Mother Shares Why She Doesn’t See Anything Bad About Her Son Spending All Of His Free Time Online During The Quarantine

Many parents are worried about the impact of video games on their children. But not Tiffany Pitts. The mother has been watching her teenage boy sitting in front of the computer and she couldn’t be happier.

In fact, she even created a thread on Twitter to make “an argument in favor of video games” online. There, Pitts detailed a particular quarantine night when her son and his friends met a boy on Fortnite. It was the kid’s birthday, but with the pandemic ravaging, he couldn’t celebrate it. Pitts’ son and his pals threw the boy a party online, and the mom understood just how good video games can be for bonding.

Mother Shares Why She Doesn't See Anything Bad About Her Son Spending All Of His Free Time Online During The Quarantine

Image credits: snickerpants

Mother Shares Why She Doesn't See Anything Bad About Her Son Spending All Of His Free Time Online During The Quarantine

Image credits: snickerpants

Mother Shares Why She Doesn't See Anything Bad About Her Son Spending All Of His Free Time Online During The Quarantine

Image credits: snickerpants

Mother Shares Why She Doesn't See Anything Bad About Her Son Spending All Of His Free Time Online During The Quarantine

Image credits: snickerpants

Mother Shares Why She Doesn't See Anything Bad About Her Son Spending All Of His Free Time Online During The Quarantine

Image credits: snickerpants

Mother Shares Why She Doesn't See Anything Bad About Her Son Spending All Of His Free Time Online During The Quarantine

Image credits: snickerpants

Mother Shares Why She Doesn't See Anything Bad About Her Son Spending All Of His Free Time Online During The Quarantine

Image credits: snickerpants

Mother Shares Why She Doesn't See Anything Bad About Her Son Spending All Of His Free Time Online During The Quarantine

Image credits: snickerpants

Mother Shares Why She Doesn't See Anything Bad About Her Son Spending All Of His Free Time Online During The Quarantine

Image credits: snickerpants

Mother Shares Why She Doesn't See Anything Bad About Her Son Spending All Of His Free Time Online During The Quarantine

Image credits: snickerpants

Mother Shares Why She Doesn't See Anything Bad About Her Son Spending All Of His Free Time Online During The Quarantine

Image credits: snickerpants

Mother Shares Why She Doesn't See Anything Bad About Her Son Spending All Of His Free Time Online During The Quarantine

Image credits: snickerpants

Mother Shares Why She Doesn't See Anything Bad About Her Son Spending All Of His Free Time Online During The Quarantine

Image credits: tiffany.pitts

However, many would probably disagree with Tiffany. They say that kids mustn’t be subjected to blood and intense violence, sexual content, and substance abuse through video games, and some organizations share this opinion as well. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), for example, say that exposure to violent media (including video games) can contribute to real-life violent behavior and harm children in other ways.

But there are researchers who question these claims. Two psychologists, Dr. Patrick Markey of Villanova University and Dr. Charlotte Markey of Rutgers University, for example, have presented evidence that some children may become more aggressive as a result of watching and playing violent video games, but that most of them are not affected.

Interestingly, both sides of this debate do agree that it is possible for parents to take steps that limit the possible negative effects of video games.

People loved Tiffany’s thread

Mother Shares Why She Doesn't See Anything Bad About Her Son Spending All Of His Free Time Online During The Quarantine

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Mother Shares Why She Doesn't See Anything Bad About Her Son Spending All Of His Free Time Online During The Quarantine

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Mother Shares Why She Doesn't See Anything Bad About Her Son Spending All Of His Free Time Online During The Quarantine

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Mother Shares Why She Doesn't See Anything Bad About Her Son Spending All Of His Free Time Online During The Quarantine

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Mother Shares Why She Doesn't See Anything Bad About Her Son Spending All Of His Free Time Online During The Quarantine

Image credits: snickerpants

Mother Shares Why She Doesn't See Anything Bad About Her Son Spending All Of His Free Time Online During The Quarantine

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Mother Shares Why She Doesn't See Anything Bad About Her Son Spending All Of His Free Time Online During The Quarantine

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Mother Shares Why She Doesn't See Anything Bad About Her Son Spending All Of His Free Time Online During The Quarantine

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Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.

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I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.

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What do you think ?

POST

Hans 4 years ago

One more comment: whoever condems gaming, does not understand gaming. It is "just" a normal pastime for many, and online gaming often has a strong sociel component. Many obviously play more for the interaction than for the game itself. And watching gaming, e.g. through Twitch, often is much more social than watching classical sports. Gaming can become excessivce, even addictive, but isn't it with nearly anything in life? The dosage makes the poison.

48points

Esca Sav 4 years ago

This is worded perfectly. There are people who have an obsession with games, but so are others with gambling, food, sports, shopping, etc. This does not define everyone, this is just a handful of people.

20points

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Tabitha L 4 years ago (edited)

I understand that the dosage makes the poison means everything in moderation. But some things are just bad in any dose. Ricin, for example. Or batrachotoxin. I'd argue that torture in any dose is bad. Or bullying. Or hate speech. (I'm not comparing video games to any of these things - gaming is fun unless it takes over all other aspects of your life.)

3points

Kiss Army Premium 4 years ago

Absolutely. I would worry about my son much more during quarantine if he didn't have his video games. It is how he stays connected with his friends - they are not big talkers on the phone but over the headsets on their games, they really communicate with each other and are helping each other through this.

2points

Mary Bank 4 years ago

100% this, my son spent most of last weekend gaming with his cousin. He is an only child and she has a younger sister that she is so tired of. It was a treat for them both to game for hours together and just chat about stuff. Kid stuff.

1point

Silke 4 years ago

I'm an adult. I loved gaming for several years. It was great fun

0points

Iapetos 4 years ago

But it is so TIME CONSUMING

-2points

Bender Bending Rodríguez 4 years ago

The gaming community can be very accepting or very cruel. It's ok to let children online but do keep an eye on them. Just like in the real world there are bad actors and good role models, Great friends for life, and very nasty bullies.

22points

Geth 4 years ago

Yeah, you wouldn't let your kid hang out with a bunch of older strangers IRL, why would you let them do that online?

0points

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Monika Soffronow 4 years ago

I absolutely IMPLORE all of you to read this! His parents didn't even know... "My disabled son’s amazing gaming life in the World of Warcraft" https://www.bbc.com/news/disability-47064773

19points

Esca Sav 4 years ago

I saw this! THIS is what people need to see, the positive impacts of games!

8points

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Hans 4 years ago

48points

Esca Sav 4 years ago

20points

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Tabitha L 4 years ago (edited)

3points

Kiss Army Premium 4 years ago

2points

Mary Bank 4 years ago

1point

Silke 4 years ago

I'm an adult. I loved gaming for several years. It was great fun

0points

Iapetos 4 years ago

But it is so TIME CONSUMING

-2points

Bender Bending Rodríguez 4 years ago

22points

Geth 4 years ago

Yeah, you wouldn't let your kid hang out with a bunch of older strangers IRL, why would you let them do that online?

0points

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Monika Soffronow 4 years ago

I absolutely IMPLORE all of you to read this! His parents didn't even know... "My disabled son’s amazing gaming life in the World of Warcraft" https://www.bbc.com/news/disability-47064773

19points