Should we ban video games for children?

In the Middle East and Africa, there were a whopping 377-million video gamers active
during 2020 (Statista). As we know, almost every home is equipped with computers,
games consoles and devices. Whilst these devices allow children access to a wide range
of technology to enhance their education, they also present a potentially harmful risk:
gaming. Why do some people argue that gaming should be banned?

The first reason that video games should be banned is their addictive nature. A survey
by ParentsME (an independent research group) found that an enormous 63% of parents
believe that their children are obsessive about gaming. Gaming disorder is now an official disease – classified by the
WHO (World Health Organization). Game designers intentionally develop strategies to encourage increased player time
thus causing addiction: multiple levels with exciting music and graphics motivate the player to keep progressing through
the game. Children are particularly sensitive to this type of stimulation and will become addicted to ‘reaching the next
level’. Consequently, many children choose to spend hours at a time sitting in front of their screens: zapping aliens,
blasting gory monsters or driving vehicles along circuits at ever-greater speeds. On the other hand, if video games were
banned then educational computer games, which can greatly improve a child’s learning in strategic thinking, and problem
solving, would also be impacted. Do these benefits outweigh the risks?

Another risk of video games is to children’s physical health. When children spend
extended periods in front of screen, their physical activity levels are significantly
reduced. This reduction will significantly increase the risk of obesity (which
increases risk of heart disease, diabetes and many others). In addition, gaming can
cause continuous strain injuries, skin disorders and other health issues. Other
problems according to include a condition that could be termed video game-
provoked seizures in patients with pre-existing epilepsy. If children are plagued
with these diseases as a result of their video game habit, there will inevitably be
long term consequences on society as a whole. These impacts can be prevented by
banning video games. Many people would argue that these are extreme
consequences and the positive impact of technology and gaming would be banned too.

Video games will cause children to spend more and more time isolated and
alone: reducing their social interaction. This will negatively impact their
communication skills. It has also been suggested that children become so
involved in the virtual reality of their games that they find it impossible to
distinguish reality from the world shown. This results in a loss of moral values:
it becomes heroic to chop bits off your enemies; it feels exciting to machine gun
whole armies; and it even feels good to watch someone’s limbs fly off, as
explosions go off just by tapping the keyboard. Will this violence be evident in
the children’s actions in their everyday lives? Whilst others may say that these
games release an urge which can be safely limited to the screen; can this safety
be guaranteed?

In summary, excessive video game use can be damaging to children’s health and development. However it can certainly
be argued that games chosen carefully and with their usage monitored are beneficial for children to learn. There is no
doubt that some of the games on the market can be detrimental to children and can cause serious damage to the body and
mind. Should these types of games, perhaps, be banned altogether or should there be stricter rules to avoid overuse and
addiction?