Is gaming good for you?

Gaming is getting more and more popular recently. There are as many as 40 million more active video gamers in 2020 than it was in 2019. (Statista, 2020) Recently, the factors especially contributing to it are digitalization, lockdown and population growth. Unable to go out and socialize, people opt for the virtual reality. You may be among this group yet or want to join. But, you should ask yourself: is gaming good for you?

To begin with, let’s take a look into advantages and disadvantages of video games.

Advantages of Gaming

1. Video games are fun

Gaming is a fun factor, especially when with friends. The studies found that playing with ‘real’ friends, either offline or online, is more fun than playing with ‘virtual friends’. (Kaye & Bryce, 2012) So, if have friends who want to play video games with you, you’re lucky. This is why multiplayers are so popular. Take the recent success of ”Among Us”, a simple social strategic game, as example… (Kelly, 2020)

2. Video games educate

Video games stimulate learning. Meaning, they let you experience possible life problems and force you to find solutions so that you do not ‘die’. Thus, you acknowledge the usability of different tools and routes. In short, you can use a video game as a fun educational tool for anything! (Griffiths, 2002)

3. Video games improve skills

Besides, video games are brilliant to improve your skills. For example, we tend to play for fun without even realizing that we are learning a foreign language. Furthermore, gaming is proven to stimulate language skills, basic math skills, basic reading skills and social skills. (Kaye & Bryce, 2012) I wish I had told that my parents when I was a kid, haha.

Disadvantages of Gaming

1. Video games cause frustration

Unfortunately, social games can cause you a lot of frustration. Friends can be mean or outperform you in a competitive game. No one likes their character getting killed constantly, right? Similarly, that applies to playing with random people. Just imagine a stranger joining your playthrough and randomly beat you. (Kaye & Bryce, 2012)

2. Video games are addicting

No matter how much you wish to deny it, video games can be addicting. Both World Health Organization and the American Psychiatric Association have been researching the issue for a while. ”Gaming disorder” is to be included in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) and International Compendium of Diseases (ICD). (Bean, Nielsen, van Rooij, Ferguson; 2017) Moreover, studies found online gaming to be the most addicting. Online gaming craving has the same neurobiological mechanism as substance dependence and that is very concerning. (Ko, Liu, Hsiao, Yen, Yang, Lin, Yen, Chen; 2008) I used to be an online gaming addict myself, and I can confirm it’s not fun in the long run. Please be careful with the amount of time you spend playing video games!

Gaming is both good and bad for you

To conclude, gaming is both good and bad for you. Whether you endure its advantages or disadvantages depends mainly on your habits. Almost each activity can be harmful if done too often. Once you control the time you spend and set up limits, you should be fine.

What are your thoughts on gaming? Do you think it is good or bad?

Offline Sources:

^{_{Putting The “Fun Factor” Into Gaming: The Influence of Social Contexts on Experiences of Playing Videogames by Linda K Kaye & Jo Bryce (2012)}}