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When I peer out my window at home, a wave of nostalgia washes over me. The house three doors down, once a target for our home run derby foul balls, and the basketball hoop, a silent witness to countless world championships where I was the Bulls and my friends the perennial runners-up. But now, as the once lively street falls into a hushed silence, it becomes apparent that something has shifted, and that shift can be attributed to the pervasive influence of video games on the children of today.
Since the inception of Atari in 1972, the video game industry has burgeoned into a 10.3 billion-dollar annual market, with continued growth spurred by advancing technology.
However, this entertainment evolution has not unfolded without its costs. The surge in video game popularity has coincided with adverse effects on children, manifesting in increased obesity, heightened aggression, and diminished social interactions.
From the iconic pixelated adventures to the contemporary hyper-realistic simulations, video games have become a pervasive part of children's lives.
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While these games provide entertainment and even cognitive benefits, the associated risks and consequences are becoming increasingly apparent.
The evolution of video games from simple activities like a frog crossing a busy street to complex narratives involving excessive violence raises significant concerns about their impact on mental and physical health. Games like Grand Theft Auto and Conker's Bad Fur Day, once considered outliers, now embody the norm, pushing boundaries and enacting upon some of our deepest desires, albeit confined by legal restrictions.
A concerning revelation from the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that a staggering 90% of contemporary games actually reward players for inflicting harm on others, even when rated for teens.
The gratuitous violence portrayed in these games can have a profound and lasting impact on children, making them numb or "immune" to the horror of violence, leading to imitation and more aggressive behavior.
Real-world incidents, like a child in Kentucky bringing a revolver to school and shooting eight students, underscore the potential consequences of prolonged exposure to violent video games. In this tragic case, the child had accumulated over 10,000 hours playing a shoot 'em up style game, earning bonus points for headshots.
Even games without explicit violence contribute to health concerns. Video games' immersive nature often replaces outdoor activities and exercise. In a study published in a pediatrics journal, it was revealed that a staggering 9 million kids are overweight, a threefold increase from 1980. While video games aren’t the sole culprit, they often take precedence over physical activities, contributing to sedentary lifestyles and making children more susceptible to adult diseases such as diabetes.
An Australian Geographic study further indicates that only 32% of children express a desire to play outside on sunny days. The correlation between video games and reduced outdoor play is evident, and this shift has serious implications for children's health and well-being.
Beyond the realm of physical health, video games also pose a threat to the development of essential social skills in children. Dr. Ricardo Salguero categorizes video game addiction as a behavior akin to drug dependency. His research reveals that 10% of children, between 8 and 12 years old, playing video games on home consoles or computers, invest more than 4 hours a day. This excessive gaming robs them of time that could be spent on standard outdoor activities like basketball, curtailing opportunities for socialization.
Salguero's findings indicate that the earlier children start playing video games, the more pronounced the negative impact on their interactions with other children. As video game time increases, it cuts away from relationships outside the virtual world, impairing the development of crucial social skills that are typically honed through face-to-face interactions.
As we reflect on the information compiled by psychiatrists and doctors, a concerning image emerges. The rise in violence, obesity, and impaired social skills since the advent of video games demands attention. It is undeniable that video games have a negative impact on children, affecting not only their physical health but also their ability to connect and communicate in the real world.
Parents need to be more vigilant, not just about the content of the games their kids are playing but also about the amount of time spent playing them. The growing silence outside our windows serves as a poignant reminder of the impact of video games. It's a call to action, urging parents and society to reassess the role of video games in children's lives and prioritize healthier alternatives that promote physical activity, social interaction, and a balanced childhood.
Impact of Children's Outdoor Play and Video Games. (2017, May 12). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/persuasive-speech-against-video-games-essay
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