The Negative Effects of Video Games (Parent Guide)

Like most hobbies, playing videos games can be safe in moderation. However, younger students who have not yet developed the ability to self-regulate their behavior need guidance and support to develop those skills. With so many video games out there, it’s hard for parents to regulate who their kids are talking to online and what they are seeing online. We asked some experts about the dangers of video gaming and what parents can do to help keep their kids safe.

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Topics covered in this Parent Safety Guide:

The negative impact video games can have on students
Red flags to look out for
What to do if your child is spending too much time playing video games
How to set limitations
Prevention tips
Topics to help start a dialog

The negative effects of video games on students

A Canadian study from McGill University shows that human-computer interactions, such as playing video games, can have a negative impact on the brain.

Some negative effects of videos games are:

Noticeable changes to behavior
Ignoring or not prioritizing responsibilities or interests over game time
Continuing to play games despite the negative impact it may have
Difficulty sleeping or changes in sleep patterns
Declining grades or difficulty in school
Can lead to social isolation
Poor time management skills

Why should parents care?

Some parents believe that their kids are safe online if they don’t have social media. However, if they play video games they are still at risk
You may think you’re aware of your child’s game play, but if they’re wearing a headset and playing in multiplayer mode, they are a million miles away
When your kid is playing video games in multiplayer mode they’re talking to people you don’t know. They’re talking to people who do not love your child as much as you do
Too much game time can have a negative impact on your student’s health

The Negative Effects of Video Games in the News

We don’t need research to see the negative impact of gaming in some people’s lives. Many of us see it in our families, where young kids might isolate themselves at the expense of almost everything else life has to offer. Gaming by design – like social media – preys on some of the same thinking we see in young people with substance use disorder: fatalism, impulsivity and the desire for instant gratification — and much more so than in the past. –Daily Herald

Schools warn parents of ‘negative effects’ of video game on students. Several Australian schools have issued advice to parents about potential for bullying or abuse. –The Guardian

It’s quite possible that excessive time spent playing games — as with any hobby — may be unhealthy or a sign that someone is struggling. –Business Insider

Criminals are making virtual connections with children through gaming and social media platforms. One popular site warns visitors, “Please be careful.” —New York Times

Gaming disorder is considered a mental health condition

In 2018, the World Health Organization officially began recognizing gaming disorder as a mental health condition
The Internal Classification of Diseases is the foundation for identifying health trends and statistics worldwide
In the latest edition of its Internal Classification of Diseases, the World Health Organization officially recognized gaming disorder

What are gaming disorder warning signs?

According to World Health Organization, there are 3 signs that someone might be struggling with gaming disorder:

Impaired control over gaming (e.g. onset, frequency, intensity, duration, termination, context)
Increasing priority given to gaming to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other life interests and daily activities
Continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences

What are some red flags parents need to look out for?

According to Dr. Mike Bishop, tech addiction expert, these red flags indicate that your child is struggling with screen time and gaming:

Short tempers that are aggravated by screen time. If your kids are playing video games, you can sometimes see them getting frustrated at the game. Watch out for a quick temper and see if the game has got control over their mood.
Kids are not able to self-soothe when they’re playing video games. This translates into the next point, which is having problems going to sleep or waking up in the morning.
Having access to a device every night. If we let our kids use devices without limits set, without some rules and structure, they’re going to take their devices to bed with them and they’re going to be up at night browsing social media or playing games. Research says, allowing your child to have a TV or device in their room unchecked at night results in less sleep and having a harder time waking up in the morning.
Passing up face-to-face activities for screen time activities. Another major red flag is when you see your child passing up normal opportunities for socialization or outside play.
There’s a lot of social learning that goes on with neighborhood pickup games (basketball, baseball, etc). If a child’s only interactions are through screen activities, they’re missing out on a ton of social learning opportunities.

What can parents do?

Before giving your student access to a new game, ask them to explain why they want to play it. Then, spend some time playing the game on your own and decide if it is safe for your family to play
Know that your child has perhaps already played it at their friend’s house
Schedule game time and set time limits beforehand
Teach your children that video games are only to be played in moderation (and, best of all, as a family)
Challenge your student to find offline activities they enjoy and can add to their resume
Have an open dialog about video games with your children. Consider talking about the dangers of playing with strangers, sharing personal information in chats, graphic video game content, and bullying behavior
Having these discussions with your children will help them understand why game time guidelines are set and can encourage them to self-regulate their behavior
Model positive screen time behaviors around your children
Always supervise game time (and play with them, if possible)
Talk to your students about what can happen if they conduct themselves in a certain way, or are in contact with certain people, or are looking at certain content during game time
Consider requiring household tasks be done to earn game time

What Some Experts Say About Video Games

Melissa Corkum, Parent and Wellness Coach

I’m a parent coach and TV talk show host who recently interviewed my gaming husband about kids and video games. We focused on how video games can be used positively to increase critical thinking skills and how kids who seem addicted to video games aren’t actually lazy…quite the opposite.

If parents feel the need to curb video game time, they should look for opportunities for their child to have adventure and purpose. A lot of games are about conquering something, so we, as parents, need to find ways to challenge our kids in real life outside of screens. Our kids need the hit of dopamine that video gaming can provide. You can watch the short episode here.

Will Bond, Education Writer

When considering the dangers of video games, it’s always important to note that it isn’t as binary as either being good or bad. Gaming is a very broad topic that can encompass several worrying aspects that may harm a child’s development; however, these can also be mitigated, while other areas offer opportunities that can in fact benefit children’s growth. As for the harmful effects of gaming, it should be known that video game addiction is a very real concern parents should have when allowing kids to play games for unrestricted amounts of time. However, with the right oversight, this issue can be reliably averted. Likewise, many modern games contain systems similar to that of gambling. ‘Loot boxes’ or ‘packs’ are common terms for in-game items that offer a reward of variable value based purely on luck. Worse still is that these items can often be paid for using real money. Parents should be particularly aware of popular games that include these features and ensure that their child understands the dangers of gambling, how it exists in their games and that real money shouldn’t be spent on purchasing luck-based items.

In contrast to these downsides though, video games can also be a source of education, a platform for healthy socializing and simply a very engaging piece of entertainment that can reduce stress. There are many excellent educational games out there that balance the fun interactivity of gaming whilst being safe and educational. Video games aren’t necessarily bad, it’s about monitoring play and ensuring that only the right games are played.

Holly Zink, Tech Expert and Writer

While playing video games in moderation is unlikely to have any negative effects on your child, the same cannot be said for those who play excessively. Video game addiction is a real disorder, and affects many teenagers and young children. This disorder can have severe developmental effects, especially on a young child. Bouts of depression, social anxiety, mood swings and loss of interest in other activities are all signs that your child may have a gaming addiction.

If you suspect that your child may be spending too much time playing video games, the best thing you can do is set limits on their playing time. Some video games (especially those targeted at children) come with parental settings that allow you to set a maximum number of hours your child can play the game. Once their allotted time has run out, they will be unable to access the game until the next day. If your child plays a game that doesn’t have these parental settings, you can always practice the same method by taking away their electronics after a certain amount of time each day.

Erica Wiles, Licensed Professional Counselor and Writer

Some negative effects of video games on tweens and teens are:

A disproportionate amount of time spent on game play
Loss of sleep
Sedentary lifestyle and possible poor physical health (e.g. obesity)
Sacrifice of social relationships (e.g. family and friends)
Irritability, negative mood and poor emotion regulation
Desensitization to violence

While you can always work to monitor what games you allow in your household and how long you allow your child to play, one of the more unique approaches to managing game play is trying to connect with your child over the game (this may be easier with younger children but is definitely worth a go with older teens).

Show an interest in what interests your child. Sit with your child while he/she plays the game. Ask for explanations of what is going on within the game. Ask to learn more about the object of the game. You do not have to actively engage the whole time, but be in the room. This may seem boring and your child may seem annoyed or ignore you, but it is not necessarily a waste of time. You are showing your child that you are: a) interested in spending time with them, b) actively trying to learn about activities and subjects that interest them, c) you are present and available for them.

Lou Sabina, Professor at Stetson University

I would argue that the largest negative effect is developing an addiction to gaming that can distract from academics and even from children being able to form social relationships with others. Although we are in an exciting time where there are more opportunities to build relationships through gaming due to increased online connectivity within gaming platforms, there is still something to be said from face-to-face interactions that are lost when children spend too much time playing games. I also think it’s important to note now that many games and online gaming platforms have “events” now where a gamer “must complete a certain objective by Sunday at 11:59 PM Eastern Time (for example) to receive a certain item within the game” and if they don’t complete the task, they never have the opportunity to receive that item again. I think this is one of the out-of-the-box things that has changed gaming over the last 5 years that has led to more and more teens staying up at all hours of the evening just to make sure they get a certain item or reward. This is classic extrinsic motivation, however, it can detract from sleep, social opportunities, and other hobbies.

I don’t necessarily agree that gaming should be used by parents as a reward. There have been many articles on gaming that include parents monitoring the time that children spend, and limiting it to “one hour a day” or something of that nature, the problem with that is, when these children become 18, move to college, they aren’t going to have that restriction placed on them, and I would argue that is going to have a more detrimental impact on them with college performance. Parents should take the time to learn about the games that their children are playing, take an active interest in their gaming hobbies, but be present in their lives to show them there is a life outside of video games. It can be a hobby (it’s a great hobby), but it shouldn’t be the do all and end all in a child’s life.

Conclusion

Whether you’re worried about addiction, online predators, or the violent nature of some of these games, the best way to keep your kids safe is to talk to them about the dangers of video games. We want students to be safe and shine online, which is why we think parents should monitor their kids gaming habits and help them understand ways to be safe when playing. Let your kids know they can have fun online without talking to strangers. Help them establish routines, encourage them to do things outside and with friends. Video games are fine in moderation, but they should be one of the many activities your kids do throughout the day.