There is hardly anyone who does not love playing video game right from a kid to an adult. Video game is considered to be the favourite past time and it consists of interesting applications. Now a day it is a unique form of entertainment because it encourages the player to become a part of the game’s script. Video game has been available for more than 30 years but due to the increase in processing power, the modern day games have become more advanced and the player requires paying constant attention to the game. Player engages them deeply both physically and emotionally to the video game. Due to such habit video game has become a drawback in the lives of the people despite of being advantageous. Here are both the advantage and disadvantages side of playing a video game.
Positive effects of video games on teenagers
1. It improves the cognitive functions:
According to research conducted by C. Shawn Green, the psychologist of the University of Wisconsin, have found that video games can benefit the cognitive functions. It is likely to change the brain structure exactly the same way while playing the piano, navigating the map or learning to read. The combination of concentration and the surges of neurotransmitters are likely to strengthen the neural circuit which helps in building the brain.
2. Coordination of hand and eye:
It has been found in the research that kids can learn spatial, visual and have iconic skills from the video games. There are some games which require a great deal of visual-spatial ability and thus help in hand-eye coordination. The player has to coordinate the brain’s reaction and interpretation with his hands and fingertip movements.
3. Quick thinking and accuracy:
The video games are made in such a way that it helps the gamers to make quick decisions. It is likely to train the brain to make fast decisions without losing accuracy. In a research it has shown that video games can even train the surgeons and soldiers.
4. Improves decision making skills:
Gaming helps to improve the decision-making skills of the child. In the research it has been found that kids who play video games are able to make decisions 25% faster without affecting the accuracy. Kids adept in gaming can make choices and act upon them six times a second which is four times faster than normal.
5. Encourages teamwork:
Multiplayer games involve cooperation with other online players and this encourages the teamwork in kids. Video games also help the kids to make use of the most of their skills so that they are able to contribute much to the team.
Despite of the positive effects there are also some negative effects of playing video games. Listed below are some negative effects of playing video games.
Negative effects of video games on teenagers
1. Increases aggressive behaviour:
Video games with violent content canincrease the aggressive behaviour in kids. It can also desensitize them to violence. Studies have shown that kids who like playing first-person shooter style games are likely to adopt a detached view of the society. They also develop aggressive thoughts and tendencies.
2. Social isolation:
The other negative effect of video game is that kids are spending too much time in playing games than playing outdoors. So video games are making them socially isolated. Kids who play too much video game are likely to indulge less in extracurricular activities like reading, writing or participating in sports.
3. Teaches wrong values:
Apart from violent behaviour, video game is also likely to teach kids wrong values. In many video games women are portrayed as weaker characters so they depict women as helpless and sexually provocative personalities. While playing with other people online kids also pick up bad language and behaviour.
4. Poor academic performance:
Among all other negative effect this is one of the serious effects of video games on kids. Playing long hours of video games can affect the performance of the kids in school. If kids spend more than two hours in gaming then they will have trouble in falling asleep and also paying less attention in school. Video game addicts can make the kids to skip their homework in order to play games and thus leading to a downfall in their grades.
5. Adverse effects on health:
Excessive gaming can have adverse effects on the health of the kids. Kids, who spend too much time on playing video games, do not participate in any activities to keep them healthy and fit. This leads to various health diseases such as obesity, muscular, skeletal and postural disorders, video-induced seizures, nerve compression and numbness in hands, elbows and shoulders.
According to recent research it has been found out that video games are likely to strengthen the some of the visual skills. It can improve the reading speed, accuracy and efficiency of the slow readers or children who find difficulty in reading. Video games are likely to stay but their value will always remain a controversial issue. Instead of diminishing the video game for their negative effect, it is essential to accept the positive effect of the video game either by monitoring or balancing by the parents.