that 91% margin all turn out violent, offensive or involved in criminal activities? Yes, we have seen it before where violent criminals have been shown to have played shooter/fighter video-games but that is not the sole reason for their misconduct. You wouldn't compare children who become obese to food-related video-games, would you? It is not a direct enough link and lacks major evidence, just as with the shooter/fighter argument.

A recent article used the example of an 18-year-old German boy who opened fire and killed nine people in 2016. The article made the point that the boy was a fan of first-person shooters (FPS) and that this made may people criticize the "negative" effects of these video-games. Although, when delving into the story other details were revealed that the article had failed to mention. For example, among the boy's possessions were multiple books on mass murder: one such titled "Rampage In My Mind - Why Students Kill". Does this mean that all violent books should be as equally criticized as popular FPS's? As stated before, there is too little evidence and not enough direct links between these claims.

It has in fact been proven that playing video-games at an early age can give children certain skills and perks. Leadership being one - which is a big thing in the modern day world: leaders are everywhere in every line of work and organisation. When children play certain video-games together it comes naturally that certain individuals will adopt the mantle of team leader. Assisting fellow members, teaching noob (new) players, and generally just giving motivation and aid to the team as a whole. Gaining a foundation for leadership skills at such a young age is a great opportunity. Children who lead groups within games are more likely to go on and pursue further leadership roles in later life.

Despite what most would believe, video-games can lead to healthy social activity within both children and adults. Playing online more often than not involves meeting other players. Getting to know them, playing together, and having fun, increases your ability to connect with other people. A lot of players get involved in online communities or clans, meaning they will be playing large groups and meeting lots of other players. A varying number of communities out there actually offer more skills than just gaming. Multiple that I have encountered offer help and skill improvement in the following; graphics creation, news article writing, video/stream creation, marketing, leadership, and much more. Now there also comes risk with online gaming: meeting people you don't know or that could be lying about details. It is the responsibility of adults and parents to ensure that children are completely aware of risks and how to counter them. Not so much to completely negate their experience and say that they cannot game, but to moderate it and ensure their online safety.

Children who play video-games will increase their chances of improved brain functionality. The majority of games will aid the development of your hand-to-eye coordination, decision-making skills, leadership skills, and more. Eyesight has been known to improve through gaming. Action-filled and FPS styled games can help focus your eyesight and make you more likely to notice small changes and details. Dyslexic children, for example, have been proven to be helped by playing action/shooter games.

Mental health is another area in which research has shown an improvement when associated with gaming. People with depression are filled with motivation and optimism when playing video-games. Confidence in their gaming abilities and skills will allow them to better face scenarios and engagements in real-life. The hippocampus and reward pathway system are both parts of the brain affected by mental health problems like depression. Video-games help to stimulate positive development and growth in these areas.

In conclusion, video-gaming is, in fact, beneficial in more areas than most know. Brain development, social activity, mental health, leadership skills, and more. As touched on previously, there are obviously risks. However, if correctly moderated and taught by responsible people, gaming can be a wonderful opportunity to aid children and adults.