Do violent video games affect teens?

For a lot of teens, gaming is entertaining and relaxing, and allows them to socialise and connect with new people. While there are games across all genres, those involving violence tend to be among the most popular video games. 

If your teen plays this type of video game regularly, it’s normal to wonder how it might be affecting their feelings and behaviour. We break down what you need to know about violent video games and teen wellbeing.

What is considered a violent video game?

A violent video game contains graphic simulations of violence. This typically involves fighting other characters with weapons or in hand-to-hand combat. Some popular violent games you may have heard of include Fortnite, Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty and World of Warcraft.

The Australian Government’s Classification Board applies the same ratings to video games as to movies. These indicate the level and type of violence in the game, and any other sensitive content. You and your teen can use the ratings as a starting point when deciding whether a game is appropriate for them.

Video games containing violence are usually recommended only for teens aged 15 and over and are typically classified as Mature (M), Mature Accompanied (MA15+) or Restricted (R18+).

Search for a specific video game to find out its rating on the Australian Classification website.

Why are young people drawn to violent video games?

Many teens find violent video games appealing for the same reason action-packed movies and TV shows are popular. This type of content can be entertaining and immersive, and provides an escape from day-to-day concerns.

Research shows that violence in video games fulfils certain psychological needs. For example, it can:

• give the gamer a sense of control 

• boost their self-esteem

• raise their social ranking

• connect them with others. 

What this can look like within a game is that your teen influences the outcome of a story by controlling a character’s actions. They can achieve goals by reaching new levels, and measure their performance through scores and rankings, all while socialising with others, either virtually or in real life, while they game.

Teens can also be drawn to violent video games in the same way others may be drawn to sport. Games are an outlet for teens to channel their frustrations or their competitive urges. Unlike sports, video games have the advantage that you don’t need to be athletically gifted to be successful. 

Do video games cause violence?

You may have seen or heard of ‘gamer rage’ and wondered how much influence violent video games might have on your teen. Although teens might simulate violent acts within a game, experts say that violent video games don’t have any significant impact on aggressive behaviour in real life. They also point out that violence is a complex issue that’s caused by multiple factors, so video games can’t be held responsible for violence.

However, many teens turn to gaming as a way to channel their anger and frustration. This can be a healthy way for them to deal with these emotions, but intense anger may be a sign that there is something more serious going on. Keep in mind these tips for calming down an angry teen if a situation has become tense.

If your teen’s behaviour while playing video games could harm them or someone else, try these strategies to help them manage their anger. This resource for young people has even more information on how to deal with violent behaviour.

Signs that violent video games are impacting your teen’s wellbeing

Graphic content can be overwhelming, especially if it feels unavoidable across other types of media such as the news or TV shows. Sometimes graphic content can leave teens feeling:

• shocked or confused

• afraid of certain situations

• anxious, stressed or depressed.

Find out how you can help your teen deal with graphic content.

Video games, regardless of whether they are violent or not, can also impact teen wellbeing in the following ways:

• Gaming addiction: This is when the constant need to play video games starts to impact other areas of life. It might look like lower grades at school, or your teen may be withdrawing from their usual activities and friends outside of gaming.

• Sleep quality: One sign of gaming addiction is that your teen dedicates more time to gaming and less time to sleeping. Even if they’re not addicted to gaming, excessive screen time at night can affect teens’ ability to fall asleep and stay asleep through the night.

• Bullying and harassment: Since many gaming platforms allow players to chat to each other through written messages or voice calls, many teens find gaming to be a good opportunity to socialise. However, it also means that players can face bullying or harassment through hurtful messages, name-calling, insults or abusive language. Understand more about cyberbullying and how to report offensive behaviour.

How to support your teen if they’re affected by violent video games

If gaming is having a negative impact on how your teen is feeling, try some of these strategies.

Manage screen time

Having some boundaries around how much time is spent on screens is a good idea for balancing our digital and offline lives. You could start with doing a family screen audit. This involves everyone in your family tracking the amount of time they spend each day watching TV, using their computer and phone, and gaming. Look at the results and then decide together on what is a reasonable amount of screen time. Read more about managing family screen time.

Taking a break from gaming can be particularly helpful if your teen is overwhelmed by the violent content or is dealing with some of its other downsides. This guide has some ideas for how to encourage your teen to take a break from technology.

Make time for self-care

Gaming might be a form of self-care for some teens, but if it starts to be less relaxing and more frustrating, then you could try different forms of self-care together.

If your teen is looking for ways to manage their anger, exercise can be an alternative way to release tension. They could do something high intensity, such as go for a run or sweat it out at the gym, but even a low-impact activity such as taking a walk in the park can help ease the intensity of their feelings.

Journalling and writing down their thoughts can also help them to process what they’re feeling. They could do this in a notebook, on a calendar or in the notes app on their phone. Find out more ways to get started with journalling.

Practise good sleep hygiene

For some teens, improving sleep quality won’t necessarily be about gaming less. Instead, they might need to focus on keeping to a regular bedtime and giving themselves enough time before bed to disconnect from their screens and wind down from stimulating activities. Suggest that they spend 30–60 minutes last thing doing some calming, screen-free activities such as reading, stretching, or listening to music, so that they’re more relaxed when they try to sleep. 

Get professional support

Talking to a mental health professional, such as a psychologist or counsellor, can help with any type of difficulty your teen might be facing when it comes to violent video games. These professionals can work through all sorts of life challenges with teens and help them figure out the best way to deal with them. Chatting to your GP is a good starting point, as they can give you a referral. If you or your teen haven’t seen a mental health professional before, watch this video about what it’s like to see a therapist.