Gaming: Opportunities and risks of playing video games for children and youth

Razvoj tehnologije promijenio je način na koji igramo, način na koji gledamo igranje i način na koji ga istražujemo. U današnjem je vremenu teško govoriti o generalnom utjecaju video igara na djecu i mlade. Poznavanje različitosti žanrova i sadržaja video igara ključno je za potpuno razumijevanje problematike. U području igranja video igara jednako je važno dati pozornost pozitivnim aspektima igranja, kao i onim negativnim. U svojim najekstremnijim oblicima, mogućnosti i izazovi gaminga mogu se s jedne strane manifestirati kao korištenje video igara u intervenciji te s druge strane kao ovisnost. Cilj je ovog rada pregled relevantnih spoznaja na području igranja video igara, uključujući vrste video igara, mogućnosti njihove korisne uporabe, kao i rizike za djecu i mlade. Rad također prikazuje i ulogu socijalnog rada u prevenciji rizika i problematičnog igranja te mogućnosti za razvoj struke korištenjem medija video igara.Development of technology has brought upon changes in the way we play, see and research video games. Considering everything, it's difficult to talk about the general influence of video games on children and youth. Knowledge of the diversity of genres and content in video games is key for trully understanding the subject at hand. In the domain of gaming it is equally as important to give attention to the positive and negative aspects of video games. In their most extreme forms, the possibilities and challenges of gaming can manifest as using video games as interventions, and as an addiction. The goal of this paper is to review relevant information in the domain of gaming, including the types of video games, the possibilites of their postive use, as well as the risks that they come with. The paper also shows the role of social work in the prevention of risks and problematic gaming, as well as the possibilites of developing the profession using video games