It is often said that screens are harmful to children. Yes, but they also develop intelligence. This is in line with previous studies, which show that screens are a double-edged sword. Decryption with Mathilde Fontez, editor-in-chief of the magazine Epsiloon.
franceinfo: Mathilde, how to explain this correlation established between an increase in intelligence and the regular practice of video games?
A study conducted in the United States has just demonstrated this. She followed for two years nearly 10,000 children aged 8-10, to measure the evolution of their cognitive performance, depending on the time they spend playing video games. And yes: researchers have found that those who gamble tend to be smarter than those who don’t.
It contradicts everything we thought…
In fact, a series of studies have been showing this for about ten years: video games do not have such a negative impact, or even, sometimes, a positive impact. The first thing that has been demonstrated is that they of course develop observation skills, reactivity. As early as 2006, two studies had shown that playing video games improves attention and visual processing. And other tests have also shown that they also develop the ability to learn, to understand, to adapt. A study even concluded in 2014 that they boost working memory capacity.
The researchers picked it all up. They subjected the children who participated in their test to vocabulary exercises, attention tests, written and oral comprehension exercises, memory exercises, and they show that children who play games video, even at high doses – several hours a day – are more efficient.
Is this only valid for games, not for social networks for example?
Only for games yes. The researchers also tested the use of social networks and they do not see, unlike games, any correlation with intelligence. Nor any correlation either with a drop – for example – in school results. It is therefore the fact of playing that makes the difference.
So we have a smarter generation that is in the process of being formed…
Psychologists go so far yes: they relate these results to another measure: the slight increase in IQ scores, which has been observed since the end of the 1980s. They point to the coincidence. According to them, video games could explain this. They would play the role of a kind of informal education.