Like comic books of the yesteryears, video games today have become the most popular mode of entertainment among children. With the launch of gaming systems like Playstation, Xbox, Game Cube and Nintendo, more and more children are getting absorbed in the addictive world of video games. The advent of the Internet has brought to the fore online games, creating gaming communities that span over barriers of distance and time.
A recent report has shown that almost 45% of heavy video game players belong to the 6 to 17 year old age group. With an increasing number of video games depicting death and destruction, this has become an area of concern, since young minds are more susceptible to violence. Games like Mortal Combat, Doom, Painkiller, Unreal Tournament and Half Life have gory scenes of bloodshed and violence, and are likely to have adverse effects on children. Many studies have related video games to abnormal behavior in children, such as aggression, depression and games addiction.
Perhaps the single most memorable incident that linked video games to violence was the Columbine High School massacre in 1999. In a gory shootout, students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed thirteen of their classmates, before turning on the gun on their own selves. While the motive behind the incident was never known, it was revealed that both Harris and Klebold enjoyed playing the game Doom, which involved shooters launching bullet attacks on opponents. Although this may be an example of an extreme act, daily acts of aggression are commonly noticed among many video game players. Extreme reaction to minor incidents, inability to deal with criticism, frequent verbal assaults are some of the commonest forms of violent behavior seen in children addicted to video games.
Another possible outcome of playing violent video games is the blurring of the lines of fact and fantasy. With young minds being more susceptible to strong impressions, chances are high that children mistakenly assume the world of video games for real. The feeling of power and control that they enjoy in the virtual world of games often prompt similar acts in the real world, leading to disastrous outcomes at times. Besides, over-dependence on video games can also interfere with the processes of socialization in children.
Parents, therefore, need to strongly monitor the gaming habits of young children. To prevent children from developing an addiction for video games, parents must limit game playing time as well as promote other modes of recreation. It is also advisable to check age game ratings and game content provided by the manufacturers and ensure its suitability for young kids. Games that depict scenes of violence, murder and sexuality should possibly be avoided.
Although a lot can be said regarding the ill effects of video games on a child’s psyche, there are a few positive sides too. Most games require the player to develop a game playing strategy which can help in fostering decision making abilities in children. Playing video games also help children to get acquainted with computer technology and improve logical thinking abilities. Under proper parental guidance and careful supervision, video games can also be a source of unlimited fun for young minds. Like other gifts of science, this too needs to be handled with care.
Avik Roy is a contributed writer for Batchmates.com the largest Alumni portal in India. With his research work and articles he has added an additional edge to the entertainment e-magazine BM Times. His articles reach to millions of readers every day which are varied in subjects.
Thanks To : Japan Av Tw Washington