Are video games harmful? Many claim that it is, and many claim that it is not. Which side is right? The most appropriate answer is: it depends. On the one hand, video game addiction is currently one of the major problems in the world. It even affects China so much that it recently passed a law that requires people under 18 to play less than 90 minutes on weekdays and only 3 hours on weekends. On the other hand, in addition to being a way for people to spend their free time, video games can often be a way to reduce stress or even exercise reflexes and brain stimulation. Most people who are not addicted to video games can easily manage their time so that gaming does not affect their daily lives. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an Original Essay While there are many arguments for the harmful effects of video gaming on its participants, there are also many positives in what video games can offer. Video games provide a unique opportunity to bond with friends and family like few other things do. They can also offer a temporary escape from the stresses of everyday life. When used in a positive and healthy way, as well as in moderation, video games can and do provide almost endless benefits. Thanks to the interactive and engaging platform that most video games offer, discoveries have been made about how video games could be used in positive ways in education, whether in spelling, mathematics, in reading, science, etc. If there's an idea, then there's potential. People who play video games have also been shown to have better hand-eye coordination, as well as better peripheral vision. Video games often require quick thinking, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills to win. Many genres include puzzle games and even strategy games that exercise the mind in ways that can only be beneficial. Many studies claiming that video game violence is linked to increased aggression are often incorrect, and the opposite of this argument is actually more often true. . Playing a video game can effectively relieve stress and reduce the risk of violence (cathartic therapy). In 2011, during the Brown vs. Entertainment Merchants Association, the Supreme Court ruled that violence in video games was not linked to increased aggression. Justice Antonin Scalia even said that studies showing a link between video game violence and increased aggression "have been rejected by every court that has examined them, and for good reason: They do not prove that violent video games pushes miners to act aggressively.” There are even statistics that show that as sales of violent video games increase, juvenile crime rates begin to fall. Almost all young men play violent video games. This is a fact often used in anti-video game arguments. The fact that some “gamblers,” as they are often called, commit violent crimes should not be so casually linked. It's like saying something like "almost everyone who has robbed a bank has eaten ice cream, so eating ice cream puts you at greater risk of robbing a bank." This would be a relatively unsurprising fact, but when distorted and misused, it becomes convoluted and false. There aredays when I come home after a long day and just need the opportunity to sort everything out or switch off. I have a handful of hobbies that I turn to when I need such a fix, and video games are one of them. I know from experience that when I use this relaxation method, I feel refreshed and ready to take on a new challenge. It allows me to put all my stress aside, even if just for a moment, and then come back to it when I'm ready. Video games are also an opportunity to create bonds between my brothers and me. Whether we talked about it or played together, it created many happy moments that we all shared together. Playing video games, when used in moderation, can be very beneficial for everyone. Whether they just need a few moments to relax or want to spend time with their cousins, it can be a wonderful creative outlet. If you looked at a list of the fifty best-selling video games, you would notice that more than half of them contain violence in one form or another; while the APA, the American Psychology Association, has described violent video games as a risk factor for increased aggressive behavior; and nearly ninety-seven percent of children in the United States have played a video game at one time or another. With all of this in mind, studies have shown that boosting violence in video games, such as shooting, hand-to-hand combat, or swordplay, can increase the chances of violence in real life. Many claim that studies linking video game violence to increased aggression are flawed, but how is this when the majority of parents, psychologists, and pediatricians all agree? So, if this theory is considered true, how could video games be beneficial? The answer is simple: it is not. Violent video games increase the risk of desensitization to violence. With the normalization of violence as an everyday occurrence, it begins to lose more and more significance and can leave little impact on the player. Desensitization can lead to a decrease in empathy which has been directly linked to aggressive behavior. Addiction is a widespread phenomenon among gamers. It's too easy to sit down with the intention of only playing for an hour, when suddenly six have passed. There are many, many stories about video games consuming a person's life. I saw it in my own experience as it took almost a year of my brother's life. He spent all day, every day, playing. He rarely stopped, and when he did, it was only for a moment. It started as a casual game to try to cope with the stresses of life, and slowly began to spiral into a never-ending tunnel of depression. Luckily, he was able to escape in time before it completely destroyed his life, and he is now married and as happy as can be; However, stories like this don't always turn out this way. Some people turn to games for comfort and find themselves in a dark, empty place, so easily cured by a simple, yet difficult choice to make. Video games have the potential to increase aggressive behavior and ruin lives, and are in no way beneficial. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay When I started this article, I was strongly pro-video games, although I was already aware of it and often agreed with many anti-gaming arguments., 27(3), 409-431.