Video Games Make Children Violent and Aggressive
There is the general understanding that violent video games make children violent and aggressive. Although I don’t necessarily agree with this truth, the media insists on telling the public the above is true. The more the statement is discussed, the more people believe it and further becomes a truth. There have been many studies that focus on video games and young children to determine whether they make them more violent, however, a majority are inconclusive. By now I’m sure you or someone in your household has heard about the game Fortnite. You can click here (Rosenberg, 2018) to see a full breakdown of what the game is all about. The game has taken the world by storm and with it, the media. Since the game is free to play and is available on multiple platforms, it allows almost any child to access it.
“Many studies have found that people who play violent video games are more likely to engage in aggressive behavior.” (Psychology Today, 2018) This article has a lot of great information and explains that many studies are mixed and rarely have a conclusive result. As a person who plays violent video games, I do experience moments of aggression whilst playing, however once the screen is turned off, I leave that anger in the game. I do believe that this is much harder for younger children and the line between video games and reality can be blurred. Younger children who play video games that include violence should be supervised and limited in the amount of time allowed. Playing for longer periods of time only makes it harder for the individual to differentiate what is real and what is a game.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the following:
- For children ages 2 to 5 years, limit screen use to 1 hour per day of high-quality programs. Parents should co-view media with children to help them understand what they are seeing and apply it to the world around them.
- For children ages 6 and older, place consistent limits on the time spent using media, and the types of media, and make sure media does not take the place of adequate sleep, physical activity and other behaviors essential to health.
(Aap.org, 2016)
This is a great recommendation in my opinion and it allows children to be what they are, children. Giving them limits and enforcing the rules ensures they aren’t influenced at a young age and that violence isn’t normal and accepted in society. Being exposed to such content at critical ages where the brain is sponging up all the information around them children can develop personality traits further along in their lives as a result.
Ellie Gibson explains how to properly manage your children playing video games. “It can be easier to get kids off their consoles if you agree a time limit at the start of the session. Give them a five minute warning before the time is up, so they have a chance to save their progress. Be firm, but reasonable; if they really do need just one more minute to finish the match or beat the boss, show magnanimity.” (Gibson, 2017) This is a great way to ensure your relationship with your child remains strong whilst they are in an activity that usually requires intense concentration. Coming from a gamer, it is important to take a short break after a burst of aggression to allow the person to regain their thoughts and remember they are just playing a video game. Younger children may need to be reminded they are playing a game and it isn’t real, but should be done without being condescending or patronising.
Overall, playing video games can make children aggressive for a short moment in the intensity of a battle, however I don’t believe they carry this aggressiveness into their lives. There still needs to be many more studies done that take into account many aspects such as the environment they are in, people around them, the games each child plays, the child’s mental state and many more. But at this point in time studies done don’t show a clear result.
EMRE ALTINDAL 