Video Games from Boys to Men
Video Games from Boys to Men
Adult gaming isn't great, but maybe childhood gaming is?
Video games and adult men aren’t a good mix, argues Brad East. If you disagree, he invites you to make your case.
Public discourse about video games often focuses on the negative aspects of video games—using words like “addictive” and “antisocial.”
East notes a difference between teenage girls’ engagement with social media and teenage boys' engagement with video games. While social media can have negative effects on girls' well-being, video games for boys tend to have neutral or positive effects—that is, if they engage in a diverse range of activities and have a healthy home life.
East reflects on his own experience and the observations of his friends and children. Gaming can be a social experience, East argues, that fosters relationships and does not necessarily lead to isolation.
The key factor is setting limits on gaming time, ensuring that it does not consume one's entire life and prevent engagement in other activities.
East questions what role video games should play in the lives of adult men in the future. He prefers minimal gaming, seeing it as potentially detrimental but acknowledges his bias as a non-gamer.