The continuous evolution of human life with the improvement of technology has infected several aspects of our lives, including entertainment. A concept that has been involved in the world since the integration of technology into our daily lives is video games. With teenagers being the most frequent users, we can say that there is a type of game out there for anyone, which can explain the recurring usage of games by everyone. However, we can still say that many who are not used to this culture are having a hard time understanding or approving of those who play video games. But with the variety of games and the mass usage of them, are video games just entertainment or a social issue?
The pandemic which effected the whole globe came with some consequences, one of which was a lockdown. People ran out of things to do, being indoors for a long time, so they needed something to distract them from the boredom. As humans acquire the need to socialize, they found a new way, online gaming, to both entertain themselves and socialize. Of course, online games didn’t “become a thing” during the lockdown, but there has been a significant increase in their usage and development during the pandemic. Then in 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) added “gaming” under the category “Disorders due to addictive behaviors” which also contains alcohol, drugs, gambling, etc. This raised a huge argument, plenty denying the decision made by WHO. However, there were quite a few people who found it sensible. Gaming is seen as a time waste for numerous people who are not familiar with the concept. And from their perspective, their reasoning seems quite logical: long hours of gaming can cause several health issues, if not controlled, gaming can be addictive, the web is hardly ever safe, you must always be careful when you play, especially if you are online and so on. All of these are true for online gaming. Additionally, gaming isn’t a traditional hobby like reading a book or doing sports, so these approaches can be understandable.
If we take a closer look at the lives of people who play video games, we can clearly see that games aren’t just a way of entertainment for them. It is a place where they can relax and have fun, but it is also where they get to socialize. Not only that, but gaming is a way to express oneself for countless. Whether it is developing games or playing them, it can be a comfort zone for people. There are also numberless types of games, from FPS and RPGs to even educational games. This also suggests that different types of games have different effects on people. For example, a famous TED talk given by Daphne Bavelier explains how fast-paced, mainly FPS, games can improve reflexive eyesight, or online games where you can communicate with a variety of people all over the world can improve your foreign language levels, creating an environment for you to use those skills.
Simply put, gaming is certainly not just a way for people to entertain themselves today. Even though there are dangers created by the phenomenon, if necessary measures are taken, you can definitely wind down while having fun gaming.
