Video games bring 21st-century twists to age-old debates about the ethics of media

This is part of a series of primers on current affairs and issues in the news, and what they mean for Singapore.

- Teo Kai Xiang

For as long as there has been "new media," people have had debates about the dangers and opportunities it presents.

The advent of television led to it being criticised as the "idiot box" that would lower educational standards. The rise of the printing press came with condemnations from religious authorities and monarchs concerned about how it would undermine orthodox views.

One of the earliest criticisms of new media came from Plato's description of Socrates expressing concern that writing would cause one's internal capacity for memory and thought to deteriorate, as one comes to rely on written records.

What distinguishes video games from other forms of media is that they involve play and interactivity. By incorporating computer graphics and, at times, internet connectivity, games create immersive digital worlds that are highly responsive to a player's actions.

This 20th-century invention has evolved with every new decade, bringing a modern twist to age-old concerns about how the media shapes lives.

THE POWER OF PLAY

Unlike passive media consumption, gaming demands engagement. Players make decisions and navigate complex environments. This level of immersion creates a fundamentally different relationship between the medium and its audience — creating new opportunities and ethical concerns.

The importance of this innovation cannot be understated. According to the US Federal Trade Commission, the global video game industry has surpassed both the film and music industries in revenue, raking in more than US$170 billion (S$224 billion) in 2022, based on an estimate.

A 2022 survey by consulting firm Deloitte of 25,000 people, including in Singapore, found that 45 per cent of Singapore respondents reported playing video games for over an hour a day in the past six months.