THE USE OF VIDEO GAMES IN ADOLESCENTS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE SCHOOLING PROCESS

Abstract

The use of video games among adolescents is a topic that, over time, has gained relevance due to the different perspectives from which it can be approached, as it encompasses aspects as important in an adolescent's life as personal, social, family, economic, and emotional factors, and in adulthood, also professional life. This essay presents both the benefits and the less favorable side of video gaming among adolescents and places special emphasis on the fundamental role that parents, caregivers, teachers, and businesspeople play, as they are responsible for guiding and mentoring minors, aiming to channel this practice appropriately so that it does not turn into an addiction, but rather becomes a gateway to professional and career opportunities; thus gradually seeking to eradicate the stigma that has been created around the idea that video games are merely a pastime that distances to teenagers about good practices and introduces them to the world of wasted time. Here, clear examples are shown of people and institutions that have turned the use of video games into an innovative educational tool that can improve digital skills, as long as their safe and responsible use is ensured, aiming to transform education and cultivate in teenagers the skills necessary to navigate an increasingly demanding society.