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Introduction
Computer games are the famously known entertainment in the world today. The teenagers of today have fallen into the trap of online video gaming since it is addictive and can become more addictive if not properly taken care of.
The reason for this addiction is because the computer programmers have created the games in such a way that each attempt to finish a certain level in the game, creates the desire to continue playing.
Computer games originally started in the year 1972. It started with a pang which was a computer tennis game that was later developed into a software program. Up to date various varieties of computer games have been established and in the near future, it is unpredictable how the online gaming industry will be.
Computer games are adversely used by people in the adolescent stage.
At this stage most teens are into gaming since to them it is fun and it’s a way of spending leisure time. However, in as much as one may say that computer games have positive effects, it also has side effects.
There are several negative effects experienced when you get used to playing video games. This essay seeks to discuss the causes and reasons of video gaming, its positive effects, and its negative effects, especially in terms of addiction.
Causes of Continuous Online Gaming
To understand the phenomenon and take a look at the big picture, it is best to go through the causes of why people play video games.
After deep analysis, the following are some common causes:
- Availability of Computer & Internet
- Boredom from Schoolwork
- Urge to Progress in Games
Availability of Computer & Internet
The use of computers in almost every bit of life has been the major cause of the spread of online games. Computer applications in various fields including learning centers equipped with the internet are things that have been the root of online games. Students of late use computers and laptops for learning.
Boredom from Schoolwork
Since continuous reading of the school work has been tiresome to some of them, they have ended up spending time behind the screen just playing games. The young generation of today views gaming as fun and a good way of spending leisure time (Zamani, 2009).
Computer games help one to relax his or her mind after long working hours. The use of computers is one of the causes of continuous gaming and later on forms an addictive behavior.
Urge to Progress in Games
Another cause of online games is a desire to finish a given level in the massively multiplayer online games. Online games, including violent video games, are created in a way that each and every level has its challenges it is hard to proceed to the next level until one fully clinches the top.
Teenagers always desire to disapprove of most things in life, and that is why they will play an online game to finish the given levels.
All this creates a sense of satisfaction and in the end, one can spend a lot of time playing video games just trying to finish a certain level. However, these causes of online gaming have led to positive and negative effects.
Effects of Playing Video Games
There is no denying that playing video games have both positive and negative effects. Often, it is a thin red line between healthy leisure activity and detrimental video game addiction. That’s why it is necessary to explore both sides of the coin to get a wholesome view.
Let us start with the positive effects.
Positive Effects of Video Games
- Easy Accessibility Offers Affordable Pleasures
- Monetary Rewards
- Positive Reinforcement Against Bad Habits
- Enhances Competition & Sharpness
Easy Accessibility Offers Affordable Pleasures
The fact is online gaming is on an increasing note across nations in the world. One of the advantages of gaming is that one can access any online game when one’s computer is internet-connected.
The variety of games available enables one to choose what he or she is able to play. In nations where the internet is broadband, online gaming has become the predominant entertainment.
Monetary Rewards
Also in some online games, one can win instant cash when he wins in a certain field of the game. All these are positive achievements that the online platform has provided. Online gaming is significant to youths because, it occupies youth’s mind during leisure and helps them avoid getting into bad behaviors that might lead to their death( Arshi, 2017).
Positive Reinforcement Against Bad Habits
Spending time playing games is worth it than spending time misusing oneself on drugs and alcohol. Online games can also expand one’s knowledge and experience in the gaming field. When one becomes more knowledgeable about games, he may, later on, be creative and with capital, he can create games software that may bring cash.
Enhances Competition & Sharpness
Lastly, online games create competition and hence boost memory and sharpness since online games are made of tricks that are hard to discover.
Generally, online games have positive effects on one’s mind and behavior but one should know that it has side effects (Lin, 2012).
Negative Effects of Online Games
To balance off the positive effects of playing video games, it is only natural to go through some of the negative effects of video game addiction. It is an open secret that playing too many video games can harm both mind and body as many become trapped in the virtual world.
- Physical & Mental Laziness
- Anti-Social Behavior
- Career Risks
- Health & Psychological Problems
Physical & Mental Laziness
Computer games impact one with negative behaviors as well as create laziness in one’s body. Online gaming addiction basically involves one playing games uncontrollably for many hours without considering the priority things in life.
Anti-Social Behavior
One well-known result of video game addiction is withdrawal from socializing with other people and social activities. Anti-social behavior poses a significant danger to those who play computer games, including violent video games, and usually hide away in their homes or in places where they can access the internet without the need to maintain typical social functioning. This form of withdrawal separates one from personal and social responsibilities.
As time goes by one loses the sense of communication since the quality time is spent behind a computer screen playing games. The effects that come with this isolation in the virtual world are evident enough in many online gamers.
Career Risks
One well-encountered effect of playing computer games is the disruption of one’s career. One can lose focus from studies when he engages much of his quality time in online games (Lin et al, 2013). Students perform poorly in their exams due to insufficient revision time. This effect extends to also the ones with working.
However, many people have been able to cope with gaming and work but to others, it has become a great challenge to play video games and function normally.
Health & Psychological Problems
Balancing work and game addiction is very hard. This is a clear indication that playing video games is addictive. Another negative effect is that online gaming can result in health and psychological problems.
Staying in a fixed position without moving muscles makes the body lazy. Majorly it makes the body not effectively function and operates since the muscles are not put into exercise due to the video game addiction.
All these problems are a result of the continuous playing of video and computer games without taking into consideration any externality that accompanies video game addiction. Online games have both positive and negative impact but one need to take caution about the time spent behind a screen.
Online games are fun and help us spend leisure time well, but one must embrace time for one to fully fit with the daily needs and activities
Conclusion
Online games have widely spread over the years. It is one of the best entertainments that the majority of youths and teens, as well as middle-aged people, consider. Spending time playing a given game is not a bad idea, but we should make priorities in our life first.
When one has priorities in life gaming will be just a part-time activity. Spending time gaming is better than spending time misusing your body by using drugs. However one should take precautions before engaging in an online game.
Reference
- Zamani E. 2009. Effect of Addiction to Computer Games on Physical and Mental Health of Female and Male Students of Guidance School in City of Isfahan. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3905489/
- Arshi A. 2017. 5 Positive And Negative Effects Of Video Games on Teenagers, Retrieved from http://www.momjunction.com/articles/effects-of-video-games-on-teenagers_00352668/#gref
- Lin K. 2012. The Effects of Online Interactive Games on High School Students’ Achievement and Motivation in History Learning, Retrieved from https://www.igi-global.com/article/effects-online-interactive-games-high/73937
- Lin F, Hsu T, Shen Wu T, Chang C. 2013. The Effects of User Involvement in Online Games, Game-Playing Time and Display Duration on Working Memory, retrieved from https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-39360-0_7