Corruptive or Educative?
By Nathalie RONKOWSKI
Edited by Bianca PANTA
Video games, a popular topic of positive discussion among teenagers, is also a highly controversial topic among adults. Many adults believe that video games are not only addictive to young people but also contribute to negative changes in their behavior. While this argument can be tiring for some to hear, it’s worth breaking down and looking at more closely.
Let’s first explore why video games are often labeled as ‘corruptive’ and ‘addictive.’ Many people claim that a child’s or teen’s behavior can change because of playing, with fingers often pointed at games featuring violent or disturbing content. According to research, certain video games that have a higher maturity rating – those featuring violence, profanity and substance use – can lead to negative changes in behavior, including the tendency to reenact actions seen in the game in real life. But games have an age rating for a reason – to ensure that children are not exposed to inappropriate content. Many parents no longer monitor the games their children play, which can lead to problems, as it gives kids easy access to mature content. Without proper supervision, children may retreat into their video games, leading to social isolation. Studies show an alarming rise in aggression among teenagers who lack supervision, with certain games contributing to this behavior.
Video games can also create distance between children and their families, however it’s important to keep in mind that this isn’t the case for every child – it mostly depends on their environment and mindset. While some may retreat to their rooms to play their games in isolation, others may enjoy playing or sharing their experience with family members. It’s impossible to generalize and claim that video games universally change teen/child behavior. Sometimes parents will find it easier to blame video games rather than confront their own mistakes.
On the positive side, video games offer many hidden benefits that players might not even be aware of. Not only are video games entertaining but they can also help develop important life skills. Gaming isn’t just about pressing buttons – it’s about memorizing, problem-solving, and becoming more aware of your surroundings. These games are designed to make you think and teach you to overcome challenges. In certain games, like multiplayer games, you are required to work in a team with others and communicate, cooperate and complete tasks with one another. This helps build important skills like leadership and adaptability, which are very useful when it comes to working and communicating with others at school and in life. Multiplayer games are like social activities, bringing people together and providing a platform for friends to connect virtually through text and voice chat.
Some games also teach children how to deal with failure and manage their emotions when faced with problems that must be solved under pressure and within a limited amount of time.
A great example of an educational game is Minecraft, which has sold an impressive 300 million copies. This block-based game allows players to explore, collaborate with others, and unleash their creativity by building their own worlds. But the developers didn’t stop there – they created Minecraft Education, a version specifically designed for classrooms and home learning. Your game library might be filled with games that sharpen your mind in ways you might not even realize.
Both the negative and the positive effects of video games can be found to be true, but they depend on the individual child or teen, as well as their family and environment. It’s important to remember that while gaming can be taken to an unhealthy extreme by some, it can also be used in many positive ways – whether for learning, stress relief, or simply for entertainment.