Video games are great for teens, regardless of any of the simple and unrefined 'arguments' that are fired from the noisy and violent mouth holes of the anti-video game crowd. After all, the only way to argue against the benefits of video gaming are to conjure up vague generalities about the average player's habits, or completely misrepresent(or wildly misunderstand)the complexities of addiction.
So, for the purpose of time, destroy these clichd and under-thought argumentative abortions quickly so that I may move on to the positives of the video game.
Firstly, video games are not cause of addiction, but rather the symptom of more hidden and intricate problems. Therefore, people don't play video games excessively because video games are unnaturally addictive. Rather people self-medicate with video games to excess because they have serious emotional problems. So it follows that video games are no more to blame for addiction, than thin and beautiful women are to blame for anorexia in young girls. Blaming video game addiction on video games themselves is so terribly dangerious and irresponsible exactly because the real issues and the real problems are allowed to pass through and fester into more dangerous problems.
I'm not worried about video games, I'm worried about ill informed social critics who don't do their homework.
In any case, regardless of the what the ignorant protest, video games are great for teens.
Firstly, video are incredibly educational. There's a variety of games that can teach players about music and languages and history. Furthermore, manipulating the 3D objects in video games builds the kind of intelligence and thinking that applies to the study of engineering. It's no coincidence that many University Engineering faculties are filled with young video game players.
Furthermore, video games are quickly becoming more and more physically demanding. Older games like Dance Dance Revolution and even the newer Nintendo Wii system, and Wii Fit accessory require intense physical activity and will even coach players toward physical fitness. Video games have clearly become one of many solutions to the West's weight epidemic.
And finally, video game programming is becoming more and more accessible, and your average teenager can apply these skills to the real world job market. That's right, an interest in video games could land your teenager some good money.
Are video games good for teens? Absolutely.