Are video games bad for kids?
February 2, 2017
Video games are incredibly popular, but are they harmful? Researchers still aren't sure.
It’s a debate that’s been around ever since the first home gaming consoles began to appear in the 1970s. Before that, people worried whether pinball was destroying the lives of young people (although it’s a bit hard to take that one too seriously today).
For as long as folks have been gaming and other folks have been worrying about the effects of those games on the brains of youngsters, psychologists and others have been studying the issue. In other words, we now have around 40 years of research to paint a picture of just what’s going on.
Sadly, the picture, even after all these years, remains mixed, which itself is pretty interesting. The truth is, both positive and negative effects of gaming have been found. However, while there are known negative impacts, such as potentially reducing empathy and increasing violent impulses, there are also a great many positive effects, such as improving eyesight and concentration, and actually helping your brain grow.
Does this mean you should throw away your kid’s gaming console? No. But keep an eye on what they’re playing and whether not it’s affecting them. It’s up to you.
