Effects of Children Playing Computer Games for Long Hours On a Regular Basis

Over the recent decades, access to computer and internet has made a

significant increase in civilization especially among the young generation. With the

growing popularity of trending computer games, children are gradually exposed to

such games. However, the mainstream view of gaming has become less

curmudgeonly. Parents are either too busy with their work life to bother about their

children daily activities or are less strict in allowing their child to spend time playing

computer games. Percy C.S. (n.d.) once claimed that computer games is known as a

queer thing, it brings you gifts with one hand and stabs you in the back with another.

If computer games are played by children for long hours on a regular basis, it will

effect their physical health, behaviour and also implant antisocial behaviour in

themselves.

First and foremost, gaming for long hours will effect the gamer’s physical

health. Christopher D. (2015) suggested that children who play computer games for

long hours might experience physical consequences such as carpal tunnel,

migraines, sleep disturbances, obesity, and backaches. As claimed by Physical

Consequences of Gaming Addiction (n.d.), backache is one of the most common

physical symptom among computer game addicts. This is because they are seated

in the same position for more than four long hours with no form of exercise apart

from their tapping fingers on the keyboard. In addition to that, they are unable to rest

and relax their eyes and body which causes stiffness and soreness due to the lack of

movement. In the long run, this can cause chronic back problems. Moreover, there

are exceptional cases where gamers die due to over-excessive gaming. For

instance, according to Sabella R.A.(2010), on Aug 9, 2005 there was a report stating

that a South Korean man who played computer games for almost 50 hours non-stop

died due to heart failure. As a result, over-excessive gaming effects children physical

self and might even be life threatening.

Other than that, Norcia A. (2011) mentioned that there are facts that prove

violent games such as shooting games will corrupt the children’s brain with violence

which results in effecting the mentality of this child. They are unable to leave

emotional effects such as anxiety, depression and agitation after a game. As a

result, they bring their virtual gaming character into real life portraying themselves as

immortal gaming character because they are confused between fantasy and reality

was mentioned by Raise Smart Kids (n.d.). In other words, they tend to commit crime

or serious offence which harm both themselves and other innocent bystanders

thinking that they have ‘chances’ to restart their lives all over. For example, as said

by Coughlan S. (2014), if they are involved in violent games, in which they act out

the killing or mutilating on another human character, there is a probability where they

will involve themselves in crime such as shooting or terrorism when they feel

agitated or threatened. To further illustrate my point, a study by Argosy University's

Minnesota School on Professional Psychology found that computer game addicts

argue a lot with their teachers and fight a lot with their friends compared to others

who play video games less often. In short, computer game addicts bring their virtual

self into the realistic world which disrupts their daily activities.

Besides, it is known to many that gamers are antisocial as gaming is a type of

interaction between individuals through a screen which unfortunately involves zero

face to face conversation. During games, they will enter their virtual gaming realm

and shut down their realistic life which causes them to be more isolated from the

outside world. Generally speaking, The Dark Side of The Internet (n.d.) highlights

that the longer a child spends on computer games, the more that child is becoming

isolated from the rest of the world. This causes them to be ignorant to their

surroundings. In addition to that, as claimed by Bailey T. (n.d.), they are also

disconnected from their family and friends as they do not know how to communicate

with one another. As a result, these children are not equipped to handle social

behaviour and becomes socially awkward in public as well as relationships. In further

serious cases, there are hardcore gamers who only accept their own virtual lifestyle

and they start to reject realistic lifestyles. As proof, according to a Springer Link

research study, 40% of online computer game players play computer games as a

way to escape from the real world was suggested by Oconnor E. (n.d.). Furthermore,

Grabianowski E. (n.d.) highlighted that children gamers will participate less in social

gatherings, skips meetings with friends and avoids family members to get more

computer time. Thus, these children will slowly drift apart and lose contact with their

family as it is difficult for both parents and children to understand each other. Without

warning, they will get abandoned and left alone which will result in loneliness.

Maregesi E. (n.d.) once mentioned that computer addiction is not about what

an individual is doing with the computer but what the computer is doing to that

individual. There is no doubt that the society nowadays take computer aficionado

which is, in simpler words, computer addiction too lightly. We might be exposed to

news regarding negative gaming issues among children yet no one is taking the first

step in making a stop to this crisis. Parents should start prioritising between their

workload and children. They should also put their foot down to stop their children

from becoming computer game addicts before it is too late. This is a heavy

responsibility to be carried upon by every citizen especially parents in correcting

computer addicts to use technology in a beneficial way to improve themselves and

create a better future.

References

Bailey T. (n.d.). Gaming AddictionRetrieved Date: 27th April 2015Retrieved From: http://www.kidspluspgh.com/content.aspx?id=230&p=165 (pg2)

Christopher D. (2015). The Negative Effects of Video Game AddictionRetrieved Date: 27th April 2015Retrieved From: http://www.livestrong.com/article/278074-negative-effects-of-video-game-addiction/ (pg2)

Coughlan S. (2014). Violent Video Games Leave Teens ‘Morally Immature’Retrieved Date: 27th April 2015Retrieved From: http://www.bbc.com/news/education-26049333 (pg3)

Grabianowski E. (n.d.). How Computer Addiction WorksRetrieved Date: 27th April 2015Retrieved From: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/computer-addiction2.htm (pg1)

Maregesi E. (n.d.). Search QuotesRetrieved Date: 27th April 2015Retrieved From: http://www.searchquotes.com/quotation/Addiction_isn%27t_about_using_drugs._It%27s_about_what_the_drug_does_to_your_life./401176/ (pg1)

Norcia A. (2011). The Effects of Video Games on ChildrenRetrieved Date: 27th April 2015Retrieved From: http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Impact_Video_Games (pg2-3)

Oconnor E. (n.d.). Gaming Addiction StatisticsRetrieved Date: 27th April 2015Retrieved From: http://www.techaddiction.ca/gaming-addiction-statistics.html (pg3-4)

Percy C.S. (n.d.). The Two Cultures & A Second Look QuotesRetrieved Date: 27th April 2015Retrieved From: http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/365239-the-two-cultures (pg1)

Raise Smart Kids (n.d.). Positive and Negative Effects of Video GamesRetrieved Date: 27th April 2015Retrieved From: http://www.raisesmartkid.com/3-to-6-years-old/4-articles/34-the-good-and-bad-effects-of-video-games (pg10)

Sabella R.A. (2010). Negative Potential of Video GamesRetrieved Date: 27th April 2015Retrieved From: http://www.education.com/reference/article/negative-potential-video-games/ (pg4-5)

Unknown Author (n.d.). Alarming Video Game Addiction StatisticsRetrieved Date: 27th April 2015Retrieved From: http://www.addictions.com/video-games/alarming-video-game-addiction-statistics/ kjfghsjkd

Unknown Author (n.d.). Physical Consequences of Gaming AddictionRetrieved Date: 27th April 2015Retrieved From: http://www.video-game-addiction.org/physical-consequences.html (pg2)

Unknown Author (n.d.). The Dark Side of The InternetRetrieved Date: 27th April 2015Retrieved From: http://people.hamilton.edu/bhouse/DoWeEncourage/DoWeEncourage5.html (pg2-3)