--Original published at Jayln's Perspective
Over the years, as technology has advanced, arcade-style video games have evolved into a highly violent style of gaming. Violent video games are a substantial facet of today’s culture because they have become apart of many adolescent’s schedules. For example, most teenagers, especially boys, come home from school and play hours of violent video games. It’s a source of stress relief after a long day of school, and for them, it seems to be a form of mindless entertainment. Although I do not necessarily think that violent video games should be banned, I feel as if this type of gaming should be restricted from young children until they can comprehend that there is a difference between gaming and real life. Until children are able to identify the value of human lives and that actions have consequences, they should not be allowed to sit in front of a screen and play countless hours of graphics games.
I believe that barbaric video games are desensitizing today’s youth. If a child is exposed to violence at a young age, even something as standard as a video game, it will negatively affect their view of the world. If children are constantly exposed to killing, then they will not recognize the horror of violence. Raising children on these types of games is counterproductive to society because it is producing a generation that is unphased by the violence that is occurring in other parts of the world. To young children who are unable to distinguish the difference between a video game and the real world, violence is just a part of everyday life. Although playing violent games does not necessarily mean a child will end up aggressive and desensitized, it still may give him or her an idea of what they can do to a classmate, parent, or teacher if they have an issue with them. I do not believe that violent video games should be banned because I think it comes down to the parent’s judgment on what their child is able to handle and at what specific age. When parents are contemplating whether or not they should buy their child a more graphic video game, they should consider their maturity level and if it will have a negative impact on their psychological development.