Video games might not be so bad for teens after all

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – A new study says video games may help kids with school.

The research says teens that play specific types of games regularly scored higher than average in math, reading and science.

On the other end, not all screen time has the same effect – in fact social media hurt math scores. The study was published recently in the International Journal of Communication, and looked at the activities and test scores of 12,000 Australian teens during an international exam. Those exams asked the 15-year-old students to report their use of technology.

Researchers warn that although the study shows a link between video games and higher math and science scores, it doesn’t necessarily mean gaming caused the higher scores.

One Indiana University professor says it could just be that “kids who are sharp are looking for a challenge, and they don’t find it on social media, and maybe they do find it on board games and video games.”

Other experts have criticized the study. One complaint is that it started in 2012, meaning it doesn’t reflect technology used by teens today. Also, test-takers were asked to self-report which can be problematic when it comes to accuracy

In the end, some experts concluded that video games appear to give students sharper knowledge learned in school by requiring them to solve a series of puzzles in order to progress in the game.