Why are Video Games Dangerous?

on


Why are Video Games Dangerous?

By: Srijan Agarwal



Did you know that the average teenager plays video games for about 2.5 hours a day? (CMCH). Did you know that 91% of kids ranging from ages 2 - 17 play video games? (CNET). Researchers of Hospital de Mar in Spain investigated the relationship between weekly video game use and certain cognitive abilities and conduct-related problems. “In their study of 2442 children aged 7 to 11 years, the researchers found that playing video games for one hour per week was associated with better motor skills and higher school achievement scores, but no further benefits were observed in children playing more than two hours each week.” (ScienceDaily). The obsession with video games is increasing and grades in each subject are decreasing for some students when vice-versa should happen. Students stay up all night playing video games and are too lazy and tired to get up for school the next day. Millions of kids suffer from optometry problems because of their eyes being exposed to screens all day. In the worldwide spread of COVID-19, schools are offering virtual learning. Think about it: about seven hours of school on the computer each day and then playing video games for about three hours a day is so dangerous for all humans, not just kids. Parents should understand how dangerous video games can be in many aspects and therefore should prohibit their kids from playing video games for a long period of time.


The more video games we play, the more consequences our eyes face! Normally, our eyes blink about 20 - 25 times per minute, but, when we sit in front of the computer for a long period of time, that number decreases to 4 - 5 blinks per minute, which causes our eyes to get dry. According to VerywellHealth, kids sometimes experience a syndrome called computer vision syndrome that is commonly found in adults and is rare in children (VerywellHealth). Also, fatigue, obesity, blurry vision, discomfort, and headaches can be caused by extensive viewing of the screen (VerywellHealth). These problems further lead to serious diseases making the person uneasy for the rest of their lives. “Furthermore, when playing video games, the eyes tend to become "locked in" to the screen. This may make it difficult for the eyes to focus easily on other objects, even long after the video game is turned off.” (VerywellHealth). This shows that if we are focusing on something productive after we play video games, that useful information won’t be helpful to us because our eyes can’t focus and therefore can’t take in the information. This problem doesn’t happen if we play video games for a short period of time. In conclusion, looking at screens for an unusually long period of time can cause serious health issues like eyesight problems. 


Can a child’s behavior change into criminal behavior because of video games? According to Children’sHealth, an international study shows that some children who play violent video games for a huge amount of time show physical aggression in their behavior (Children’sHealth). Dr. Nicholas J. Westers, clinical psychologist at Children's Health℠ and Associate Professor at UT Southwestern says, “It's hard to establish a clear link between aggressive behavior and video games, but this new study suggests that some young people who play violent video games do demonstrate increased physical aggression over time." (Children’sHealth). This problem is dangerous and should be taken note of because this might influence young minds to do something illegal or something that is considered a criminal offense. A tendency that children and adolescents have is to behave or act like a popular personality who is trending on the internet. This habit can be harmful when video games are in use. Youths and teenagers may act like violent characters when they see one in a video game. This can shift their mind into doing criminal activities when they reach their adulthood. In conclusion, violent video games can be an influential source into doing unacceptable behavior.


Did you know that you can get Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) because of playing video games? According to KidsHealth, “The tendons passing through the carpal tunnel can become swollen from doing the same movement over and over, like typing on a computer or playing video games,” (KidsHealth). Constant movement of hands is required in playing video games, and CTS can be a result (KidsHealth). Carpal Tunnel is a tunnel in which tendons run through to connect your muscles to the bones of your hand that help you bend your fingers (KidsHealth). Because of the Carpal Tunnel being tight, there is barely enough room for the tendons and the median nerve (the nerve that passes through the carpal tunnel to reach the hand) to pass through it, and if anything else takes up some space, then that causes the median nerve to pinch (KidsHealth). This leads to numbness and tingling where the nerve spreads out (KidsHealth). Having CTS can be very dangerous and is another reason to stop playing video games.



In conclusion, playing video games for long periods can be harmful and dangerous. Some reasons to stop playing video games are: eyes can be harmed, kids can turn violent, and kids can have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. All these reasons have tough consequences which are not easy to face. By reading this article, what do you think? Do you support this argument? Will you take steps to stop playing video games for a long period of time?

Comments

Post a Comment