Video Games Rot the Brain

Video games have been around since the early 1970s and as society began to advance so

did video games the companies displayed. According to a 2015 computer and video game

industry report from the Entertainment Software Association, about 155 million Americans play

video games and 51 percent of U.S. households own a dedicated game console (Marcos 9).

When thinking about video games the first image that pops up in the majority of peoples head is

all the violence. Video games influence to a childs development. Video games are not beneficial

because promotes violent behaviour in youths, causes countless of people to be addicted to

playing games, and make most children anti-social.

The controversy on whether video games are bad or not is still being debated on.

Countless people would believe that video games are good and promote teamwork and even

hand and eye coordination, but it is false because there are more harmful impacts associated with

video games. Since technology has advanced greatly, allows children and teens to play video

games together online using things such as headsets and microphones. Playing online is a good

way for kids to play together but it also makes them vulnerable to predators on the web. 20 per

cent of teens have received an unwanted sexual solicitation online, including requests to engage

in sexual activities or sexual talk (Richard). Some people might say that video games do help

with hand and eye coordination and they have seen results when playing sports. Although if a

person is not physically practising theyre not going to improve.

Video games contribute to youths violent behaviour. Various amounts of children and

teens are becoming more violent and aggressive everyday and the thing most of the kids have in

common is that they all play video games. Popular games like Call of Duty and Grand Theft

Auto have been troubled in the media for the extensive amount of violence and inappropriate
materialism. In the Grand Theft Auto series, the gamers control criminals and try to increase

their standing by completing missions in various simulated cities. 85% or more of video games

include some form of violence (Eickhoff 6). Countless of these types of games promote drugs,

sex, murder, and sexism towards women. A study concluded, Students who played a violent

virtual reality game had a higher heart rate, reported more dizziness and nausea, and more

aggressive thoughts than those who dont play video games, stated the Developmental

Psychology at Vanderbilt. Sandy Hook Elementary School was a victim of a school shooting and

the shooter was reported to be inspired by a violent video game (Anderson 17). Video games

cause some people to be aggressive or even wanting to copy the games.

Playing video games can also be very addictive. There is always something about

wanting to win that excites several people, which makes them continue playing for hours. A

numerous number of children and teens now a days too much time playing videos rather than

physically playing outside. They supine for hours and play games. There has also been an increase

in patients looking for clinical help for game addiction. And with sitting around all day without

exercising, it imputes more children and teens at risk for obesity, and sleep deprivation. Obesity

has been a big problem because more and more children are becoming overweight, causing 1 of

3 children to become obese. Video games have plenty of negative impacts and should be taken

more seriously.

Most people that play video games are often isolated and prefer not to interact with

people physically. Sitting in front of a screen all day and not physically interacting with a person

can cause one to be very anti- social. A recent unpublished study from researchers at Princeton

University, the University of Rochester, and the University of Chicago found that more young

men, particularly those who don't have college degrees, are living at home, working part-time or
not at all, and regularly playing video games (Kauffman 4). They stay at home all day because

these video games are very addictive and prevents them from going out and being productive.

Therefore, video games are not beneficial because of the materialism the games promote.

Video games increase aggressive and violent behavior in children and teens, cause countless of

people to be addicted to playing, and make most children anti-social. In conclusion, video games

corrupt our morose youth and encourage more negativity than positivity.
Video Games Rot the Brain

Name: Zarrin Zekaria

Teacher: Ms. Jeon
Date: May 12, 2017
Course code: ENG 3U1