PINELLAS COUNTY SCHOOLS

EFFECTS VIDEO GAMES

CAUSE ON TEENAGERS
By Francis Phimphivong

Video games. Its like a trap for simple-minded beings or innocent

children who havent even gotten to see the world yet. Most of the time, it is
very entertaining, but it also creates a bear trap for anyone who has at least
5 hours each day. I can tell you right now, I was very addicted into an online
game before I was hired at Publix. Games have given an effect to aggressive
behavior when exposed. I feel that our youth shouldnt been given these
games. Half of the people who plays video games usually range from kids
starting at the age of seven, they even started playing games that are rated
for mature and older (17 and older).
Video games source from board games 30 years ago. Kids switched
from board games and cartoons to video games. Like today, they feel like
they are actually in this virtual reality. You could create and get out of any
impossible scenario. You could do anything in video games. Games back then
were mediocre violent like Pac-Man and Super Mario Bros. Nowadays, games
look more realistic than ever. The graphics make it more addicting than ever.
Playing video games can lead to many paths. There has been reports
of teenagers playing video games for 5 days straight and leaving them
dehydrated or maybe even blood clots. They usually get reports for low
school performance from teachers. But the report also states that video
games aggressive influence can help when often teased or bullied. Instead of
avoiding confrontation, usually kids talk back. Also, violent video games can
improve vision.
The most of dangerous type of video games are first-person shooting
games. Like I said in the previous paragraph, even at the age of seven,
children usually starts playing these kinds of games. It leads to aggression in

their, which isnt always the choice anyone should make when handling a
situation.
There are effects from playing video games that are positive. Some
video games provide actual workouts with physics activities, though, Im
quite sure that there are no teenagers out there who would play those kinds
of games. Those who are shy and/or nervous start to play online games which
interact with other players around the world. Some video games can improve
ones dexterity and problem solving in real life situations. Its also a stress
reliever as they are throwing their anger out onto the video game.
What I find really impossible to believe, but I have done it before,
teamwork is usually used in video games. I used to play a teamwork online
game and I have to say, it improved my teamwork skills. It is required to use
teamwork and to follow the directions of the game to win. Everyone has to
communicate with each other to create strategies to gain the advantage of
the other team. Its something I find impossible to believe since most players
I encounter are always angry. But like me and millions of players online, we
ALL want to win the game.

All video games usually improve the dexterity, accuracy, quickthinking, and memory of the player. A first person shooter game has fast
targets and objectives that require the player to make a quick strategy to
finish the goal and win the game. AKA, kill the target(s). It is all part of the
game. What is also strangely compelling is that it can help short-term
concentration but it could damage long-term concentration.

What video games can really do is make the child creative. Lets note
Minecraft. Sure, it can be violent. But it also teaches the child how to be
creative by creating a whole world filled with whatever they choose to create.
And there are other sandbox games like Roblox, which you can create your
own scripts and bring your places to life, like creating a fighting match with
unique UIs and everything.
Some of the studies dont leave the negative effects behind. Even
though hes interacting with millions of players online, what about outside the
video game? He or she might be socially isolated from school friends to
family activities. There wont be time to be doing homework or just hanging
with his or her friends. And while being isolated, the player can be exposed to
inappropriate words and actions through other players or from objects of the
game.
One of the most important effects video games do to teenagers is how
addicting they are. Kids and teens play video games because of how
amazing the graphics are in the game and how interesting the objectives and
plot of the game is about. Addiction can have the player on this specific game
from over 5 hours to over a week. Thats crazy. That can lead to many things,
like dehydration or starvation. It can even lead to death! This can also cause
skeletal and muscular disorders, obesity, and video game-induced seizures.
And getting out of addictions are hard. All humans know. Its hard to get of a
habit, especially video games.
One example with someone who is addicted to video games is when he
or she has no guilt and neglected by peers. When matters get worse, they
pick fights or worse, violent crimes with or without accessible weapons in the

household. If only this example was fictional. I can name many shooting
incidents that have involved video game addiction. We have the kind of
recent Sandyhook massacre and the most notable Columbine High School
massacre. The Columbine massacre is most notable because the two
students (Eric and Dylan) were influenced by an extremely violent game and
by his peers. What happened afterward? 13 people died and a total of 24
students and staff were injured.
Noting another massacre, the perpetrator of Sandyhook Elementary
was Adam Lanza. As a boy, he was diagnosed with three disorders and was
heavily influenced by violent video games. His whole basement was filled
with video games, both violent and non-violent. He would play hours and
hours in his basement online or solo. Its really unfortunate that his disorders
have taken over, and the negative courage video games shouldnt have been
used.
In conclusion, I really believe the negative effects can really outbalance
the positive effects on most people. But, if youre really good at managing
your time and doing your school work, chores, etc., then its good to be
playing video games (sometimes). I, for one, would never go back to video
games. I believe once you mature and get your own job, youll pretty much
stop. You cant keep playing video games your whole life, you have to get out
there and do something out of your life.

Citations:

http://www.aacap.org/aacap/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/Facts_for_F
amilies_Pages/Children_and_Video_Games_Playing_with_Violence_91.aspx

http://www.askmen.com/top_10/videogame/top-10-signs-you-play-videogames-too-often_10.html

http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/2006-23323-000

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/08/13/teens-and-video-games-howmuch-is-too-much/

http://www.studymode.com/essays/Effects-Of-Video-Games-On-Teens1109319.html

http://www.symptomfind.com/health/positive-effects-of-video-games/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre

http://www.raisesmartkid.com/3-to-6-years-old/4-articles/34-the-good-andbad-effects-of-video-games