Escaping Into Video Games: Good or Bad?

TrAiDoS

Germany259 Posts

October 01 2026 06:47 GMT

Hey guys,

Research has shown that escaping real life by playing video games can have positive and negative consequences. But which of the two weighs more? Should we all play (more) video games or less? On top of that, are there cultures (Western or non-Western) that are more exposed? Here's a meta-analysis explaining what's going on.

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Have a great day!
Christian

bITt.mAN

Switzerland3701 Posts

October 01 2026 09:44 GMT

RE: your blog & website (keep it up!) "self-actualisation" is another reason people seek games. Sad but true that in Western contexts it receives negative associations. I wish it had broadened the definition of the study, to include all recreational screen-based activities consumed in a solo context in that genre, watching Football alone, watching Netflix, YouTube/Insta/Twitch/TikTok etc.

'Gaming' and 'Gamers' was its own category of shut-ins 15yr ago. Think WoW addicts.

Nowadays (especially since Corona lock-ins) that behaviour is much more common. Ironically, I'd say gamers have much more agency and self-actualisation, than passive consumers of all those other formats, because at least gamers control and do things (posting comments is the limit of other others' interactivity).

So I think the study's design reflects a cultural bias, wheras in fact the bigger problems are elsewhere:
TikTok short-form-video has been demonstrated to cause brain and make people stupider
+ Show Spoiler [Social Media Is Toxic Bro] +

Frison & Eggermont (2017): Instagram browsing predicted increased depressed mood

Hunt et al. (2018): limiting Instagram/social media reduced depression

Schwarz et al. (2022): Instagram abstinence reduced depressive symptoms

Aubry et al. (2024): Instagram social comparison worsened depressive mood

Allcott et al. (2025): Instagram deactivation improved depression/anxiety measures

I have a hot take that within a couple of years, AI models and hardware will be so good, that you will be able to get on-demand real-time streaming of the equivalent of TikTok, but customised just to you.

A drip feed of AI internet-brainrot content, 24/7.

If that is sufficently reactive to feel like you're directing it, like a game, then its close enough to (single player) gaming.

I think this will be super popular, and cause even more proven brain damage than Insta and TikTok.

Ironically, its exactly the same tech that could be used for on-demand neural-optimised tutoring. Oh well.

Tl;DR Yes 'video' 'games' are going to make most people worse off, as a massive cope, but some people will use the same tech to get much much smarter

JimmyJRaynor

Canada17946 Posts

October 01 2026 13:29 GMT

On October 01 2026 18:44 bITt.mAN wrote:
Tl;DR Yes 'video' 'games' are going to make most people worse off

they already have... check out the myopia rates in 1st world countries dawg.

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