Parenting Alert: Violent Virtual Reality Games May Trigger Aggression Among Your Children

Too much video game exposure among children has always been a debate among parents as it is often considered as something that can have a negative impact on children. One study reveals that violent virtual video games can indeed impact a child as it makes them more violent.

In a study published in the journal Pediatrics, which was titled "Virtual Violence," it was mentioned that violent video games highly affect children playing with it according to CBC. The lead author of the study, Dr. Dimitri Christakis, a pediatrician at Seattle Children's Research Institute, mentioned that virtual reality game consoles that feature violent games tend to increase the violent behavior among children.

Dr. Christakis then added that they eventually coined the term "virtual violent" as most gaming consoles and video game are getting more interactive and realistic, thus making it harder for young children to separate reality and the virtual world.

"Very soon it's going to be virtual reality violent video games. That makes the experience that much more intense and the recommendations that much more important, "Dr. Christakis said. "We've switched from calling it screen aggression or screen violence to virtual violence to capture the more immersive ways children can experience media violence today."

Pediatricians urge parents to be cautious when it comes to their children's behavior. It was then added that young children should be strictly off limit when it comes to virtual reality video games that engage in violence.

Though it was suggested that violent virtual reality games affect children in negative ways, a study was previously published stating that there are no evidence that violent video games trigger aggression among young children. Telegraph featured a report stating that a study from Oxford University suggest that violent video games do not trigger aggression, especially if children are playing with a team.

The ongoing debate about the video games and childhood aggression may not be resolved yet, but pediatricians suggest that proper guidance and limited game time is one way is the key to prevention. It was then highlighted that video games, in general, should be off limits to children under six years old as they are not yet capable of distinguishing the virtual world and reality.