Video Games Effect On Children - 948 Words

â€Å"Video games are a ubiquitous part of almost all children’s and adolescents’ lives, with 97% playing for at least one hour per day in the United States† (Granic, Lobel and Engels 66). Video games are a big part of life in America and around the world. Technological advances allow for many different devices where video games can be played, so it is not hard for children to get their hands on video games. There is also a wide variety of games, from building games to board games to war games. There is a game out there for everyone. Video games have become a very common activity for children, but at a price. Playing video games is harmful because it can create addiction, desensitize players to violence, and cause depression. Although playing†¦show more content†¦The link between video games and cognitive skills has also been studied. One study found that people who played shooter type video games showed, â€Å"faster and more accurate attention allocation, high spatial resolution in visual processing, and enhanced mental rotation abilities† (Granic, Lobel and Engels 71). Research has shown that there are several benefits of playing video games; they can increase the player’s education, mood, and social skills. While research has shown that there are some benefits to playing video games, it has also shown that video games can be addictive, desensitize a player to violence, and cause depression. When video games are played with many people online, it can create an environment of compulsive play (Xu, Turel, and Yuan). Kids work together and then feel obligated to play and help their team. This feeling of obligation can lead to hours of playing time, which can lead to addiction. Also in these multiplayer games, there is no end. The games are constantly updated with new tasks to complete (Xu, Turel, and Yuan). A need to finish the game or get to the next task can create an addiction as well. A video game addiction can hinder grades, family time and sleep. Video games may also desensitize a player to real life violence. One study found that even 20 minutes of violent video game exposure decreased the