For many years children have been playing a large variety of different video games. The potential influence of violence in video games has remained a concern for many parents. Today video games of all age classifications are available and simply accessible in many forms to minors of all ages; video games can now be downloaded, played online or accessed through apps. The technology now being employed for games are very sophisticated and advanced such as virtual reality, gaming laptops and gaming consoles etc., which inspires and encourages minors to play more and purchase more games. Unfortunately, many video games in today’s society have evolved into very inappropriate content which contains violent behaviour, use of weapons, use of drugs and sexual content which is all negatively effecting minors around the world. These negative effects include bullying, cyberbullying, fighting, violence, aggressive behaviour and disrespectful actions. Many video games today simulate Violent actions like murdering, stabbing, shooting or dismembering people with the selection of many different weapons and tools. Many minors play these games for several hours or maybe even days, the simulations of those violent acts enhance the capability and potential of learning violence and promotes aggressive behaviour in children. This essay will argue that violent video games should be restricted material to people aged over 18, access should be banned from minors and appropriate classification levels and training should be regulated within stores of sale.
Some individuals object to this as they believe it will promote and improve a child’s understanding of computer literacy, enhancement of motor skills and self defense that will be beneficial for a child’s growth, this essay will argue and oppose this opinion.
There is plenty of evidence and well known violent crime cases which are linked to the youth who have become inspired by violent video games to commit vile and heinous acts.
Two youths named Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold committed mass murder at Columbine High School on the 20th April 1999. They entered the High school and opened fire killing 12 students and one teacher before turning their guns and shooting themselves. After the extremely distressing incident had happened people wanted answers, people wanted to know why they committed a awfully heinous act. It had been believed the two boys were affected and inspired by the video game 'DOOM'. They were both big fans of the video game and played it very regularly, Eric Harris was believed to be using it for a school project in creative writing, He had created his version of the game and his levels and posted it online for others to see. It was believed the levels had been named ‘The Harris Level’ after the massacre occurred.
There is always concern about children gaining access to a range of inappropriate material on the Internet. Internet regulation or parental control should be put in place while children have access to devices and the internet. It is believed material such as pornographic content and material containing detailed violence, crime and drug use is easily available to children and minors of many different ages. Parental control should be involved and will provide the safe and appropriate use of the internet and technology, parental control should be taken seriously and maintained regularly by parents and guardians to protect children from exposure to vile information and content. Parental control and monitoring online activity will very much benefit a child’s safety from the malicious and dangerous activity content, online predators through online games and chat forums, stalking and exposure to other illicit material. Parental controls are available in most devices and gaming consoles, a specific amount of time per day for the utilization of the device with game playing and web surfing can be set up through the controls.
Bullying is a growing concern for so many children globally. Bullying is a form of cruel harassment that ranges from threats, verbal, physical and cyber. It is a desire to hurt, intimidate or scare someone. Bullying affects not only the victimised people but those involved in the victim's lives; such as parents, siblings and friends. Bullying is widespread and can be commonly found at schools and workplaces. Violent video games contribute to anti-social behaviour in minors which can result to aggression, cyberbullying and physical bullying. Emotional abuse, violent threats and cyberbullying are common through online gaming chat forums which can also lead to physical bullying at school if peers happened to have been involved in the forums. Young people are more susceptible to seeing certain characters in games as role models and something ‘cool’ or ‘badass’, which they would like to be like and will attempt to present their attitudes to be that of the character they favour.
An anti-bullying charity survey through BBC had been carried out in May 2017, the survey has found that 57% of the young people which they had interviewed had their own experience with online bullying while playing games. A 16-year-old boy named Bailey Mitchell had told the BBC he has had his own experience with bullies online since he was the age of 10. Mr Mitchell said, 'If you’re going to school on a daily basis dealing with bullies there, you would want to go home to your computer to flee from it'. “If you're getting more forms of abuse thrown at you, it will be off-putting to do anything social”. He also said, “it is very common to always have another player within the game with a microphone or in chat to mention or say something abusive to you”. The report found 47% of gamers which they had surveyed said they have experienced online threats while playing and 74% said the online bullying issue needs to be addressed and taken more seriously.
In conclusion, violent video games do have a very negative and harmful effect on minors and children as stated above, these games should be restricted content to people 18 and over only. Parental control or supervision should always be put to use and maintained to limit and monitor activity. Parents should also strictly follow the classifications and age ratings which will assist in selecting a suitable and appropriate video game. The large number of minors and children who play video games today have the potential to become addicted due to how advanced technology is and how sophisticated and realistic games are today. Addiction to violent games is a very big and growing concern, as there will always be the potential development of anti-social and aggressive behaviour which will put many people or the minor him/herself in danger as the detailed acts of killing, use of illegal substance, aggressive behaviour, stalking and use of weapons are watched which could be inspirational or encouraging one day.