In today’s world many young individuals spend their free time playing video games. While there are some positive sides of this trend, I would argue that these are outweighed by disadvantages.
On the one hand, there are some good aspects of playing video games. Firstly, such entertainment can broaden teenagers’ imagination and enhance their ability to solve any problems. While playing computer games, adolescents can face complicated quests, which require them to analyze and choose different ways for their solution. Teenagers become more imaginative, decisive and wittier by looking for creative approaches in order to complete the challenge. Secondly, playing online video games can help youngsters to make new friends. Online game chats can be seen as a place for teenagers to get to know others players well, discuss their success in game industry and share their emotions. Children with similar interests quickly hit it off and become kindred spirits.
Nonetheless, the advantages of video games listed above do not override their harm to teenagers. As a result of spending too much time in front of a screen, adolescents can acquire serious health problems, for example a bad eyesight. Moreover, sedentary lifestyle can cause a backpain or obesity. Additionally, video games can be the reason of mental problems for teenagers. For instance, a virtual world with its fast-changing images, abrupt movements and, in some cases, cruel actions can hurt their mentality. This can make teenagers anxious, quick-tempered and irritable. The unreal world full of joy, happiness and entertainment can impact children to forget the real one. Thus, being too absorbed in video games, teenagers can lose their interest to go outside, to talk to real people and to self-develop. For example, according to the British research in 2023, 13% of young people playing computer games in the UK complained that it was becoming harder for them to get out of their room in order to interact with the outer world.
To sum up, there are both advantages and disadvantages with computer game. And even if drawbacks of playing video games outweigh its positive sides, it is not comprehensive to completely limit teenagers from this entertainment. This hobby does not hurt in moderation, so it is on parents to monitor their children’s gaming activity.