Man, I've been loving the new kinds of videos you've been putting out, Mat and the Theorist team! Thanks for doing this research and making this video. The thought you put into writing and discovering all this information shows, and I'm incredibly proud of the work you've done and continue to do. I'm super familiar with all these arguments and issues going into the world of journalism myself, but it just makes me want to get there even faster - to try and do this kind of ethical research and reporting. It's not easy to put aside your personal perspective and see what you find, but you did, and I thank you on behalf of those of us who aspire to do that too. :D

*It makes me so proud yet uncomfortable that i trust Matpat more than most political leaders*

I once saw this one meme what said. "Blaming Video Games for Gun violence is like blaming hot wheels for car crashes." LOL

To quote a meme: Blaming games for violence is the equivalent of blaming hot wheels for car crashes.

*Plays Tetris* "Ah yes, this yellow square makes me want to finish the job the Black Plague couldn't."

Police: why did you shoot up the place? Shooter: I used to have a club penguin account Police: I see.

people fear what they don't understand and hate what they can't conquer.

i tried to show this video to my mom, but she didn’t care or listen, and just listened to the parts where you said video games don’t cause violence and said you had a bad argument. just like she does with any other argument.

Violent video games ≠ Violence ❎ Violent people = Play Violent games ✅ Smoking ≠ Dropping off school ❎ Stress = Dropping off school and smoking ✅ 87% of statistics are lies or manipulated to be lies, This one is an example

Judge: so tell me about you. Shooter: my mother was an alcoholic and my father died in a car accident when I was 9, I got diagnosed with bipolar disorder and my girlfriend killed herself, I used to play Kirby- Judge: oh, *I SEE*

Little do they know that people have ALWAYS been violent.

matpat is like that cool smart uncle at the family gatherings

I love how most adults always try to find a way criticize what kids do, kinda controlling nature to be honest

Remember when people in the media thought gamers were fat and living in their mom’s basement?

As an English teacher, I think I'm going to use this video as a how-to for identifying your biases and discarding them in favor of rational examination. This is exactly what the world needs. Less feels and more thinks.

Fun fact, back in the day many kids would literally fight each other with wooden/blunted swords and bow and arrows without arrowheads.

My therapist: Since you have *ADHD,* what makes you calm down? My brain: *PLEASE SAY VIDEO GAMES!!!* Me: _I walk outside and rethink my life choices._

Me: throws a red shell at a person in MarioKart. Media: He’S trAiNIng To wrECK pEoPLe

I- I forgot MatPat is an actual human being, it was weird seeing him _move_ ...

"Video game cause violence" Me who was inspired by Undertale: I'm very determined to prove it to you that games don't cause violence

Finally, someone who doesn't over inflate the data about this subject. Somebody who isn't owned by a politician and was just looking at the truth. Almost all the evidence for the "Video Games Bad" argument are easily explainable with critical and unbaised thinking. I have done reasearch about this before and reached a similar conclusion. Thanks for the great video MatPat.

I think people who are violent from video games were already violent without the fault of video games.

My dad: "videogames cause violence" The game i wanted to play: "a n i m a l c r o s s i n g"

Mom: literally hitting me with a belt and slapping me in the face cuz i did some simple mistake Me: depressed and sad now Mom: *it was totally the videogames*

nearly 2 years later and mat is still helping me with school work by providing me sources for a paper. thanks a million for all the help throughout the years chief.

MatPat: *starts on couch* Me: Oh boy... that escalated quickly

Since so many games are based on wars, it's violence that causes video games.

Thanks for the video! Now I really want to understand the perspectives that actually do lead to violence. Like I'm pretty sure ww2 wasn't caused by the "epic hit game mineshraft", but so many egomaniacs took the stage during ww2, there must be some similar note they all hit.

I'm using this for my last English class essay arguing if violent video games should be banned or not. Thanks MatPat, been a long time fan didn't ever think this would actually help with something important

I can remember the first time I played sudoku on my phone. Just 2 hours after finishing, I joined a gang, killed innocent elders on the street, set fire to an orphanage and had a gang fight against the crossword gang. Edit: if you are a member of the sudoku gang, come to discord.gg/zW5QmYA to help destroy the crossword gang once and for all

Breaking News: Kid turns into tank after playing Animal Crossing

This is a really deep topic for me. My family has been deeply affected by guns in both positive and negative ways, (Hunting, suicides, etc.) and I spent most of my school life being terrified of shootings, being bullied and beaten, and so many other instances of physical violence. As a kid, I was VERY violent due to mostly social factors. Meaning, it wasn't the fiction I got, but the bullying and violence I got from other people my age that caused me to act violently. My siblings and I fought sometimes, of course, but overall we solved our issues and desire for fighting WITH games. If we wanted to brawl it out, we played smash bros to decide who was the winner or did obstacle courses in our backyard. I mostly played exploratory, story-based, games such as Zelda, and I watched shows such as Avatar the Last Airbender, both of which contain fantasy violence. But, I also got my fair share of brawling games, Mortal combat, and "normal" violence in Media, alongside learning about 9/11 and other terror attacks or wars non-stop. Personally, those media influences of shows and games actually helped me because I learned how to dodge and evade attacks when I got bullied. I actively hid and tried to avoid physical conflict and contact at that younger age. While some of my violent streaks and worries did spill over as I got older and as I went into middle school, i.e. came out more as violent acts rather than hiding, and I was always on high alert and ready for a fight, I was able to overcome it because of social obstacles. I went from defensive, to violent, to non-violent. My close friend, now best friend, told me back then that if I didn't stop acting out that way, that she wouldn't be friends with me anymore. That social factor helped me. I was able to step away, take a look at myself, and stop hurting people around me physically. I was able to stop acting like a wild dog that had been abused, and more like a rescue puppy. Do I still play games to this day? YES! Absolutely! My best friend, the peace lover, also plays games. She grew up on Horror and shooter games to be exact. I have never seen her hurt ANYONE, not even a punch. So...those games didn't change her either. She just found them fun and interesting, without having a desire to hurt anyone, despite the hard times and situations that made her life far more adverse than mine. So, with the utmost certainty, I can say that in my experience, video games did not cause me to act out violently, nor did they totally cure my violence. They were simply a tool I used as escapism, a completely separate part of my life from my social influences, which changed and turned me from a violent and hurt individual to someone who healed and wears the scars of that time proudly. To someone who now follows non-violent communication vows as a part of my lifestyle. Video games were in a completely different ballpark physiologically when it came to how I acted and if I used violence. What caused all of it for me was social surroundings and attitudes. It was the atmosphere I was in that changed me over and over again. I was a fighter when I had to be, when I needed to not get bloodied and bruised too often. Then, when that changed and went away, and I was no longer tormented in a violent environment, I was able to change and become a better person and communicator. So...whenever someone blames games, I have to just look them in the eye and disagree. Firmly. Social surroundings are what shape a person FAR more than the media they ingest, especially when the two conflicts with one another, and especially if that individual is able to distinguish fiction from reality.

THANK YOU!! I have been doing an argumentative essay in my English class about how video games don't lead to violence and you just made me believe myself even more and you found good studies about how the correlation between video games and violence is weak so Thank You.

"video games are causing violence!! me: *casually farming potatoes and making houses for my cats and dogs*

Before they blamed violent video games didn’t they blame horror and violent movies?

MatPat: We don't know if video games cause violence but the evidence shows that we have a bit more proof that it doesn't then we do then if it does. Non-gamers: *We know video games cause violence the evidence shows that we have proof that it does*

Video game addiction is often rather a sign of a bigger problem than a problem in itself.

This. This right here. This episode is why MatPat and the Theorist Team can say they have the Smartest Show in Gaming.

My mom: stop playing that game, you’re going to be way to violent! Me: aggressively farms my carrots

My college psychology professor assigned me this video for homework. That’s awesome

We all know that the problem is that guns are way easier to purchase in the US while in Europe they are prohibited unless you have a licence and your gun is registrated by the Police. Any illegal guns are taken of the streets preety quickly which means even getting an illegal weapon is next to impossible because even criminals no longer trust anyone because Police is constantly looking for such stuff. In a country with no easy way to get a legal weapon arresting an arms dealer is a big deal and every officer on the street is looking for such occasion to get himself promoted.

Do video games cause violence? Short answer: No. Long answer: Nooooo.

Guys, it’s Nerf that’s causing this gun violence. How blind can you be

Why is matpat the most reasonable person in media? I'm glad someone is finally able to put out an unbiased opinion on this but I'm frankly disappointed that this is the first time I've heard one. Please people. Try to have open minds. Try to be more understanding about things you've never seen or can't beleive.

this video was actually a factor in me doing my 10th grade research paper on video games and violence

Matpat: *tries to find the real truth using data and science and end the debate fairly* Media: Wait, that's illegal!

yeah, i hated it when my sister got banned on club penguin for saying “heck” and then proceeded to go on a mass shooting spree.

None of these studies take into account confounding factors either. For example one could draw from this that video games decrease violence due to the correlation with decreasing crime, but that isn’t a causal. In fact it’s entirely possible that they do cause violence and we also see a decrease in violence due to some other factor reducing violence even more

I have been a fan/subscriber for over a decade. But this video has been such a huge help for writing my senior paper over, _coincidentally enough_ , violence in video games. I’m so happy that I am able to use one of my favorite KZfaqrs as a source to defend one of my favorite hobbies. Thank you so much for these videos and your commitment to finding the truth!

The media: Video games cause violence Me: *Tries to pick the nicest dialogue option to not hurt the NPCs feelings* Edit: removed the thanking for likes because it's cringy

Video games hit peak popularity Violence hits all time low ViDeO gAmEs CaUsE vIoLeNcE

I have a speaking and listening exam coming up and this is the topic I've selected to do. Thanks for the info MatPat!

“Video Games cause violence!” Meanwhile me crying myself to sleep after killing papyrus in Undertale

Take this with a grain if salt but personally I feel it’s the media giving all these shooters so much attention and making other mentally unstable people feeling like if they commit such horrible crimes they’ll get attention and to some of them that maybe they’ll be recognized and that might be all they want . If someone higher up person in media sees this please consider forgetting about money and think about people’s lives.Again take this with a major grain of salt

As a teacher, it seems like parents aren't always raising their kids to take responsibility for their actions. We are in a society that can be very individual centered at the cost of society. It makes me so angry when people blame violence on video games. To me it sounds ignorant.

It’s really funny how my little sister has much more violent thoughts than me. She plays random Roblox games and the Sims 4. I play games like Battlefield, Halo, and Doom.

This is an example of correlation vs causation, people say “oh some video games are violent,that is the cause of more violence” they are similar situation sure but it isn’t the definitive reason for more violence. Now i live in the uk were virtually no-one owns a gun if they do they need to undergo training to obtain a license and if they show violent tendencies their license will be taken away.

WWI Solider: “Hey, what’s violence?” Other Solider: “I don’t know. Video games haven’t been invented yet.” Edit: *Alright. Which one of you let this waste of pixels blow up?*

Why the heck was this demonetized when it had facts and logical evidence?

I'm doing a school project on this topic and I picked this topic with this video in mind. Thank you for making this vid matpat. I needed the sources.

Really appreciate this man. You are EXACTLY the kind of person I look up to.

*plays farming simulator for a while Me when I’m done: Time to attack strangers

Mom: Stop playing that game, it’s violent Me: *Agresively plays Minecraft peaceful*

Man, you are absolutely amazing at what you do and I really appreciate the lengths you go to in order to convey information. It's not even to prove a point. I'm sure you have your own thoughts and agenda but as you said, you care about "the truth above and beyond everything else" keep it up man; and since I'm in the future, i know you have.

Never thought i'd be able to use this in my school work..

Damn, i just ate a cooked steak in Minecraft, and a few hours later i became hungry. Minecraft causes hunger.

I played Stardew Valley for 300 hours and now have the slight temptation of aggressively petting my dog. Send help.

I enjoyed going back and viewing this video. I want to see where you got your statistics and what you excluded for your data. I appreciate these types of videos. Wish youd do more

Human violence has been their ever since the ancient times, even before video games was created.

Rather than video games influencing people to be violent, it could be that naturally violent people are attracted to violent video games which could actually be helping by drawing them away from committing violent acts in real life

The fact that this video was demonitized makes me so angry. Media is becoming so pissy about people who actually know more than them.

This is very good stuff! The only correlation I have noticed between violence and video games is when people who are avid video game players have their video games taken away.

People before videogames: chopped heads off in front of big audiences just for fun and enjoyment. I don't think the problem is in videogames

Them: "Video games are causing all this violence!" Me: *side-eyeing most of human history* "...Sure. Video games."

If only someone would have taken Hitler's Xbox away

the data that you find and the info that you manage to dig in always manages to impress me, thank you MatPat!!!!

Thank god he had lots of sources on this topic. This is going to make my essay very easy

well couldn’t we say the same thing about movies? Wouldn’t movies cause violence too

Before Video Games were a thing people were blaming movies and books on violence. Just saying is all.

My stance has always been that the videogames/violence conversation, itself, is wrong. It SHOULD be a mental health/violence conversation. Lack of mental health resources - that's the real issue. Video games, man. Video games. That's not a violence trigger, imo. It's a catharsis source. If not for Assassins Creed, I swear I would have tried to throttle someone. AC gave me the catharsis I needed at a time I hella needed it, honestly. Stressful day? Time to go after some Templars! Instead of, you know, stew in stress and anger. ...I admit, I wrote this at the beginning/middle of the video. But so far, my theory (video games = catharsis, not violence, as per my own experience) seems to hold up lol. Edit: Where is the mention of catharsis, man? Are there no studies on cathartic value of video games? Bc *bangs table* that's what I want!

I love this guy. MatPat, I'm so glad you are willing to actually try to find an answer. Thanks for the research

Old people just blame video games because they dont like blaming themselves

i showed this to my mom. she hasnt complained about me playing csgo for the last 3 week.

I just went back to this video as I had to do an argumentative essay and video games on violence was a choice I could pick. This was very helpful thanks for making this video.

This kind of videos gives some impact and also inspiration, makes me love researching on common argument such as this

Serial killer: I was in the 8 mile radius of an Xbox Media: Case Closed

Reasons why I clicked this video: 1. It can be a good material for my english essay 2. I am quarantined and bored 3. It's Game Theory

Seeing as how this is Matpat, I half expected that he would find conclusive evidence that video games not only cause violence, but also cause every other problem that plagues the world.

i have a research project with also this topic and this video almost did all the work for me

Media: “drunk driver had candy crush downloaded on his phone” *must be a serial killer too*

No one: News media in 2040: STUDIES SHOW THAT 100% OF SHOOTERS WEAR CLOTHES, DO CLOTHES CAUSE VIOLENCE!!?!!?

I am happy he made something like this which is not biased and has a POV of a parent and a gamer

I appreciate this because I did an entire essay about this in sixth grade.

“Video games don’t create violence, they just reflect the violent society we live in”

Let’s be real, at this rate Mat’s gonna have to start saying “That’s just a Thesis. A Game Thesis.”

Thx mat i used bits and pieces of your research for my presentation and now I got A+

For advertising agencies, a key selling point for prospective clients is that repeated ad impressions will guide the target audience through stages of awareness, interest, desire, action/conversion/purchase, post-consumption evaluation, evangelization, blah blah blah. In essence, repeated branded touchpoints will influence consumer behavior. This is literally how they sell their services. Video game developers state the opposite: games won't affect behavior. Both arguments are near impossible to prove, but there is a lot of new interesting data coming from the neuroscience arena. Regardless, they are both billion-dollar industries of influence.

There was a shooting in my town today because of a drug turf war, so drugs and gangs cause violence.

Everybody gangster until MatPat pulls out the facecam

People just want an excuse to blame for their child misbehaving or something like that.