Eight Video Game Myths Debunked

The PBS page for “The Video Game Revolution” has a good article online by Henry Jenkiins, MIT Profefssor:

Reality Bytes: Eigtht Myths About Video Games Debunked

The myths listed are:

1. The availability of video games has led to an epidemic of youth violence
2. Scientific evidence links violent game play with youth aggression
3. Children are the primary market for video games
4. Almost no girls play computer games
5. Because games are used to train soldiers to kill, they have the same impact on kids who play them
6. Video games are not a meaningful form of expression
7. Video game play is socially isolating
8. Video game play is desensitizing

Henry Jenkins gives a good counter argument to all of these myths in the article. Good background info for anyone in education that is going to be promoting the use of virtual worlds to a variety of audiences.