Is It Just A Game?

My adolescent years were filled with playing Super Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, Street Fighter and so many other games (2013). Not to mention video arcades where I and my friends, or friends of friends, sometimes hang out at the weekend. In gaming today, it is so much more than just a child asking his or her parent for a video game for the latest console from Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo (respectively). While playing these video games that have evolved with technology, most people wouldn't describe it as a multimillion/billion-dollar business.

We are all gamers, and we play online not only with our friends across the street but also with players all over the world (2020). It may only become a trend. But we all needed social interaction during the pandemic since children, teenagers, and adults alike were virtually cut off from each other during the lockdown and social distancing. Gaming has become an acceptable and sustainable way for people to stay in touch online.

There seems to be little doubt that the multiplayer multimedia universe will change the financial landscape soon because it will attract thousands of people from across the world. I no longer see gaming as something to be feared, but rather as something to value. Listed below is one gamer with numbers that professional athletes would accept: Kyle "Bugha" Giersdorf earned $3.2 million winning a competition in Fortnite. The game is loosely based on killing as many people as possible in a multiplayer multi-universe battle arena (n.d.).

With companies such as EA (n.d.), the gaming industry, which was once seen as a waste of time and money, is now a multimedia titan changing the lives of those who want to dedicate their futures to working, playing, and contributing to the industry.

References

BBC. (n.d.). How online gaming has become a social lifeline. BBC Worklife. https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20201215-how-online-gaming-has-become-a-social-lifeline.

Heath, J. (2021, March 11). The 10 highest Earning esports players in the world. Dot Esports. https://dotesports.com/general/news/top-earning-esports-players-21870.

Home Page. EA Games. (n.d.). https://www.ea.com/. Lagomarsino, J. (2013, January 16). The life and death of the American arcade. The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2013/1/16/3881942/the-life-and-death-of-the-american-arcade.

TikTok: Dancing Away To Stay Fit Or Is It Just A Ticking Time Bomb??

It should be noted that I am not a fan of the social media platform, TikTok. Having two left feet makes me dance like a penguin with unhappy feet. My wife on the other hand, at 35 years young, is an avid TikTok enthusiast. Whenever she isn't sharing flash fiction on her page, I find her in random rooms doing fanciful routines, not to be outdone by whatever teenager has come up with a new "dance".

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I was intrigued by her passion for this social media platform. I started to look up various TikTok dancing routines and I found many different ones including a fad exercise routine that could lead to dangerous health repercussions (2021). There is also a dance that has been said to give you perfect abdominal muscles. This claim is being disputed by various other credible sources (2021).

I found TikTok's gain in popularity somewhat expected as people are constantly on the go (excuse the pun). We have less and less time to sit down in front of the TV, let alone a computer screen. TikTok is clearly gaining momentum. Even though most forms of exercise, whether they are in the gym or dancing on TikTok, are not frowned upon, it is important to have the right instruction so people with limited movement or those with rare health issues do not damage themselves or others by their actions (2020).

TikTok is really for the young at heart and should be enjoyed by those who can dance and show the older generations the importance of staying active and fit, even if it means standing in front of the washing machine and dancing around like you're on a hallucinogenic high (like my dear wife who shared a dance with me that she liked to do in her childhood with her grandparents).

References

Isaac Jayne, P. (1 May 2021). TikTok Weight Loss Dance. Cosmopolitan.com. https://www.cosmopolitan.com/health-fitness/a36307738/tiktok-weight-loss-dance-viral-expert-dangerous/

Moniuszko,S. (26 May 2021). TikTok Thrusting Dance Workout Ineffective Fitness Experts Say. USAToday.com. https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/health-wellness/2021/05/26/tiktok-thrusting-dance-workout-ineffective-fitness-experts-say/5239160001/

Strapagiel, L. (26 October 2020). Most Viral TikTok Dances of 2020. BuzzFeed News. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/laurenstrapagiel/most-viral-tiktok-dances-of-2020