How Video Games Are Getting Inside Your Head — And Wallet

by Steve Henn, for NPR 2013

We've identified these texts as great options for text pairings based on similar themes, literary devices, topic, or writing style. Supplement your lesson with one or more of these options and challenge students to compare and contrast the texts. To assign a paired text, click on the text to go to its page and click the "Assign Text" button there.

Watch Out: Cell Phones Can Be Addictive

Kathiann Kowalski

Dr. James Roberts is marketing professor and the author of a study about cell phone addiction that appeared in the August 2014 Journal of Behavioral Addictions. Here, Kathiann Kowalski of Science News for Students covers the results of his study: too much dependence on your smartphone isn't smart.

Pair “Watch Out: Cell Phones Can Be Addictive” with “How Video Games Are Getting Inside Your Head – And Wallet” and ask students to compare cell phone addiction with gaming addiction. How do the consequences of the two addictions compare? Do students think that one addiction is worse than the other? If so, in what way?

7th Grade News 940L

Someone Might Be Watching — An Introduction to Dystopian Fiction

Shelby Ostergaard

In the informational text "Someone Might Be Watching — An Introduction to Dystopian Fiction," Shelby Ostergaard discusses the characteristics of dystopian fiction and how the genre comments on society.

Pair “Someone Might Be Watching – An Introduction to Dystopian Fiction” with “How Video Games Are Getting Inside Your Head – And Wallet” and ask students to discuss how game companies’ influence over gamers might be portrayed in a dystopian world. In what ways do game companies infringe on gamers’ privacy? Do students think this is a violation of their rights? Why or why not?

9th Grade Informational Text 1170L

When Women Stopped Coding

Steve Henn

In the informational text "When Women Stopped Coding," Steven Henn discusses why fewer women are pursuing careers in computer science.

Pair “When Women Stopped Coding” with “How Video Games Are Getting Inside Your Head – And Wallet” and ask students to discuss how video games were originally marketed towards boys. Do students think that this is still true today? Why or why not? How do both texts explore the influence of marketing in the technology industry? How can this influence be dangerous or detrimental?

7th Grade Informational Text 940L

Screen Addiction Among Teens: Is There Such A Thing?

Anya Kamenetz

In the article "Screen Addiction Among Teens: Is There Such A Thing?" Anya Kamenetz explores whether or not teens can be addicted to their technological devices.

Pair “How Video Games Are Getting Inside Your Head – And Wallet” with “Screen Addiction Among Teens: Is There Such A Thing?” and ask students to discuss the addictive nature of screens. How are screens, specifically video games, designed to keep users engaged? How do both texts explore the difficulty of overcoming technology “addictions”?

10th Grade Informational Text 1140L

Age Limits on Your Favorite Apps?

Ruben Brosbe

In "Age Limits on Your Favorite Apps?," legislators seek to address concerns about social media's harmful impacts on young people. Pair “How Video Games Are Getting Inside Your Head — And Wallet” with “Age Limits on Your Favorite Apps?” and ask students to discuss if social media and video games should have similar age bans. According to “How Video Games Are Getting Inside Your Head — And Wallet,” how are video games designed to be addictive for kids? What is the negative effect of video game screen time? What regulations are being considered to limit video games for young people? According to “Age Limits on Your Favorite Apps?,” how is social media designed to be addictive for users? What are the negative effects of social media? What regulations are being considered to limit social media for young people? Why do you think the regulations against video games and social media are approached differently? Explain your thinking.

10th Grade Informational Text 1200L

Is Online Gaming Addictive?

Gina Rich

In "Is Online Gaming Addictive?," Gina Rich discusses how, after more than a decade of debate, professionals still disagree about whether excessive online gaming is a diagnosable disorder. Pair “How Video Games Are Getting Inside Your Head — And Wallet” with “Is Online Gaming Addictive?” and ask students to discuss the strategies that game developers use to encourage gamers to play for longer periods of time, and whether those strategies contribute to online gaming addiction. According to “How Video Games Are Getting Inside Your Head — And Wallet,” what are some of the strategies game developers use in order to keep users playing? What concerns have the parents cited in the article raised about their children’s behavior and attitudes toward gaming? In “Is Online Gaming Addictive?,” some of the experts note positive aspects of online gaming, doubt that it is addictive, and cite not that “‘addiction’ is a loaded term.” Explain their concerns with applying the label to online gaming. Considering both articles, what role does a person’s age and/or mental health play in the degree to which their gaming habits are healthy?

9th Grade Informational Text 1140L

Paired Texts > How Video Games Are Getting Inside Your Head — And Wallet