Impact of Video Games on Society

Hey folks,

Video games have become a part of the modern society and are attracting more and more children and even adults, every day. Although they provide the society with vast amounts of amusement, experts have had mixed opinions over their impact on society. While some praise video games for providing fun and learning at the same time, others have given it tough criticism over addiction and eluding people from the real world. Studies by various universities have shone both positive and negative viewpoints over the gaming world. Here are some of them.

Video games have been always accused of creating an addiction in children and separating them from the playing outside in the environment. Various studies have also shown that playing video games causes a lot of behavioural changes in a person. For example, playing violent video games increases aggressive behaviour and thoughts in people. Kids look forward more to fantasy worlds they find in games than their actual lives. Also, lack of outdoor activity increases obesity in the society and experts have video games and computers to blame for much of it. Moreover, video games have been responsible for making kids stay up late at night and sleep less thereby messing with their daily routines.

On the other hand, video games also do help in developing sharper mental abilities within people. They induce decision-making skills and push people to be more spontaneous. They also improve problem solving, motivation and intellectual capabilities in people, inspiring them to strive for more at the same time. Although they deliver less physical activity, video game certainly help people improve their hand-eye coordination skills. Video games are also known for enhancing creativity within people. Apart from all this, games also help ill/injured people in recovery, as attention towards video games distract people’s mind from their pain and discomfort.

Overall, I would say that the impact of video games on society has been both helpful and damaging, but if we could direct ourselves better in getting the correct usage out of them, video games could become a real blessing to the society. (For example, we could endorse a certain limit (perhaps, in terms of time) on involvement in video games so that people don’t start separating/disconnecting from the real world) (**Just a suggestion)

PS- If you want to read more on this topic, here are a few links I would advise:

http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/10_Benefits_Of_Video_Games.html (Positive)

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9050278/Opinion_Do_video_games_make_kids_violent_stupid_and_sick_ (Interesting discussion)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/apr/03/children-addicted-violent-games-warn-teachers (Negative)

http://www.quibblo.com/quiz/b0SvCKs/Video-Games-in-Society (Interesting survey)

And as always you are free to look for more if you want.