Computer Games Addiction
Explores the hazards on young children of playing computer games.
According to the famous philosopher Heraclitus, in this world nothing is permanent, except change. Every second, millions of changes occur. Although most of these changes are insignificant some of them are too important to be left unnoticed by anyone.
The Twentieth Century saw a lot of changes for everyone. This period fostered the emergence of countless discoveries and inventions. But the most important of all these inventions is the computer. Feats which seemed to be impossible to achieve decades before its invention were achieved with great ease and precision, altering every person’s life. Life achieved a new definition. Even recreation underwent a great upheaval with the arrival of televisions, radios, movies and computer games.
If it is the wild spirit and unlimited imagination, which characterizes yesterday’s children, I believe computer games would be the trademark of today’s children. But how safe is playing computer games”
According to Dr. Philip Chua, playing computer games like any other human activity is safe, unless abused. But people must be cautioned that extreme addiction to computer games could lead to severe physical, social, and psychological problems.
Today, computers are already a necessity. In modernized countries, it is found in almost every household. However, there are strong evidences showing that computers, specifically computer games are very addictive, especially if one is expose to it at a very young age. Psychologists say that if children are exposed to computer games at a young age, they will tend to be attracted for more graphical and motional intensive games which eventually leads to violent computer games. There was even an incidence, which reported of a student missing from his class for days, only to be found in a room engaged in an uninterrupted playing of computer games. If a 16 year old, who is already mature enough to think of his own well-being gets addicted to computer games and forgets about his responsibilities, what is the probability that a 7 year old child won’t”
Studies have shown that excessive playing of computer games could lead to serious health problems. Although it is an enjoyable activity, too much playing computer is still considered to be very stressful. Listening to the loud sound effects of computer games and looking at the bright monitor screen for a prolonged period of time could even lead to hearing and visual impairment. It is also interesting to note that many computer addicts have bad posture, this is because most computer players gets carried away with the excitement that they forget to maintain a good posture.
Nowadays, we could notice more and more children are becoming obese. This is not only brought by fatty foods but also by lack of exercise. In the past, children receive their share of exercise through playing. Now, children would rather seat in the comforts of their home in front of their computers and television sets. Together with the intake of fatty foods, this could form into a time bomb waiting to explode in the form of a high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, stroke, etc. when the child gets older. However, a totally different thing happens to those who are overly addicted to computers. Instead of getting fat, they become thinner and suffer from malnutrition. They are too addicted to computers that they barely touch their food. [Dr. Philip Chua (online)]
It is a common fact that the computer screen emits a certain amount of radiation. Although scientists claimed that the amount of radiation emitted is too minimal to cause cancer. Yet, they could not discredit its possible long term effects. There are even possibilities that prolonged exposure to such kinds of radiation could cause genetic mutations, and other problems of the like. Studies also show that too much playing of computer games halts brain development, which eventually leads to brain damage.
Lately, psychologists have related children’s addiction to computers to a decrease in their social activities. In the past, children finds it easy to socialize with other children and meet new friends. This is a very important natural process in their growth. Unfortunately, the emergence of computer gaming makes children of today prefer to be alone than to be with friends. This encourage within them the feeling of shyness and the development of aggressiveness and an anti-social behavior.
It is important to note that most of our knowledge comes from everyday experiences. However, if a child is deprived of these experiences, just by seating in front of a computer. It would be very hard to predict how that child would grow up and survive in our society. That is why some experts said that computer games could lead to the dehumanization of its player. We all know that humans are considered to be the highest form of all animals, or also known as the social animal. Yet, if man no longer socializes, how could one be called a human at all”
Lastly, playing computer games leads to psychological problems. Since everything in computers is just a click of a mouse away, one who is used to this kind of speed may develop abnormal intolerance to the “normal” human pace. Very young children begin to expect “instant” responses to “everything they demand,” like the computer responds to their every finger click. In short children become too impatient. For them, life is empty without computers. This impression about could lead to a terrible bout of depression and eventually leads to psychological imbalance. [Dr. Philip Chua (online)]
Another danger of too much computer is that children might put themselves in the shoes of their heroes. Although there is nothing quite wrong about it, the real danger starts when children get too carried away. This might lead to extreme daydreaming hampering their abilities to think clearly, learn and perform well in school.
Unlike movies and television shows, which are regulated by a regulatory board and parental guidance, computer games are open even to the very young children. And most of the time, parents don’t even know the contents of their children’s favorite computer games. There are some games, which are too violent and are not appropriate for a child at a very young age. Unregulated and without the proper guidance, this would eventually lead to violence in children.
A good example of which occurred in our own country two to three years ago. I could no longer remember clearly my source nor the specific details of the news, all that I could remember was that a boy killed his friend using his father’s gun. It didn’t came as a surprise to me to learn that he was an addict of the popular computer game counterstrike.
Indeed, extreme addiction to playing computer games causes a lot of problems. That is why parents should supervise their children from time to time, preventing them from falling into a complete addiction. Yet, let us also remember that too much of water is also bad for our health. As the saying goes, anything in excess is bad. Computer games is never bad, it depends on its players. It depends if we allow computer games to rule our lives or allow ourselves simply to enjoy computer games as it is.