The population of people turning 50 and over is growing along with the population of individuals that is turning to video games as a form of entertainment. Video games are a great way to entertain yourself, pass time, and distract or redirect your attention to something else. In fact, the amount of video gamers over the age of 50 have grown by 12 million in the past six years. This is a 30% increase. In 2022 25% of the video gamer population were people 50 or older. That is a quarter of the overall video gamer population. (Baig, 2023) See Figure 1 below for a great example of a video game to pass sometime.
Lets Play!
Figure 1
The direct and indirect benefits of video games are clear. Video games are stimulating and can help with socialization. Puzzles, matching, point and click, and vocabulary games all help with development of many skills and keep the brain sharp. Now days, all games that were very popular as board games or challenging games are now available online or our phones. Educational games are also very popular and can be used in ways that contributes to a persons well being.
Although video games are stereotyped as for young people in 2024 video games are for all people. Video games can create a social atmosphere and be an activity filled with a variety of challenges. Video games that require a single participant and video games that require many participants both in person and remotely.
Video games can also cause isolation by creating a lack of motivation to go outside or talk to our neighbors. According to the mayo clinic too much screen time can be damaging and is linked to eye strain, obesity, poor sleep, behavioral problems, impulsive actions, loss of social skills, violence, neck and back problems, anxiety, depression, and difficulties with work or school. Video games can also be addicting so be careful how much you play. Video games are addicting because the brain releases dopamine in response to a pleasurable experience while playing. This creates the cycle of wanting to play and release more dopamine. This cycle is reinforced every time the person acts on the impulse to play. Playing excessive video games can lead to the brain staying in hyperarousal causing impulsive reactions and other issues. (Luker, 2022)
Limiting screen time is the answer and there are many ways to prevent video game addiction. You should know if you are spending too much time on a video game so a simple break from the video game helps an individual reset. Other ways to prevent excessive screen time is to plan it and limit when sceen time. For example no screen time around meals and other social activities.
Please take sometime time out of you busy schedule to play the snake game today. Below you will find a free royalty free snake game replica created by Steven Lambert. Steve Lambert is a free source content creator and has some of his work available for free at github. Play responsibly.
Citation:
Baig, Edward C. “Why Video Games Continue to Click with People 50-Plus.” AARP, AARP, 17 Apr. 2023, www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2023/50-plus-gamers.html.
Luker, Edward. “Are Video Games and Screens an Addiction?” Mayo Clinic Health System, Mayo Clinic Health System, 1 July 2022, www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/are-video-games-and-screens-another-addiction.