> in particular young males without many skills who also tend to commit crime
> A big, time consuming engaging hobby appearing that young males take to with great enthusiasm appearing as games got cheaper and better.
I wasn't even thinking along those lines, my thought was more about the "violent" part of "violent video games" - that the games acted as a sort of stress release valve, helping people with their self-control when it matters.
It could do that. Or it might just give them a reason to do something else rather than hang out with other bored young men and potentially plan things.
It's also worth noting that the drop in crime has also happened in a bunch of countries around the same time.
Another thing that has happened at the same time is the rise of Hikikomori and others who stay at home with their parents and don't do a lot.
Now of course, there are phones in the hand of so many young people giving them a constant feed of engaging content. This no doubt hinders people's concentration but it also might, again, stop people comitting crimes.
> A big, time consuming engaging hobby appearing that young males take to with great enthusiasm appearing as games got cheaper and better.
I wasn't even thinking along those lines, my thought was more about the "violent" part of "violent video games" - that the games acted as a sort of stress release valve, helping people with their self-control when it matters.