One of the critical issues facing healthcare in the modern times is online health misinformation. Recently, I was scrolling through TikTok whence I landed upon a video by a user, @Doctor.siya, who was explaining the benefits of video gaming.  To me, this brought back vivid memories of all the chastening we had during our childhood, that "video games are useless, and that they will ruin our future”. 

It also made me recall the not-so-good memories of the accompanying smacking (for those who were lucky), or a choice between leaving your head still for a ‘Nakadaka Ken’, or running away and spending the few next weeks without meeting your pals and avoiding any encounter with your parents or guardians, after being caught playing video games.

Health misinformation today, especially one that occurs online, lures people into doing things that are inimical to their health. One that occured before the internet begun to spread, detered our progenitors from doing things that could boost their health and growth or that of their families and friends. For example, through the grapevine and rumours, people in the early 2000s were against modern medical practices, encouraging use of unsound practices. The similarity is the difference, and the difference is the similarity. So, was this misinformation from @Doctor.siya?

Gaming, as opposed to popular misconceptions, has benefits. Whilst taking an online computer science course, I was amazed by how I easily grasped the concepts because the tutor used a game called ‘Scratch’ to teach data structures and algorithms, a vital concept in programming. It is one of the best online courses I’ve ever taken!

Benefits of gaming

Improves coordination: Since video games can be used to simulate real-world events, not only are they used in video-game-based training for doctors, pilots and other professionals, research indicates that surgeons who spend at least three hours a week playing video games made about 37 per cent less mistakes in laaroscopic surgery, and performeed 27 per cent faster than their counterparts who did not play video games (CBS News, 2007).

Gaming can boost family relationships: As a spouse or parent, gaming can build strong bonds with your other half or youngsters. You can engage with them by taking some time to play with them, and if you feel like they need some time apart from gaming for other activities, and inform them, they will easily consent as opposed to forcing them to do so which causes them to shun away from you.

Increases social activity: Unlike what many non-gamers assume, gaming is not a lonely hobby. In fact, it requires teamwork to play some games, for example, playing multi-player games like EA Sports’ FIFA 22, you play with others online and develop good friendships with them, thus developing social connections and building meaningful networks. In a previous role I held as a remote worker, we had a daily session of doing one team activity, including playing online games like ‘Wordle’. At first, with a lot of (inner) contempt, I thought this is kiddish stuff that I shouldn’t give in to. However, after doing it for some time, I discerned that I had enornmously gained interpersonal, communication, and teamwork skills. It is hitherto one of the greatest activities I miss.

However, just like most hobbies, gaming comes bundled with adverse health and social effects for those who overdo it. 

Health risks of over gaming

Gaming can be so addictive that I once spent a whole high school vacancy, playing ‘Tomb Raider’, striving to help Lora Croft escape the traps and abseil down the steep cliffs to the finish line—only to discover that I didn’t learn or do anything during the vacancy as a sub-candidate. This was backed by a mediocre academic performance. People who remain physically inactive for long periods while gaming are at higher risk of obesity, sleep disorders, and other health-related issues, according to World Health Organization (Israel, 2018). 

So, you may wonder, "I need to make a living, can gaming generate me some income? Affirmative! The gaming industry is worth billions of dollars, and it is growing exponentially with a lot of financial and career benefits.

Financial benefits of video gaming

Game development is lucrative as international companies pay high salaries to attract skilled game developers and can help you rise out of unemployment. You can take free game development courses online from platforms like Coursera, watching YouTube videos, and so on to start a new career as a game developer. You can also stream gaming videos on YouTube and make a lot of cash. Learn to turn your hobbies into sources of income.

Apparently, the future of education leans on video games, and this may not be as far as one may assume, because I recently watched on Rwanda Television, a young girl from Rwanda Code Academy saying that they use MIT’s ‘Scratch’ game to learn programming, and in the US some colleges have included eSports in their curriculums.

Summarily, but not peremptorily, gaming is yet to bring a lot of opportunities in Africa and around the globe which need to be tapped into. Gaming is a hobby just just like how you support Arsenal or Manchester United or Golden State Warriors or watching that favourite movie series, ‘Stranger Things’ – but can’t explain why you specifically do so to others.

So, please don’t crush or throw away your child or otherhalf’s gaming console citing that it will ruin your relationship. Rather, join them somehow in their hobbies and drag them to yours as well or what you see appropriate. 

Gaming is entertaining and lucrative when done in a healthy way.

The writer is in healthcare management, with concentration in Global Health Perspectives.

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