Few people feel concerned about the risks associated with video gaming. The problem is that there are a multitude of risks associated with these, and if the user is not controlled, one can quickly fall into traps.
This trick, aims to raise awareness among players who from what I have seen in the forum are many to ask this question: Is video gaming dangerous?
These various risks associated with video games
Addictive risk
The major risk with electronics gaming, in general, is to become addicted. It happens more easily and faster than you think and often you don’t realize it. Addiction to video games is an addiction in the same way as any other addiction (drugs, alcohol, tobacco, gambling, etc.). Becoming addicted has a huge impact on personality, physical and mental health as well as social relationships. So you have to be very careful and have a lot of perspective on video games.
The main symptoms of video game addiction (source: IFAC) are:
- An important time spent in these practices and above all a time taken at the expense of other activities necessary for balance such as social, friendly and family relations (e.g. Isolation at home),
- An inability to control that time and reduce your playing time,
- Impacts on school or professional work,
- Impacts on food balance or sleep,
- Psychic suffering attached to the use of different types of electronic gadgets: sadness, anxiety, aggression, reduction of discomfort.
If you have one or more of these symptoms, it’s time to ask questions. In cases where self-regulation is not possible, an addictologist or psychiatrist should be consulted urgently. You can also start by talking about it on some online psychology forums and focus groups.
The risks of online modes
As everywhere on the internet we meet all types of people. The danger is there if one is influential. Some gaming platforms that function as social networks (Original, Steam, Uplay, etc.) can quickly be trapped.
Financial risks
It is less often talked about, but yet the risk is very present and joins that of addiction. With the resurgence of Pay2Win (literally pay to win) we are quickly trying to spend small sums (or even big ones) in order to progress in the game. This risk is obviously increased with “free” games.
Beware, however, this risk is just as valid for paid games, even blockbusters, which offer very expensive DLCs. I take SIMS as an example, the number of DLCs is maddening and each of them is offered at a crazy price.
How can you avoid falling into these traps?
- First of all, you have to know how to regulate yourself. It starts by regulating the time you spend playing but especially the number of consecutive hours. It is advisable to take at least a 15-minute break every hour,
- We have to keep a step back from the world of electronic gaming,
- We must keep some distance from our consumption of electronic gadgets, and also from computer gaming in general,
- For minors, respecting the codifications put in place by PEGI is paramount, even if you are convinced that “it’s good is nothing”; in reality, it affects your mentality and your behavior.
Kick Scooters – the big game-changer
Experts suggest that in order to limit yourself from electronics gaming and getting addicted, other enjoyable activities should be considered. Riding on a kick scooter is one of the top alternatives especially for boys. If you are a video gaming addict and this is the first time you hear about kick scooters, you can find more information by going to Go2Scooter.com.
Why can kick scooters save you from video games?
Kick scooters are not only fun to ride, but you can also do the exercise while riding. Unlike playing an online game where you sit and barely moves for hours, riding a kick scooter can only make you active and healthy both physically and mentally.
With a kick scooter, you can also compete with other riders, travel to nearby interesting places, make friends at skate parks, and more. The things you can do while riding and navigating are endless while making yourself active.
With video games, you are confined inside your house or in a dark corner of your room. With a kick scooter, here are some of the interesting things you can do.
- Ride to your favorite local park. With a scooter, you will be tempted to ride and navigate your local park and meet some new friends with the same interests.
- Racing. Race with new friends on empty roads or at your local skate parks.
- Navigate around the zoo or at the nearby camping site.
- Go on a picnic at the nearby beach or park.
- Go on fishing at the nearest reviver, lake, or sea.
- Go to the library. You can discover a lot of things inside the library.
- Go to your local museum. If a museum does not surprise you then there might be something wrong.
- Spend a day at the skate park and observe what pros are doing. You can also make new friends and do stunts with them.
- Are you an animal lover? Go to the animal shelter and volunteer for a couple of hours. Nursing animals is fun!
The things you can do with a scooter are just too many to mention. A lot of people discover a lot of things because they are constantly moving around with their scooters. A friend of mine discovered a dumpster diving and for 2 months, he collected more than $500 worth of stuff that he sells online, not to mention the free foods that he gets every now and then. He goes out every Friday with his big backpack and always returns with lots of finds. Prior to discovering dumpster diving, he was spending more than 5 hours playing video games losing both time, money, and health.
If you want to learn more about kick scooters and want to know what are the best scooters to buy, visit the most comprehensive scooter reviews at Go2Scooter.