How Gaming Could Be Helpful Or Harmful To Utah Kids

Video games are just a part of life for most kids now, the way that watching television or listening to the radio became a normal.  

The big concern is the amount of time spent on video games and the impact it has on a growing kid. Now, Utah kids were up to a staggering 55.5% watching tv or playing video games for more than two hours a day in 2021.  

The U.S. has at least 85% of teens playing video games, a study from 2023 said. Four in 10 teens identify themselves as gamers. 

Are Utah kids hurting or being helped by video games? 

With over half of kids in Utah being “gamers” it's helpful to look at the pros and cons of gaming. Now, I am a very light gamer, as in a few times a month for a few hours at a time. It's simply not how I choose to spend my downtime. However, I know lots of kids and even adults use it to socialize and even take their brain off everyday stress.  

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From the 2023 study, 72% of teens said they use gaming to socialize. 47% said they had made a friend through gaming activity. So, it makes sense that Utah would see similar reasons to game.  

Half of the teens from the same study say that gaming also helped with problem solving skills.  

Basically, gaming definitely has an upside however, just as with all things, it has a downside.  

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How Could Gaming Hurt Utah Kids? 

Some of the less positive aspects of gaming include...lack of sleep. Now, lack of sleep can happen to anyone, gaming or not, but gaming can be a contributing factor. Kids need eight hours for growth so putting a cap on gaming a few hours before bed could be a solution.  

Another issue cited by the Institute for Educational Advancement is violence. Some studies show that violent video games can lead to violent behavior. However, that is not a guarantee.  

In some cases, video games can lead to antisocial behavior and isolation. However, being a “video game loner” is not the norm but something Utah parents should keep an eye out for.  

Lastly, if Utah kids (or any kids) spend too much time on gaming, it can impact their school performance. Making sure there is limited gaming time— a set schedule even can help prevent this.  

So, Is Gaming Bad for Utah Kids? 

Not necessarily. Factors like the amount of time playing video games, what video games your kids are playing, and whether or not they use it to socialize are all important. With these factors in mind, Utah parents can help their children navigate the ever-evolving world of video games and find what works for them.