How video games affect college students

Gaming is a topic that has received massive attention because of the different opinions concerning the impact it causes to students. There is a common notion that asserts gaming is bad as it causes disruption in the schedule of students, thus serving as an obstacle that bars the core responsibilities to be undertaken. Nevertheless, there is little evidence to support the claim. On the other hand, students believe gaming has all the benefits and only the vulnerable tend to be adversely affected through gaming. Due to the debates and diversity in opinions, several custom essays have been prepared to address the same issue. This study covers the effects (both negative and positive) that gaming impacts on students.

A recent study was conducted by the Pew Research Center, and 27 institutions participated where a survey was conducted concerning the students gaming habits. 65% admitted that they play both online and video games regularly. The core attraction for gaming owed to social interaction. They claimed it was a way of hanging out with virtual friends instead of staying and doing nothing. Looking at it from this angle, gaming has a positive impact because through social interaction students get to learn new things, they learn to live better and prevents indulging into other activities such as clubbing or prostitution that could be worse.

Most students acknowledge that at times it is difficult to keep in touch with all friends, especially due to the difference in geographical locations. However, through gaming they play games together, and it feels like they are physically together. Therefore, it is an approach to make more friends as well as keep the existing ones.

According to research, 65% of the gamers assert that gaming does not take away time from friends and family. Consequently, it enhances cohesiveness because they play together with friends and family. Also, research shows that the number of hours spent by gamers studying per week matches the time spent by other general students. For this reason, gaming does not deter students from studying.

Gaming may have more benefits than non-benefits. Some of the students confess that they cannot do without gaming. It is one way to relax and goes beyond the norm. If studying occupies the larger percentage of one’s time, they cannot do it every minute of their lives. They need a break from the rut, which in this case gaming is a perfect activity. College students associate gaming with feelings like pleasant, exciting and challenging. The challenging bit makes us aware that gaming keeps the students brain active and thinking, which is healthy for the brain. Very few students report feeling bored, frustrated or stressed when gaming. From this, it should be implemented into the curriculum in colleges due to the many positive feedback and the reliability to students.

On the other hand, extreme gaming has severe consequences on academics. However, it does not mean that due to the addiction, gaming is bad for the society. It is not gaming that prevents students to keep focus but the lack of self-control and lack of time management. Only the vulnerable that allow gaming to overrule their lives leading to the few incidences of addiction.

In conclusion, it is evident that through research and students responses, gaming is beneficial. For this reason, rather than blaming the games to be a cause of student’s failure, it is time colleges started to teach students on how to cope and balance both studies and gaming. This will be a channel to more productiveness.