These clichés you should forget about video games

Video games can have a big influence on young people, which is a controversial subject on which everyone seems to have an opinion. We have to say though, that when looking at gamers, you might find things that don’t seem normal. That is why they are often criticized for the kind of games they play and the time they spend on them. But contrary to popular belief, gaming is not as bad as the reputation it has been given. Some misunderstandings about the culture of video games have indeed gone too far, and it is time to correct them.

It encourages violent behavior 

One of the most popular stereotypes about video games is that they encourage violence and aggressive behavior in children or older players. Most popular games, such as Call of Duty or Fortnite are indeed based on weapons and violence, so many people assume that this also leads to violence, especially in children. However, numerous studies have proven that there is no correlation between playing video games and developing aggressive behavior. In fact, the 2020 digital report showed that gaming reduced anxiety in 20% of gamers and increased their social contacts. 

A masculine community 

Another misconception is that boys play video games more than girls. However, research has shown that one in two gamers in the US is actually female. Dr Anthony Beam, a psychiatrist, told Brut that about half of his clients are women who play video games. The same Australian report also confirmed that 47% of Australian gamers were girls. However, the psychiatrist explained this arguing that there is still a marked inequality online, and that girls often feel ignored. 

Gamers are antisocial

When you see someone playing on their computer all day, you might think they have no social life, but you couldn’t be further from the truth. Indeed, the gamer community is huge and they have great connections. Video games are no longer a solo activity thanks to the internet, so you can connect with people around the world and talk to them. And that goes beyond talking about gaming, you can also talk about your life. There are great friendships that have been made through that, and just because you don’t see the other doesn’t mean the friendship isn’t real. 

Video games don’t give you real skills

Parents are often quick to criticize video games, arguing that it won’t help their child build real skills in their life. But now, with the rise of educational video games and apps, they couldn’t be more wrong. Research has proven that games can help stimulate a young mind and teach them a lot about rules. They also revealed that video games can help memory and concentration, which means it does not only help children but also adults to redefine their skills.