Stephanie Heath
It is no secrets that video games have affected children throughout the years. Whether you are in favor of them or in opposition to them, you can agree that they have affected children. From positives, such as improved hand-eye coordination, to drawbacks like eye strain, the data is evident. Now, experts are warning that kids who play Minecraft and Fortnite are at greater risk of this dangerous issue.
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The Details: For years, people have been debating the dangers of video games. The NY Post shared that research has confirmed a link between video games and the following issues.
- Increased anxiety
- Depression
- Eye strain
- Risk of developing obesity
Many people are aware of these risks and find that monitoring their children’s game choices and screen time can help mitigate any unwanted effects. However, now experts warn of an entirely new issue that is emerging.
‘Minecraft’ And ‘Fortnite’ Kids Are At Risk Of This Dangerous Issue
New research has revealed that there is a growing link between “excessive gaming and an increased risk of gambling.” That’s right, allowing your child to play certain types of video games for excessive amounts of time could lead them down an undesirable path later in life.
How the Two Connect: It may be difficult at first to see how the two connect. However, once you understand the types of games involved in the connection, it makes more sense. Heather Hugelmeyer, senior director for addiction services at Northwell Zucker Hillside Hospital, spoke about the issue.
- “In many ways, video games that young people played as children — many of which have loot boxes that can be won or purchased in the game to allow the player to progress — have primed them for gambling at a very early age by impacting their thought processes,” she stated.
Games such as Minecraft and Fortnite often feature loot boxes or in-game purchases. In particular, experts warn that young men are particularly vulnerable to developing a gambling addiction. That is because their “prefrontal cortex, the part of their brain responsible for decision-making, risk evaluation, and impulse control, is still developing.”
- Hugelmeyer shares that they are seeing this most with “young, college-age group.”
- That age group is the “kids that grew up with games like Minecraft and Fortnite that are susceptible to this.”
