When it comes to the question of whether media use can make people violent, computer games are often discussed, especially the so-called first-person shooters. Parents, teachers and even some scientists fear a direct and negative effect on children and young people. The biggest concern: the content could inspire real acts of violence. This has not yet been proven. A game alone does not make you aggressive or violent.

Violent computer games from the first person perspective

In games that involve using violence to take out other characters, gamers look at the game world from their character’s perspective. So in these first-person shooters, it looks like you’re running and shooting through a 3D world with a gun yourself. Famous shooters are Counter-Strike , Battlefield, Call of Duty . This game genre is enormously successful and has become an indispensable part of the scene. Fortnite is considered particularly sensitive because it mixes elements from first-person shooters with childish and friendly graphics and therefore appeals to young gamers.

Young people should be protected from negative influences

It is believed that games containing violence can have a negative effect on children and adolescents. That is why the USK, as part of the protection of minors in the media, checks all games and sets age limits. The older a child is, the better he or she can distinguish between play and reality.

When it comes to the portrayal of violence, the USK checks, among other things, whether the game appears dark and threatening or rather bright and positive, whether the game characters look like people and you can see red blood, whether gamers can identify with the character, and whether acts of war are glorified or also criticized. Depending on how many criteria are combined, a decision is made as to the age at which the game may be made available to children and young people. However, games with a higher age rating are sometimes particularly appealing to young people because they want to test their limits.

Computer games alone do not make people violent

Computer games, like other media, can have negative effects in extreme cases, for example, if they are used too much and there is no balance to media use.

Some of the communication in gamer forums and chats is pretty harsh and mean and can scare your child. But that doesn’t mean it has to happen with your child. Because such effects vary from person to person, because each person behaves differently in certain situations. Children and adolescents who are also otherwise prone to violence, are often alone, and have no other interests are more at risk than others. No one becomes aggressive or violent because of a game with violent content.

What parents should pay attention

The youth release should be respected. The older your child is and the less insight you have into their media use, the more difficult this is for you. That’s why you should stay in conversation with your child. Ask what is fascinating about it and question depictions of violence. Your child may explain that the game is also about skill, athletic goals, puzzles, or solving problems together. Most of the time, it’s not just about violence alone, otherwise it would also quickly become boring. Let them tell you or show you the game. You should also explain to your child why you insist that he or she play only age-appropriate games.

Talk to other parents if your child pretends that the others are already allowed to play a game despite the age restriction. Perhaps you can agree on rules together that also apply to the best friend.

More information is available at the USK’s Parents’ Guide.

Do you ever wonder why your child just won’t put his smartphone aside even though you’ve asked him to do so three times? Maybe you’ve even caught yourself just checking something and ten minutes later you still have your phone in your hand.

On the one hand, this is due to ourselves: Social media offers are diverse and therefore exciting for young and old. Second, the companies behind the offerings want us to spend time with them. Only if many people make intensive use of their offerings will it be profitable for them. Accordingly, it is exciting to take a close look at the mechanisms of social media.

Companies want to keep us in line

One strategy to make money is to run personalized ads. The longer we use an offer, the more data the app can collect about our usage habits and interests. That’s why apps and social media offerings are programmed so that we like to use them a lot.

Some people find it particularly difficult to put their smartphone aside from time to time. Some psychological tricks can even enhance this effect. This includes flashing lights and sound effects, the signal color red, the endless scrolling, the swipe function and a lot more.

Apps and social media offerings are good-mood makers

To relieve negative feelings or boredom, we distract ourselves. Sweets, for example, are popular good-mood makers. Through them, hormones such as endorphins are released in the body, which make us feel positive. A Like on the latest selfie also makes you happy.

Especially for young people, the knowledge of belonging and being liked is important. They are still figuring out who they are. That’s why feedback from peers and role models is paramount. So positive feedback on a photo or a post makes you happy.

Scrolling and swiping in certain apps can also be fun or exciting. Playful elements can therefore also trigger positive feelings, which is why people keep picking up their smartphones. In addition, the latest posts on TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat & Co. are entertaining. Especially when people are not doing so well, apps and social media are a popular way to distract themselves and feel better. However, these offers do not solve the cause of the unpleasant feeling.

But negative feelings such as stress can also be associated with media use. Young people are downright afraid of missing out on something because they haven’t checked their news for a while, for example.

Do media make us addicted?

You can’t get enough of positive feelings. This can lead to some people having the smartphone in their hands all the time and neglecting other things. Social media offerings, in turn, are developed so that we like to use them a lot. This can lead to “too much” in interaction. But addiction involves more than excessive use. One speaks of addiction only when the behavior continues over a long period of time (about a year), the affected person has no strategies to change anything about it and neglects everything else.

So if you or your child spends a lot of time on your smartphone, know that social media and apps can support certain behaviors. Talk to your child about this and consider together rules and strategies for dealing with media and for media-free times.

Here come a few tips :

• Agree that you don’t have to respond to a message immediately within Messenger chats. Disabling read receipts and notification sounds can also help. This takes the pressure off yourself and your child to always respond promptly.
• Make yourself and your child aware of the tricks companies use to get our attention. Focus on what you want to do in the offer. Put the phone aside when you’ve scrolled through all the news.

• Use setting options within the app, such as time limits or issuing push messages, to better control the time you spend with a service or cell phone.

Children love to play. But especially when it comes to computer games, many parents are unsure how much playtime is appropriate for their child and when there is a risk of addiction.

What is the appeal of gaming?

Diving into other worlds, slipping into different roles, mastering difficult tasks, experiencing exciting stories and escaping reality for a short time – all this makes gaming tempting for children, whether on the computer or outside with friends. Games in particular offer countless opportunities to experience adventures and compete with others. What’s difficult about gaming is sometimes stopping again, because many games don’t have a clear end.

When do we speak of dependence?

There are very few people who are actually “addicted” to computer games in the medical sense. The word comes up quickly in everyday life, even if it’s not actually appropriate. Just because your child spends a lot of time playing computer games doesn’t usually mean he or she is addicted. Nevertheless, in addition to talking to your child, firm rules will help if you feel he or she is playing too much and neglecting friends or school. Because “eccentric consumption” can also be problematic. More hints can be found here.

An addiction or dependency is a disease. It’s not a matter of “how long” or “how often,” but “why.” Observe your child to find out why they are so captivated by a game. If you’re worried your child might be addicted, you can look at some risk factors that could indicate your child might be addicted to gambling. If you observe the following in your child over an extended period of time, you should seek help:

• Playing computer games is the most important thing in your child’s life, and the whole daily routine is oriented towards it. It constantly expresses the desire to be allowed to play again and former favorite activities fall into the background.
• Your child has an urgent desire to play more and more and longer.
• Your child has completely lost control of their own gaming behavior and time limits are not being adhered to, even though they know they are spending too much time on the computer.
• The computer game is a distraction from negative feelings such as anger with family or friends or stress at school.
• Your child allows gaming to have a negative impact on real life: For example, he or she withdraws from friends, neglects hobbies, and obligations such as school or soccer practice are only perceived as unpleasant and unfulfilling.
• When there is no possibility to play computer, withdrawal symptoms such as nervousness, restlessness and aggressiveness occur.

These are just a few of the many characteristics that can be typical of a computer game addiction. However, be aware: Only experts can make a medical diagnosis!

My child seems to be dependent – what can I do now?

If you suspect a computer game addiction in your child, the first thing you should do is address it openly. Show understanding and think together about what rules can make it play less. If you can no longer find access to your child, addiction counseling centers offer support and can provide concrete contacts. There are these in larger cities and also online. Research jobs in your area online or contact, for example: http://www.fv-medienabhaengigkeit.de/hilfe-finden.html or https://www.nummergegenkummer.de/. An addiction usually has other causes than computer gaming itself. You should find these out by talking to your child and with the help of professionals.