Online video games refer to computer games that are played using the Internet and/or some kind of computer network. An online game is either entirely or partly played over the Internet, either individually or with several other players. Many of them are multiplayer games that feature a great deal of interaction between players. A lot of people today spend hours playing these online games. Some of the most popular online games include: Age of Empires, Always On Top, Flight Simulator, etc. Click here for more information.
In this paper we will discuss some of the issues concerning online video games and their influence on educational, emotional and psychological processes. We shall examine whether there are any significant relationships between playing these games and various aspects of children’s lives, as well as their subsequent behavior. Our aim is to contribute to the growing body of research on the relationship between these media and children’s well-being.
The first issue that comes to mind when one considers the possible effects of playing online games is the possibility of excessive engagement in gaming. Children who are constantly exposed to this type of stimulation are going to be incredibly hyperactive and possibly unstable. They are also going to have a hard time with non-stop routine tasks. It is important to remember that although online games can be extremely stimulating, they are still designed to be engaging, so children who are going online to play these video games are generally very capable of paying attention to their surroundings.
Children who play video games also seem to develop fewer social skills than their peers. A recent study demonstrated that those who played online games were less social than their non-playing peers. Yet there is no direct evidence linking playing these games with lower self-esteem or a lower interest in friendships. It seems to be more likely that children who go online gaming are simply not interested in forming any real relationships. However, it is still important to bear this thought in mind because there is absolutely no reason why a child should not be spending a lot of quality family time online, given that it is something that both parents and children can do together.
Communication Research has shown that those who are involved in internet games tend to be more lonely than those who are not. lonely kids are going to be lonely adults. There is absolutely no reason to believe that online games can make your child any more outgoing or socially adept than they would be if they spent their time in real environments. As the online gaming research suggests, the main benefits of playing video games is the communication involved, and that can only be beneficial if the game involves realistic interaction.
The same research also demonstrates that girls tend to be friendlier and more open towards friendships on the internet than their male counterparts. The most popular online girl games involve fashion and shopping and show that girls are interested in creating relationships in this virtual world. Boys spend more time communicating with other boys in real life, so why are they not forming these relationships in video games? Online video games give young men and young women the ability to play together and form lasting friendships.