Youth, Violence, and Video Games

Our world is powered by technology. From phones to computers to video game systems, people are always using technology. So it only makes sense that video games are one of the leading forms of entertainment of all ages. But as blatant violence becomes more acceptable and graphics become more realistic, the video games themselves can start to hit a little to close to home.

There are thousands of games that portray a very realistic violence such as Halo, Call of Duty, and the very controversial, Grand Theft Auto. But is the violence and supposed morals learned from these games become an issue with the youth that plays them? Are games like these really the cause for the raise in youth crimes?

There have been many studies done on whether or not violent video games really increase violence in a person. The studies show that there is a slight increase in violence in people who play video games, but there is also an increase in their level of confidence in being able to defend themselves in a fight. And although there is an increase in violent tendencies in people who play violent video games, they do not directly relate it to a higher crime rate.

There is violence everywhere we look. On the news, in movies, video games, even just in our everyday lives. We can't hide from it. But I think that if you were to look at a child's face as they "killed" their friend in a video game, or even someone they didn't know, I believe that it would not be even close to the same as if it was really happening, as if they were actually watching someone die, whether they knew them or not. I believe that just because someone enjoys violent video games does not necessarily make them more violent in person. I think that although some games do push the limit of what is morally acceptable, such as Grand Theft Auto, that overall violent video games are not the problem.