Are video games good for teenagers?

Are video games good for teenagers?

 

Video games have become one of the most popular form of entertainment . Many people claim that video games make teenagers more aggressive and violent whilst others claim it doesn’t really have any effect on adolescents. So what are the effects of video games with teenagers? Are these effects positive or negative? We will prove that video games are beneficial to teenagers and why they are that way by describing their impact on different functions of the brain such as memory and reflexes. Also, we will prove this point by explaining how video games can actually help teenagers with education.

Studies have proved that video games actually help develop certain parts of the brain. As an example, a study conducted at the University of Geneva,conducted by Dr. Daphne Bavelier, has proven that subjects that played a lot of action games were generally better at tracking moving objects with their eyes. Also, it has been found that platformer type games help with the growth of the right hippocampus, which is linked with navigation and dexterity. It has been suggested to use video games as a form of therapy instead of using drugs because of these effects.

Second off, video games would be an  excellent tool in education, especially for the youth, because they are excellent at keeping someone’s attention. Also, the fact that the US Air Force uses simulators, which are quite similar to video games, to train their pilots proves that it could work. The only thing is that specialized games would need to be created because most current games are for entertainment purposes only. Also, it is much more enjoyable to learn on an interactive device than to use a textbook, which is why games and other interactive devices are so good for learning.

A main critic, and also an argument for banning video games is that they make their player more violent than their peers that do not play games. That is partially correct because players tend to be more aggressive for a short period of time after they stopped playing, but that does not correlate in criminal behavior. Even if video games might have made some people violent, it is because their minds were already twisted in the first place. For the rest of the population, video games tend to be a way to release tension and mostly be less aggressive.

In conclusion, video games have a positive effect on teenagers because they help develop the brain and are a great learning tool. Also, they are a great way to relieve tension. Sooner rather than later, video games could be frequently used to train surgeons, treat a few mental illnesses and generally make learning more enjoyable for teenagers.

 

Here are a few resources:

http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2013/11/video-games.aspx

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jordanshapiro/2014/08/27/a-surprising-new-study-on-how-video-games-impact-children/#2a28359e49f9

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/freedom-learn/201502/cognitive-benefits-playing-video-games

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-34255492