Impacts of Esports over youth
Tags: Online, Youth, Gaming, Sports, Esports247

We cannot deny the fact that sports are crucial part of our lives for physical and mental development. Doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists and physicians consider sports as best of their therapies since it influences mind and body at the same time.In beginning of the 21st century, after popularity of electronic media, field of sports also faced evolution.

In which result a new form of sports came to existence which is called electronic sports(esports). It is completely a new term for a lay man but let me tell you that it’s a form of competition between professional video gamers over internet.

After seeing my brother’s passion towards video gaming I decided to explore more about it. Later I came to know that this type of sports is called esports. This is effecting our youth at big level. Youngsters being addicted to video games and being mad to win online competitions. It is effecting in two possible ways good and bad. Further I will try to find merits and demerits of esports.

There are many players who are representing Pakistan worldwide in field of esports and making their country proud like syed sumail Hassan. He is a professional Pakistani DOTA2 player. Being a member of the team ‘’Evil Geniuses’’ he won ’’ The International 2015’’.

Another advantage of esports is CONFIDENCE. Youngsters are earning self-possession and courage to trust their selves. They are learning to handle challenges which could block their path to success and stop them from reaching their goal.

Players can take advantage from Teamwork strategies. They can learn these strategies and add up to it by their creative mind. Michael Jordan said ‘’ talent wins games but teamwork and intelligence wins championships’’. Collaboration through teamwork make it easy for players to achieve their common goals.

Esports is accommodating youth to polish their strategic thinking kills. Young generation of every nation is full of thoughts, talents and skills. They just need a platform to show it. Esports is one of those platforms where players test their skills and by practicing they polish their skills. Youngsters can make their career in esoprts like some players have made their career in sports for example Muhammad Amir.

Where esports have good impacts on youth, it can effect youth in bad terms also.

Video games can be life disrupting if it becomes habitual or someone got addicted to them. For creativity, sills and pressure management video games can be beneficial but overdose of everything ills. It can affect mental health because esports players spend most of their time in front of PC, a locked room with video gaming setup and far from reality. This scenario can lead to psychological disturbances.

If we compare esports with sports, it is clear that corruption and gambling is very common in esports. One can hack someone’s ID during online competitions. Contests can be based on bets. Gambling can effect psychological health of players. And be a cause of depression and anxiety disorder.

Esports is limited to a keyboard or controller. It has no physical activity included. Only physical risks, which can include mental development risks also. As many esports players have said that 8 to 12 hours of a day in front of computer screen has led to increase in computer related injuries like carpel tunnel syndrome, repetitive strain injury and back pain.

According to research esports players oftenly use Performance Enhancing Drugs(PEDs) to improve their performance during online competitions. Some players pursue their passion to become champion for their country or to get fame or to make recognition as a champion. So they take PEDs to get desired outcomes.

Every game has some rules and regulations to follow and players are expected to behave ethically. But esports is promoting violation of rules and vulgar language. Eplayers abuse each other in live streams by which viewers or participants learn to abuse and violation of rules.

Esports promotes lack of participation as compare to sports. Because not everyone is interested in online gaming and most of people don’t have time to play online.

In the end esports has its own advantages and disadvantages. But its disadvantages are extremely high. Though its making our youth creative, skillful and confident but we shouldn’t forget about the disadvantages it may bring.