The Media has always been a point of reference of what people think they should and should not do. One of the biggest examples of this has for the longest time been the prejudice about how video games have a negative effect on the minds of children and even some adults. For example, the Media claims that playing violent video games can make your child more violent. Or that it “rots” our brains and makes us dumber. But according to my research none of this is true because scientists have actually proven all of this wrong.

The first things first, games do not make kids dumber. There is absolutely no scientific evidence to support this claim. No recorded child has ever lost IQ points from playing video games. Scientific research has actually proven the opposite. That’s right, video games can effectively make kids smarter. "Games are an amazing invention that entertain and inform in ways different than traditional media, but many critics have little or any experience with them and therefore don't understand where there could be artistic or educational value. No different than with film and TV, media sensationalism and ignorance can contribute to the fear that games are harmful to children.
-Joseph Olin, president of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.

When it comes to the claim that violent video games can make children more violent, there is zero proof for this statement either. "There's absolutely no scientific evidence showing a positive correlation between violence in individuals and the games they play” says Olin, who points to studies from the Harvard Medical School Center for Mental Health, The Journal of Adolescent Health and The British Medical Journal.

According to the software association, 63 percent of parents believe that games positively impact their children's lives. All too often overlooked in debates are the sizable educational and social benefits that games offer kids. "A lot of parents are unfamiliar with gaming and afraid of the unknown, but games can be a huge positive for children, as long as you set reasonable limits. When my 3-year-old watches TV, he just passively zones out.
-Winda Benedetti, writer of the Citizen Gamer column for MSNBC.

Video games can actually improve senses like hand-eye coordination. Parts of your brain can also be improved. Things like your reaction time, your ability to calculate harder things in your head faster. Other types of video games can help you learn to use resources properly, like running a village. Another type are survival video games. In these you are taught to survive with your limited resources and try to make the most out of it before you either loose or get to the point to where you can’t lose.

We all know the Media isn’t always the perfect source for information. So, next time you think the media is trying to convince you of something that isn’t true, do your research. Make sure you know exactly what it is your talking about before you start to judge it. Learn your info and judge accordingly.