Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ID: 0322548
Module: English 1 [ELG30505]
Session: January, 2015
1 Nowadays many people have access to computers on a wide basis and a large number of children play computer games for
long hours on a regular basis. What do you think are the causes or effects of this condition? Plan your response, and then
write a cause or effect essay.
Parents unaware
of game ratings
Curiosity of a child
Having problems
with violent and
aggressive behavior
Repeated practice
of violence in game
Getting addicted to
computer games
Back problems
Reduce
sleep time
Late-night
computer sessions
poor body
positioning
Near-sightedness
Competitive
Difficulty
concentrating
Depression of
their immune
system
Drowsiness
Vision problems
Eye strain
brother says that maybe he shouldn't play it but he can watch him play and feel like a loser. The child will then find a way to play and
master it just because he is competitive and wants to surpass his older brother in order to not feel like a loser. To do so, he has to
spend a great amount of time and give up on more important things than it such as doing his homework, socializing and attend classes.
Eventually, he will get addicted to it and playing computer games is all he does. In a research done by Gentile, Lynch, Linder & Walsh
(2004, p.6) states that "adolescent girls played video games for an average of 5 hours a week whereas boys averaged 13 hours a
week". This shows that children nowadays spent long hours playing computer games and are addicted to it.
Last but not least, spending long hours on computers cause health problems. Even though the Health Physics Society research shows
that there are no radiation-related health risks linked to computers and monitors, the screen brightness level and the time length that
children spend focusing on the computer monitor leads to eye strain. Optometrist Gary Heiting warns parents that prolonged gaming
play in front of a monitor may cause computer vision syndrome, a condition that can result in progressive nearsightedness. Sitting in
front of a computer for long hours can create back problems from poor body positioning or from the position of the computer and
screen. Late-night computer sessions reduce sleep time and cause concentration difficulties, drowsiness and weakened immune
system. Children spending long periods on a computer are definitely not having any meaningful exercise. Therefore, computer addiction
indirectly leads to obesity and poor overall physical condition.
In conclusion, wide basis access to computers and a great amount of children play computer games for long hours regularly causes numerous
negative effects to our lives such as having problems with aggressive and violent behavior, getting addicted to computer games and
causing health problems. The cost of children losing out on their homework and physical exercise, as well as them becoming prone to
violent acts, is too much. It is important that the educators and the parents treat this problem with great measures. Parents may enforce
certain rules and regulations that allow children to responsibly divide their time between handling their responsibilities as a student and
a child and playing computer games.
References
Andrea Norcia, M. (2014, June 1). The Impact of Video Games. Retrieved April 27, 2015, from http://www.pamf.org/parentingteens/general/media-web/videogames.html
Anonymous. (n.d.) Sample Cause and Effect Essay on Video Games Influence of Children. Retrieved April 27, 2015, from
http://www.tailoredessays.com/samples/video-games-affect-children-essay.htm
B.A.M, B. (n.d.). 5 Reasons Kids Play Violent Video Games. Retrieved April 28, 2015, from http://www.cracked.com/funny-7957-5reasons-kids-play-violent-video-games/
Grabianowski, E. (n.d.). Computer Addiction Effects - HowStuffWorks. Retrieved April 27, 2015, from
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/computer-addiction2.htm
Grayson, L. (2014, March 13). Does Playing Computer Games Negatively Affect Children? Retrieved April 27, 2015, from
http://www.livestrong.com/article/48504-negative-effects-computer-games-children/
Norcia, A. (2011, February 18). The Effect of Video Games on Children. Retrieved April 27, 2015, from
http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Impact_Video_Games/