Negative Effects of Videogames on Teenagers

A video game is a specific type of software that runs on hardware, a computer or video game console, and today's video games are increasingly realistic and technologically advanced. Social networking has even made its way into the video game industry with online gaming. Video games, especially those that contain violence, are becoming increasingly popular with college students. They are often considered a bellwether of Internet use, but the Internet is not the only technology they have incorporated into everyday life. They are also using other technologies like cell phones, mp3 players and other devices to entertain themselves wherever they may be but still, they are more interested on videogames that internet offers. With the increasing amount of time that students are spending on video games, one is left to wonder what effects video games have on the people who play them.
Video games are often portrayed in a negative manner because they are seen as having an "addictive" quality. Addiction has been defined as "A primary, chronic disease, characterized by impaired control over the use of a psychoactive substance and/or behavior. Despite the wonderful benefits games offer as diversions, spending too much time, to the neglect of normal life duties, and social development with direct contact with others can and often does happen. Clinically, the manifestations occur along biological, sociological, spiritual and especially psychological. Some psychological effects that affect the behaviors are failure to play outdoor games, difficulties in work or school, telling lies to everyone, decreased attention to personal hygiene, decreased attention to family and friends, and disturbances in the sleep cycle. Many video game addicts have strug...

... middle of paper ...

...h medical issues as backaches, headaches, eyestrain and carpal tunnel syndrome.
Playing Videogames can also lead to delayed achievement of different educational objectives. Respondents said that it is the least negative effect of Videogames. Out of 30 respondents, only 13 said that it can cause delayed achievement.
According to (Drea, 2014), long hours playing videogames can negatively affect your child’s performance in school, if he’s preoccupied with videogames. . He can fail to work at his optimum level because he’s exhausted from a late night of videogame playing.

Conclusion
Video game play can have both positive and negative effects on children and adolescents, and adults should seek to minimize the negative effects while maximizing the positive effects by staying informed about games and establishing rules about the amount and type of video game play.