Lingering coronavirus restrictions have seen kids’ gaming time go next level. Experts are still debating what all those hours spent in virtual battle doing to their brains.

Video game sales have exploded since lockdown measures took effect in March, with overall gaming internet traffic rising by 75%. (So no, it’s not just your family!)

Whether it’s Fortnite or any other game your kids have discovered  during lockdown - evidently sci-fi-themed shooter Destiny 2 is having a moment right now - there’s no doubt that gaming keeps kids occupied. And that’s a big tick when parents are working from home, sport is cancelled and social contact remains limited.

But as most mums and dads are already aware, many of the games kids crave feature some degree of violence - whether graphic of stylised - and many storylines also freely reference drug use, sex and criminality.

Some parents - and pretty much all games developers - insist that content like this has no impact on kids at all. But the research, and the expert advice based on it, tell a different story.

Violent games and aggression

Does on-screen violence encourage violent behaviour? Here the data are mixed, even contradictory.

One typical study - this one conducted by Swinburne University of Technology researchers in 2007 - found some kids became more aggressive and others less aggressive after viewing violent gaming content. Most showed no change at all.

Other studies have found that on-screen violence can definitely incite aggression in children with specific personality types. Kids who tend towards neuroticism - who are more moody, anxious and prone to frustration than average - and struggle with conscientiousness seem to be most affected.

Kids who tend towards neuroticism - who are more moody, anxious and prone to frustration than average - and struggle with conscientiousness seem to be most affected.

Then there's the problem of what researchers call “selection bias” - that kids with pre-existing tendencies toward aggression are more likely to  gravitate to violent content in the first place.

As if all of that weren’t puzzling enough, other research has determined that violent video games actually promote better, more pro-social behaviour - and have even been shown to reduce crime.

What the experts say

The research in this area may appear to raise more questions than it answers, but the experts speak with one voice. Parents, they maintain, should err on the side of caution.

The American Psychological Association’s official position is that there is a clear link between aggression and game violence. Its task force maintains that prolonged viewing of violent content erodes empathy and reduces pro-social behaviour. 

While acknowledging the pervasiveness of violent screen content in the lives of our digital kids, the “research shows that without guidance or controls it has the power to make children more aggressive, violent and fearful.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics’ report on virtual violence echoes this view. While acknowledging the pervasiveness of violent screen content in the lives of our digital kids, the “research shows that without guidance or controls it has the power to make children more aggressive, violent and fearful.”

The issue is especially acute for kids under six, who are not yet able to distinguish reality from fantasy. They should be prevented from viewing any type of media violence, the AAP advises, whether in games or on television. 

What parents can do

Your children live in an online world - and there’s nothing to be gained by pretending otherwise. Their friends, schoolmates and the wider culture they are growing up into is a screen-saturated world. There’s a reason video-gaming is today a $10 billion industry, and growing every day.

But accepting those facts doesn’t mean parents should relinquish their responsibility to manage their children’s screen-time - especially when it comes to violent games. (And yes, “cartoon-style” violence, while preferable to graphic blood-and-guts, is still violence.) 

Without turning gaming into a battle royale between yourself and your child, here’s what experts recommend:

Monitor the games they’re playing. It should go without saying that you need to be aware of the content your children are consuming, especially games that may be consuming hours of every day. If you’re unfamiliar with a game your child has, or has asked to get, look up reviews online. Don’t just rely on the description of the game by its developers, or the age rating they’ve given it. See what other parents and experts have had to say.

Play the game with your child. Not into first-person shooters or dystopian travels with blood-thirsty aliens? There’s a first time for everything. And don’t simply watch - listen. Many of the most popular games feature audio chat as well, and you’ll definitely want to hear as well as view the action. And remember, this shouldn’t be a “one and done” exercise. If your child is deeply involved in a particular game, you should be checking in for parallel play on a regular basis. 

Limit screen-time. Frankly, whether the games your child loves to play are violent or not, experts unanimously recommend that parents set sensible boundaries around screen-time to safeguard both their emotional and physical health. Parental controls that can manage games across every device, everywhere - including gaming consoles - are the ideal way to do this.