Can Video Games Affect Children Negatively?

Games have changed dramatically from where they were more than two decades ago. What were once small, 8-bit characters on our SNES or Genesis have now become a façade of real flesh on our screens. It’s an incredible triumph for the industry, but with all this realism, how safe is it for children to play violent video games?

Is it credible to say that children may be slightly affected by what they see in video games? Could they be influenced by what they see in this media form to act violently upon others? Watch the video above and let me know!

[MrKennedy]

I do think they are affected. Affected as in the way they play with their mates when they're 7. (When I say play with their mates I mean toy guns etc)

Not growing up to be fuck-nuggets who blow shit up.

But movies done that for me when I was a boy, not really games.

But as you say, games are now more realistic so they'll probably substitute todays generations void of Arnold Schwarzenegger Aly Stallone films that we had.

[Redgehammer]

Being a father of 4 sons, I know that anything can affect your children negatively, if allowed. I am very careful in what I let my kids watch and play. I have tried to make sure they are grounded in reality, but can have fun in a fantasy. In the same way premature exposure to pornography corrupted my young mind, I believe violence can do the same.

[kreate]

Anything can negatively affect a person or child.

[zerocrossing]

Yeah, but so can movies, music, books, parents, adults and even other children.

So what's so special about games? other than the fact the word "game" implies they are for children, the simple fact being though that many are not.

[Zodiac]

Yes. Most people don't know that negative affects don't only mean blowing stuff up or shooting a bunch of people.

[JBSleek]

Sure. But please blame parenting, mental disorders, and upbringing before we scapegoat media all the time.

Why are we so afraid to blame humans for what humans do and simply say movies, video games, TV is the problem. Ever thought the people who did this are the problem.

I had to write a ten page paper on this. It's just so sad.

[ElectroJade]

I agree wholeheartedly with your comment. I find it so silly that President Obama is funding more than ten million dollars in research to understand this. Video games may trigger some effect, but the real catalysts to youth violence are bad parenting and bad upbringing. You’re right, it’s definitely sad. I hope you did well on your paper though.

[BanBrother]

Yes, they definitely can. Isn't that why we have ratings? I think even those little phone games can do good though, as they keep the mind active, and encourage problem solving. In saying that, I wouldn't let my angel watch a sex scene from The Witcher 2, or play The Darkness 2.

Games are good and bad, just like anything else in life. It is like banning cars because some people die from them. Humans have to adapt and deal with these things. Life has never been a case of one answer.

[ElectroJade]

You're definitely one of the better parents out there. Great job in setting ground rules for your kid when it comes to gaming!

I’ve been talking to a few parents regarding the rating system in video games. As it turns out, a lot of them are unaware of what these ratings mean! There definitely needs to be more education on parental controls in gaming. A lot of parents may just be oblivious to this entire situation.

[Excalibur]

Anything can affect children negatively if you allow them to hole up in their rooms and play it for hours on end letting it rule their lives.

If you stop letting the TV be your babysitter you won't have the issues you have now.

[ravinash]

...and there is your answer right there.

[Killa_5150]

Yes and No. Yes if a kid has bad parenting and no because the kid is parented well. Nuff said. You brought a kid in this life, he has the right to be parented well. Don't give an excuse of "I'm too busy with my work, I gotta put food on the table.". Those kinds of parents should go to jail for having kids. But that won't work in the real world.

[GribbleGrunger]

It's odd really. Think about it; why is the question always 'can video games effect people negatively?' Now why can't we have the opposite question, 'can video games effect people positively?'. Unless we do that we will never have a balanced argument. I'd say that LBP helps promote creativity in many areas, such as art, music, design, and it also promotes patience, commitment and determination. So, perhaps I'd find it more interesting if the debate was less skewed.

[ElectroJade]

You have a great point here, GribbleGrunger. Perhaps if the media were to create more attention on the positive benefits of gaming, there would be less debates and controversy over it. There are many games that apply knowledge, skills, and creativity. Maybe we, as gamers, need to educate the non-gamer society to understand this as well.

[profgerbik]

Everything in life has an affect on children? Children give meaning to whatever they find important, it very well could be a video game but then it very well could be the complete opposite of that and still achieve the exact same outcome.

The entire debate is just pointless if you ask me. If people want a better society, then make a better world. Stop focusing on petty nonsense that will never actually truly change anything.

I mean something as simple as an orange could have a negative effect on a person, depending on what it means to them.

My point is there are much bigger problems in the world that people should be worried about affecting their children.. but sure let's just say it's video games and movies as if that is the only place violence, drugs, sex or abuse has ever existed throughout humanities history..