Today’s Video Games
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Worth Your Time!
Resource Recommendations to Help You Parent and Mentor Most Effectively
This Week's Recommendation:
Why It Matters:
When I ask a preteen or teen what they do for fun, the #1 answer is video games. When many adults think of video games, they often think of games like Pac-Man, Minecraft, countless variations of Super Mario Brothers, and the classic Wii Sports; however, those relatively family-friendly games are usually not the ones they’re talking about. Today’s games can be filled with mature adult themes including violence, sex, etc.
Since the trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI was released on Tuesday, it’s racked up over 124 MILLION views and broke the record for most views in 24 hours for a non-music video. These numbers demonstrate the popularity of the GTA series and the anticipation among gamers for its next installment.
While some youth may not be allowed to play it when it’s released in 2025, others will, including youth raised in church and attending Christian schools. Others may not be allowed but will still find a way. Also, teens may play it at a friend’s house without parental permission or knowledge.
This 90-second trailer will be eye-opening for many adults and is definitely “worth your time.”
How to Use It
First, watch the trailer yourself.
Then, ask a preteen or teen if they’ve seen it. Why do they think people are so excited about it?
Ask if their friends are talking about it. If so, what do their friends think about it? Do any of them play earlier versions of GTA? What other games do their friends like to play? What are those games about? Remember, you’ll generally get more honest answers if you ask about their friends. This will potentially give you helpful insights that you may or may not want to discuss further.
Use the video as a springboard for a discussion about video games in general. Topics could include time usage, addiction, appropriate and inappropriate content, playing online games with strangers, etc. “Would you say any of your friends are addicted to gaming? How much time do they spend per day?” “Do you think, ‘it’s just a game,’ or do you think there are games that are ok to play and games that you shouldn’t play?” “Have you heard any stories about people having weird online interactions with strangers while playing video games? Has anything like that ever happened to you?”
The goal isn’t to interrogate them. The goal is to enter their world and understand it, which enables us to more effectively parent or mentor them. Showing genuine interest in their world will strengthen your connection! The GTA trailer, which is currently trending on social media platforms, provides a great opportunity to do that.
Watch the Trailer Here