Is video games a boon or a bane? With many articles telling the possible positive and negative effects of video games on teenagers, this question is surely worth introspecting. If you ask my opinion, I am against the motion. Firstly, addiction is the main problem cause by video game. Secondly, video games many lead to serious health problems. Lastly, negative effect on teens may be caused due to video games.

To begin with, addiction is a major problem cause by video game. I would like to quote a result of a survey conducted by CNBC ” an average teen having a video game spends about two to three hours playing it.” This time wasted in playing video games has an opportunity cost. This means we can utilize this time any where: playing any sports, reading books, doing homework or interacting with your parents. Video games not only results in wastage of time but also causes distraction in studies as teens will spend all the time playing the video game. Addiction towards video games will also lead to poor interaction with the family and also poor links with them.

Second video games may also cause critical health problems to the teen. The teen may become lazy by spending hours playing the video game. Eye sight problems may also be cause while playing video games in excess. Video games may also disturb the sleep of the teen guiding towards headaches and less concentration in studies. Some life-threatening health problems such as blood pressure, blood clots are also cause due to playing video games in excess. For example in July, a Taiwanese teenager was found dead after sitting for 40 hours playing video game. At the time, doctors speculated he died from a heart attack caused by a blood clot that formed during the long session.

Last but least, teens may be affected negatively due to playing video games. Several negative effects of video games, includes effects of violent video games on aggression-related variables. The Pew Research Center reported in 2008 that more than 90 percent of games rated as appropriate for children 10 years or older contained violence. Video game violence can significantly increase aggressive thoughts, emotions, and behavior over both the short term and the long term. Playing violent video games can prime aggressive thoughts and increase positive attitudes toward violence. For example a person was so much attracted towards negative role of batman, joker that he started firing in the cinema on the premier of batman returns.

As coins have two sides, playing video games may also be good. We shouldn’t deny the fact that the video games are good source of entertainment and has become a popular way to kill stress. It helps in improving hand eye co-ordination and reflexes. It helps us in reacting faster and reducing reaction time. Video games also help in improving decision making and also making strategy.

In conclusion, playing video games is a bad habit as it fills teens mind with aggressive thoughts. The teen may spend hours and hours playing video game resulting in poor performance in school and less overall parental involvement. Poor health could also be a result of playing video games in excess.