Video games and teens! by Victor Schneuwly

Every week there is an article by a news company claiming that video games are the worst things for teens. The media has been so full of these stories that everyone including parents believes this. Yes, it's true that video games also have negative effects such as being addictive or not being active anymore. But teens and some scientists prove this wrong because they believe that video games are actually beneficial for teens in terms of making their vision better, they help teens stay away from drugs and violence. It also can help them in solving problems and having better attention during different times.

Many people say that video games screw up your eyesight but that is not at all true. Because Daphne Bavelier who has been studying the effects of video games on people for 7 years, did some research and found that “The gamers that play 5 to 10 to 15 hours a week, you might think that their vision is bad, well it is better than people who do not play video games”. Also an article Carrot sticks or joysticks: video games improve vision written by Caplovitz, Gideon and Kastner, Sabine says “A study in this issue of Nature Neuroscience demonstrates that normal-sighted people who play action-based video games can benefit from long-lasting improvements in contrast sensitivity, one of the most basic visual functions that commonly deteriorate with aging, among other causes. This improvement is probably a result of changes in neural processing, rather than physical changes in eye structure.” This proves the point that video games aren't bad for teens but on the other hand, can be beneficial.

Drugs and violence are a rough thing that many people and not just teens struggle with everyday. There was a story unfortunately the mother didn’t want any names but her children were sitting on the sidewalk while a car went by shooting at them but since they had been playing a first person shooter they realised they were gonna be shot. So acting like in the game they took cover behind some concrete and came out alive. This relates back to the point where they saved their lives by reacting to the sound of the gun just like in the game. A study done at Yale shows that “Most teens who play video games do not fall into unhealthy behaviors like smoking, drugs, fighting or becoming depressed”. This proves the point that teens are better of playing video games instead dealing drugs and involving themselves in violence because video games are simulated however in real life there are limits.

Many people suggest that video games do not improve reflexes which is not at all true. In a study by Daphne Bavelier “People who play video games can solve problems faster.Normal Adults can track about 3-4 objects without losing focus, however teens who play video games can track about 6-7 objects at a time without losing focus.” This shows that people who think that video games don't improve reflexes are wrong and this is why teens should be allowed to play video games.

Unfortunately video games also have their disadvantages like for example being addictive. An article written by Valley Morning star says that “Some teens if it was possible they will just go ahead and play their video game "24/7" so that they can manage to pass the different existing levels”. This is one of the most common examples where teens become addicted to the game. In the same article by Valley Morning Star the say “Teens would rather play video games than go out to eat with their family now at days.” Playing 24/7 is bad but not going out to eat with your family that's a whole new level of bad.

Since teens play video games they have no time whatsoever to go outside to play a sport or do an activity because they need to finish this last level. In an article by Valley Morning Star they say that “Some teens that focus so much in video games that they stop living an active life. By this I mean that many teens may close down to reality in the way that they get home and the only thing they do is go directly to their TVs, and they start to play with their video game.” Many parents can confirm that especially if their child likes to play video games. And in the same article by Valley Morning Star they also say that “Now at days that's all that teens do when they hang out. Instead of going out and exercising, they sit, eat, and play video games.” This is actually a serious problem because if people don't exercise and stay at home the new generation will be fat and lazy.

Video games are actually pretty good for teens because video games can improve the eyesight, it can help steer teens away from drugs and violence and video games can lead to teens having better attention problems and solving problems faster. However video games also have their negatives such as being too addictive and spending less time outside to play a video games. Even though video games are addictive and can cause teens to not do any exercise they actually have good benefits, but nobody is willing to accept that.

Bibliography:

Bavelier, Daphne. "Your Brain on Video Games." N.p., n.d. Web.

Star, Valley Morning. "Do Video Games Have a Negative Impact on Teens? Why or Why Not?" Proquest. N.p., n.d. Web.

Julia VanTine. "Video Games Not Harmful to Most Teens: Study." US News. N.p., n.d. Web.

"Carrot Sticks or Joysticks: Video Games Improve Vision." Proquest. N.p., n.d. Web."It's Official: Video Games Are Bad for Your Brain; New Research Shows Permanent Effects on Minds of Players." Proquest. N.p., n.d. Web.