Friendship bonds may cut video game-related depression



Worried about your adolescent child's heavy video game addiction? Take heart, he or she may be playing games together with friends or chatting with them online while playing.

A new study suggests that while playing video games for more than four hours a day may lead to symptoms of depression, but if children are socially engaged with friends and play together, they may not develop addiction-like problems.

“While playing video games for four hours a day can be worrisome behaviour, not everyone who does so is at risk of developing symptoms of addiction or depression,“ said lead author Michelle Colder Carras, post-doctoral researcher in US.

The findings showed that some of the downsides of gaming may be balanced out in those who are socially engaged either online or in real life with friends.

For the study , the team examined the friendship bonds and time spent in playing video games in nearly 10,000 teenagers.

The results showed that boys who were not very social online showed more loneliness and anxiety, regardless of the quality of their friendships.

On the other hand, girls who gamed extensively but were also very active in online social settings showed less loneliness and social anxiety but had lower self-esteem.

However, it should not be assumed that all adolescents can have a gamingrelated disorder.

Instead, parents and clinicians need to focus on those who lack a social life or have other problems, the Carras noted.

The study is forthcoming in a journal on human behaviour.

The latest and creepiest of online trends



Pranks make for amazing trending videos and pictures, right? Well, sometimes it can be taken too far. As the people of South Africa seem to have done. The newest social media trend blowing up from South Africa is people pretending to be dead, and posting those photos online.Unnerving? Tell us about it! The brain behind this macabre trend is that of a high school student Karabo Mnisi, all of 19 years! There's a barrage of pictures online of people trying out the dead pose. While initially it was just people posing as lifeless bodies, as the trend gained momentum, people started experimenting. And now, it has escalated to a point where people are staging elaborate situations such as grisly murders and sexual assault! One can only gape at the commitment level! It sent a chill down our spine, too.

The latest video of this trend shows a toddler trying desperately to `revive' his `dead aunt', while his mother films the prank. After the heart-wrenching video went viral, outrage has poured in from all over, giving rise to the counter hashtag #deadposemustfall. However, the boy's mother dismissed the backlash by claiming that the little boy was in on the prank.

ROHIT SHARMA AND R ASHWIN UNPACK THEIR STYLISH AND SPACIOUS BAGS


The ace cricketers unveil the latest trendy and sturdy collection of luggage and backpacks from Aristocrat
The latest collection of Aristocrat bags and backpacks is a range of modern, functional and stylish products crafted to suit the ambitious and aspiring youth of the country. Leading the pack with more space and durability, the brand has a bag for every occasion. Brand ambassadors Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin advocate the bags highly. “After hours of travel, I am usually worried about the state of my luggage. But these bags are quite durable. The quality and lightweight factors have really impressed me,” says ‘Cricketer of the Year’ Ashwin. Rohit admits he is impressed with the extra space. “These bags have extra space, which is very important. It’s helpful especially because you always have something to pack at the last minute. It’s also light, durable and definitely good-looking,” he adds. The collection comprises many variants and features, with extra space topping the list. Big enough to carry essentials for business trips or holidays, the bags also offer 3-inch expanders and up to five years international warranty. The high quality and durable material is an addon. The backpack collection is equally extensive, with bags for every purpose, be it office, outdoor or college. Constructed with high quality material, the backpacks come with compartments and organisers for all essentials. These trendy bags are strong and spacious. Despite the many features, they are available at attractive price points. The luggage bags are available from `2,500 onwards, while backpacks start at `599. Talking about the partnership, Radhika Piramal (Managing Director, VIP Industries Ltd) says, “We are extremely happy to have two cricket champions as our ambassadors. The brand’s philosophy of ‘Unpack Your Dreams’ connects well with them. We all have dreams which evolve with every milestone. Aristocrat wants to be by your side as an enabler to realise these dreams.” Sudip Ghose (Vice President, Sales & Marketing, VIP Industries Ltd) adds, “As a brand, we have always catered to the demands of the frequent traveller and have evolved according to the changing times. The new luggage collection now comes with extra space and larger expanders, while the backpacks have more style, comfort and space. We believe our new brand ideology and ambassadors will resonate with a younger audience who are passionate about their dreams and follow them, no matter what.” The products are available across leading VIP World outlets, multi-brand stores and hyper markets. They are also available online on Amazon, Myntra, Flipkart, Paytm, Jabong and Snapdeal. http:www.amazon.inaristocrat Connect with Aristocrat to stay updated with the latest trends Twitter: @Aristocratbags Instagram: https:http:www.instagram. comaristocratbags YouTube: https:http:www.youtube.comchannel UCg6ucvxjitdihF4RPMCdCw Facebook: https:http:www.facebook.com AristocratBags interna and up to five years tional warranty . The high quality and durable material is an addha on. The backpack collection is ch with bags for co equally extensive, it office, outsp every purpose, be Constructed with th door or college. backco quality material, the high come with compartments n packs for all essentials. d and organisers strong and a These trendy bags are the many feaa . spacious. Despite tures, they are available at attract points. The luggage y tive price a available from `2,500 e bags are while backpacks start tonwards, y at `599.

f Talking about the partnership, (Managing ts Radhika Piramal a Director, VIP Industries Ltd) says, extremely happy to have a “We are champions as our t. two cricket The brand's philos u ambassadors.

at ophy of `Unpack Your Dreams' well with them. We all ht, connects with khave dreams which evolvewants every milestone. Aristocrat as an enabler to ny to be by your side dreams.“

tra realise these Big Sudip Ghose (Vice President, VIP for Sales & Marketing, the Industries Ltd) adds, “ As a brand, always catered to the ers we have demands of the fre quent traveller and the evolved according to have times. The new luggage changing now comes with extra collection while and larger expanders, space style, backpacks have more the We believe our comfort and space. and ambassa new brand ideology a younger dors will resonate with who are passionate audience their dreams and follow about no matter what.“

them, products are available The outlets, across leading VIP World hyper and multi-brand stores available markets. They are also Myntra, online on Amazon, Flipkart, Paytm, Jabong and Snapdeal.

http:www.amazon.inaristocrat to stay Connect with Aristocrat trends updated with the latest Twitter: @Aristocratbags Instagram: https:http:www.insta gram.comaristocratbags s YouTube: o https:http:www.youtube.comchan nelUCg6ucvxjit dihF4RPMCdCw P, Facebook: , https:http:www.facebook.com AristocratBags e