Disadvantages and benefits of electronic games

What are the disadvantages of electronic games? 

The following is a breakdown of the main harms of electronic games:

health problems

There are many health problems resulting from addiction to electronic games, including the following:

• Exposure to excessive stress, especially in games that require the use of hands and arms constantly, which causes inflammation in tendons and muscles such as; Carpal tunnel syndrome, as well as tenosynovitis (trigger finger) and other injuries.
• Negatively affecting the eye, leading to vision problems such as; Headache, poor concentration.
• The possibility of developing some psychological problems related to addiction to electronic games, such as IGD syndrome; It is Internet gaming disorder syndrome.
• Causing lack of sleep and insomnia, which causes many damages.
• Limiting the fun to playing electronic games; This is because the brain releases more dopamine every time to get used to feeling the joy of playing only, which leads to addiction.
• Exposure to weight gain resulting from playing for long hours continuously.

Wasted time and energy

Gamers spend a lot of time playing, as many computer games require a large commitment of time to complete, which leads players to give up essential activities in their lives; In order to complete their favorite games and win in its different stages. There are many games that need regular participation from the player in order to avoid losing in them, which causes addiction for some players, and wastes a lot of time that could have been spent on a useful hobby.

mental disorders

Some people are affected by the violent content included in some electronic games, which negatively affects the players, so their behavior tends to be aggressive and violent in reality, or some people get frustrated and turbulent as a result of what they see a lot on the screen of violent and aggressive behavior.

There are many other psychological disorders resulting from addiction to electronic games, including:

• Excessive attachment in playing electronic games is a reason to escape from the many problems that occur to a person, so continuing to play leads to discouragement and suppression of negative emotions such as sadness and fear felt by that person and the inability to face them as they should.
• It leads to introversion and low self-confidence, especially for children, which causes low self-esteem. Excessive use of electronic games increases the user's feelings of anxiety, depression, anger and violence.
• Addiction to playing electronic games causes a psychological condition called alexithymia. 
• This is when it is difficult for a person to fully know and identify their feelings and emotions.
• Addiction to electronic games generally affects a person's mental and psychological health.

Benefits of electronic games

Despite the many negatives of addiction to electronic games, it has many benefits, including the following:

Enhance problem solving skill

Some electronic games are brain training, which can greatly improve and develop cognitive abilities; This is because of stimulating the brain through the player's pursuit to reach more difficult levels, and to meet the challenges at each stage.

It is recommended to play electronic games three times a week for a period of twenty minutes only, and thus the person develops his cognitive abilities in an enjoyable way.

Enhance the skill of performing tasks

Playing electronic games in moderation is good at enhancing the efficient performance of daily tasks; This is through proper hand-eye coordination and the development of the ability to make quick decisions, in addition to improving the ability to focus and pay attention for as long as possible.

Reducing anxiety and depression

Playing electronic games in moderation helps; such as video games, to get rid of symptoms of anxiety and depression; It contributes to helping people start forming their social relationships, engaging well with society, and building bonds between individuals.

Electronic games also help people who come out of emotional shocks and other difficult circumstances to improve their general mood and ease of accepting society and communicating with others again with full energy and vitality.

Memory improvement

Electronic games contribute to improving memory, according to a study conducted by a team of neuroscientists at the University of California, playing 3D computer games can improve and develop memory work, and it also promotes the growth of neurons, after a memory test was conducted for two groups of people.

Where the first group played two-dimensional games for half an hour a day for two weeks, and the second group played three-dimensional games for half an hour a day for two weeks as well. Scientists noticed that the memory improved in the second group by 12%, while it did not improve for the first group. at all.