Video Games Ruining Society

Running head: VIDEO GAMES RUINING SOCIETY
VIDEO GAMES RUINING SOCIETY
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VIDEO GAMES RUINING SOCIETY
Introduction
Video games have a long history but it began to dominate the society only after the
advancement in technology during the 20th and 21st century. The video gaming industry expanded
rapidly to become multi-billion dollar industry, earning millions every year. However,
overshadowing positive influences, video games also became a curse to the society.
The essay aims to analyze the evidences that show that video games have ruined the
society. The analysis will include a brief overview of video games and its influence on the
society. The positive as well as negative influences will be discussed in the essay. Then, the
essay will highlight the evidences that prove the devastating effects of video games on the
society.
Discussion
In the modern era, video games have reached a different level altogether with makers
giving a real-life experience to the players through VR (Virtual Reality) games. These VR games
– an advance version of multiplayer interactive games – are becoming extremely popular
amongst the adolescents (Serino et al. 2016). Other than VR games, other forms of video games
such as online multiplayer, controllers, and so on are also a sensation amongst the youth. Video
games based on learning and collaboration is very popular.
Video games have a positive influence on the society as it allows people around the globe
to come together in a single platform and collaborate. It allows people from different cultures to
communicate and work together. Further, video games help children explore their cognitive and
physiological capabilities. Qutee, an online poll survey, revealed that more than 40% of the
gamers worldwide have found an improvement in their emotional wellbeing apart from other

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VIDEO GAMES RUINING SOCIETY
positive effects (Forbes.com 2018). In addition, the survey found that more than 90% of the
gamers have rejected the claim that video games lead to violence in the society. In an article
published in Psychological Bulletin recently, it was found that the increasing hours spent on
video games helped improve qualities such as perception, spatial cognition, cognitive flexibility
and multitasking amongst others (Psychologytoday.com 2018).
However, the chief concern that video games have is the psychological affect on the
minds of the young people. It has become a kind of addiction for the youth, who spend bulk of
their time in playing games rather than socializing. The most damaging effect of video games
could be seen from the number of unfortunate incidences that have occurred worldwide. The
mass shootings in the United States and elsewhere in the world, the aggressive behavior of
teenagers towards their parents and teachers – all have been caused by too much time spent on
video games. The February 14 shootings at the Stoneman Douglas High School revealed
evidences that related to the shooter being an avid first-person shooting games player. In the July
2016 shootings at Muni, Germany, it was found that the killer was an 18-year old gamer who
was addicted to first-person shooter games (Edition.cnn.com 2018). According to a study
conducted by Boxer, Groves and Docherty (2015), it was found that increased time spent on
playing violent games did contribute towards increased aggressive behavior amongst children
and adolescents. The study also found that video games adversely affect the “prosocial and
academic performance of the children and younger people” (Boxer, Groves and Docherty 2015).
Video games also affect the social life of young people who dedicate most of their time
playing games rather than socializing. In fact, they are so attached to the virtual world that they
have given up on their life and career. The video showing the interview of a videogame addict
confirms this argument. The player, a 23-year old individual from the US, has spent more than a