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Effects of video games on children and teenagers
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“BOOM, Headshot!” The majority of the video game community has heard this phrase. It may sound violent, but these words come from one out of many video game genres. Naively, many adults, parents, are afraid of how video games are negatively affecting their children and want the games banned, but they are not harmful at all and should stay.
Many video games get hate only because of one type of category: shooter games; others know them as the ones with all of the blood, guns, and gore. In reality, there are an abundance of other titles including puzzle, RPG’s, and simulators. There are your standard puzzle games, or “brain games,” that challenge your mind and memory. RPG’s, an acronym for “Role-Playing Games,” which help teach strategy, teamwork, and determination can help you overcome an obstacle, or in this case, giant monsters. And simulator games, that help the player experience events that may not be possible from where they are. A study in 2011 showed that, “...71 percent of video games contained at least some mild violence, while 25 percent included intense violence, blood and gore” (Marybeth
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Adult caretakers are furious at the sight of brutality in the hands of children. Many parents of all youngsters believe that such violence should be banned from all households. The problem is, the buyers do not check the game before buying them. The ESRB, or Entertainment Software Rating Board, plants itself on the back of the box. The ESRB’s purpose is it, “...assigns ratings for video games and apps so parents can make informed choices. The ESRB rating system encompasses guidance about age-appropriateness, content, and interactive elements” (ESRB, Frequently Asked Questions). All information about the product’s content would be available from the start. In other words, if the buyer would have checked the package before exchanging money, the “violent” video game wouldn’t be in child’s hands or in their
Some psychologists theorize that violence is a learned behavior. Children learn by imitation. If this statement holds true, then are we not responsible to mandate the regulation of violent video games accessible to our children? The level of exposure and alarming growth rate of violent behavior being portrayed as an acceptable form of entertainment for children need to end. Children are a blank canvas; what parents, peers and society paint on them will help determine how they will live their lives. Parents need to step up to bat and accept responsibility for the decisions made within their parental control regarding the allowance of detrimental influences in their children's lives because we are entrusted with their welfare.
Most games today that children play depict some type of violence. However, parents neglect that the games have warnings for violence, language, and even nudity. In my own personal experience, kids will ask for the most trending games at the time and parents will buy the game to satisfy the needs and wants of the children.
Many People have put their attention directly on the influence violent video games have on the bad behavior of children. People believe videogames intensify aggression in children, while others say it can be a safe getaway for a child to express his aggression. Many opinions on this issue are stated still today, and they remain divided amongst the people who claim videogames to be a cause of aggression and those who claim otherwise. A child’s behavior can not be determined by violent video games, but instead is caused by a variety of environmental and domestic factors. It is easy to blame video games on violence, instead of looking at factors such as economic status, familial issues, and exposure to other entities such as television and media. This paper will bring forward the opinions of those who believe in no relationship between violent video games and bad behavior with one counter argument expressing the opinion of those who believe there is a relationship.
People have always been looking for a reason why horrible things happen. The media is quick to blame video games as the target and cause of many shootings that have occurred, ever since Columbine and Quake. People have been blaming video games for violence for years now, ever since violent video games have been made. News reports blame video games more and more for each shooting, telling the public how this person played video games for x amount of hours a day, and that video games caused him or her to shoot people, and how video games encourage and reward violence. Anti-video game lobbyists have been campaigning to have violence removed from video games, citing resources that they themselves have created as reasons for such, poorly done studies where they confirm that kids are more aggressive through how much hot sauce they put on someone’s fries. While unbiased studies of video games and their links to violence are hard to come by, recent research has shown that video games do not in fact have a casual link to violence, and may even have the opposite effect. Violent video games have nearly no link to violence in teens or adults.
At this day in age we bask in the luxury of having easy access to advanced technology at our disposal. From the World Wide Web, to cell phones, music, movies and video games the human race has thought of any and everything to keep us entertained. Over the years studies have shown reasonable concerns regarding the long-term effects of video games. These games can desensitize gamers to real life violence, which is usually seen in the younger crowd. The studies especially hit on the games containing player-on-player violence. Though these games are extremely entertaining and can get kids to settle down for a while, if not properly supervised, they can produce adverse effects. Other studies have shown that video games can be used as way to yield positive outcomes such as, good problem solving skills, cooperation in a group and the ability to flow. Although there has been psychological research on children learning through the actions of others some believe that children are automatically able to distinguish between what is just a game and what is reality. The longer they are allowed on their game system the more they become convinced that their games are real. Some researchers believe violent video games can channel the aggression of the child but the parents are to blame for what happens to the child after playing an excessive amount over a period of time. Children can become preoccupied with these violent video games which have been proven to be the cause of poor social skills, uncontrollable aggression and a false reality.
Violent video games are becoming more popular among children and adolescents of all ages since its debut approximately 30 years ago. This growing popularity is generating an increasing concern that these sometimes very graphic videos and life like characters can have a negative influence on the younger generation. Although never proven, there has been speculation that some of the high school shootings across the country were committed by students who were habitual players of violent video games. Due to these concerns, a non-profit, self-regulatory organization was established in 1994 by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) to appropriately rate all video games from EC (early childhood), E (everyone), E10+ (everyone 10 and over), T (teen), M (mature), and AO (adults only). While assessing the efficacy of violent video game ratings, it is unknown how effective these ratings are for the intended audience (Becker-Olsen & Norberg, 2010).
Over the past 30 years, playing video games has become one of the most popular hobbies worldwide. Not only has the video game industry become a multi-billion dollar industry, but it has attracted people from all age types. While video games today are played by both kids and adults, there are many issues being raised regarding the effects of video games. More particular, is the effect that violent video games may be having on children. Some critics argue that video games are direct indicators of child aggression while video game supporters argue that there is no direct link between child aggression and violent video games. While many people have their own personal stances, this issue is unique because it is unfolding everyday. Scientists and researchers all over the world are continuously doing research regarding the effects of video games on children. Even though this remains a field of uncertainty for researchers, parents should definitely be involved in being aware of what it is that they’re children are playing when they play video games.
Have you ever played a video game? Did you enjoy it? There is a big controversy going on right now and it has to do with video games and how they affect us as people. Are video games bad? Do they cause humans to be more aggressive than we should be? Michele Zorrilla, the author of The Video Game Controversy: Aggression, Benefits, and Addiction explains, very unbiasedly, both sides of the argument. The article states how video games cause people to become more violent because of the types of games that they play. Most games that kids and young adults play nowadays are to kill the other player as many times as you can. Zorrilla also explains how video games can be beneficial to one’s life. Video games are controlling many
Video games are a rapidly growing industry. There are nearly two games sold for every household in America each year (Anders 271). The vast majority of these are sold to adults, but there is no national law that prohibits minors from buying violent video games. A few states have legislation pending that will prevent this, but the fact is that minors do have access to violent video games. There is a voluntary rating system implemented by the ESRB, where games are rated based on their content. The games that are rated Mature are not supposed to be sold to anyone under seventeen and Adults Only titles, but “some retailers do not impose such limitations” (Anders 271). The bottom line is that minors do have access to these violent games.
“As video games have become more violent and more sophisticated and the sales of video games has skyrocketed in the last few decades, youth violence has plummeted,” Ferguson says, citing evidence compiled by various federal agencies (Adams 3). Violence in video games is not a new issue. It has been debated and argued since the release of the first violent video game. As time has progressed, so has the evolution of violence and strong language within video games. Ratings have become more relaxed, and the lines between T (Teen) and M (Mature) rated games has gotten closer together. Violent games are becoming the normal and accepted of all games, and are being demanded by the gaming industry more heavily. Parents have always shied away from these games for their children, regardless of age. However, kids are getting these games whether they are the correct age (17+) or not. Young kids, less than ten years of age are playing horribly violent games and parents are fearing the repercussions. But video games are not to be blamed for child violence. Violence in video games does not cause children to become violent people later on in life.
...movie cases to parents or adults, they simply need to check on the back of the case to see the rating. If it is for family, they can buy it. If it is for adult and mature only, they simply need to say no to children, and then put it away instead of buying it. Violent video games do not cause behavior problems. It is possible that some people have weak health issue as they are on video games or technology too long instead of getting good enough sleep, eating healthy foods, and needing to get out more to have fun with family and friends in culture. Plus when players are feeling tired or anxious, they simply need to stop playing and take a break from video games for a while, at least until they feel better. Another possible solution is when a person needs to take a break from playing video game, they could spend their time outside with nature instead of on a video game.
After all, the researchers have proved that violent video games made a negative influence on children brain like thinking skills which made their behaviour aggressive, on their physiological energy leading to segregation in the family, and on the parenting role of the parents. Violence, at this point in time, is definitely part of video games. Many of the newer games are becoming even more violent, so it is important to demand to prevent the selling of the violent video games, in order to protect the children from all forms of violence and to keep them safe.
Video games have existed since 1950, and throughout the years have become popular among children. Scientific studies tell that it is beneficial for children when they play video games because it increases critical thinking skills and problem solving. Although there are other factors that can lead a child to act aggressive like being bullied in school of their own house, playing violent video games also makes impact in them. The government should pass laws restricting children’s access to violent video games because they become aggressive when
Violent video games are special games, which negatively influences to the attitude and behavior. These video games are popular between children and teenagers. Since 1980-s years violent games are in political discussion. Because when teenagers usually play violent video games, they are becoming aggressive and then they face with psychological problems. For this, some people claim that violent games are harmful for society and they affect to behavior and health.
“90% of pediatricians and 67% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that violent video games can increase aggressive behavior among children” ("Do Violent Video Games Contribute to Youth Violence?”). Pediatrics and parents are aware that kids that play violent video games see a change in their behavior. Many cases they see the kids with anger problems and causing them to do violent acts. Violent video games have been around for many years where some older titles, such as ‘Mortal Kombat’ and 'Grand Theft Auto’ both are some of the most controversial ones. The video game industry has been growing and with the large amounts of violent video games being produced. “Total US sales of video game hardware and software increased 204% from 1994 to