Everybody has heard that video games are bad for young people and that they can cause violent behaviour, not to mention a whole multitude of other problems, such as an addiction. However, with the country in a rigid lock down and video games being played more than ever, could it be possible that they are actually good for you and your health?
With many people feeling the stress of the corona virus pandemic, playing video games could be the perfect distraction. For those who are no longer able to work and are finding themselves with no way to fill the hours, video games could be especially useful as many can last for several hours at a time and combine a good amount of exciting action and decision making. These qualities are great for curing boredom, but can also be good for personal development as it can help improve strategy and decision making.
Moreover, now that we can no longer meet up with our friends physically, video games could be a good way of staying connected, whilst staying apart. Because video games are often a stimulation of reality, and can be played with many friends, they can be a good way of communicating and having fun.
This idea is even supported by the World Health Organisation: on the 28th March 2020 Ray Chambers (WHO ambassador for global strategy) stated in a tweet that, “We’re at a crucial moment in defining outcomes of this pandemic. Games industry companies have a global audience – we encourage all to #PlayApartTogether. More physical distancing + other measures will help to flatten the curve + save lives..” The World Heath Organisation has teamed up with many different gaming companies such as Amazon Appstore, Big Fish Games and Twitch to launch a campaign called “play apart together,” which encourages people to practice social distancing and follow the advice given by the World Health Organisation.
By Jasmine Hadouka-Taylor
