Gaming… the act of getting rid of stress with gambling or video games. A way of disconnecting from the real world to a fictional world, making impossibilities come to life. For instance, using Serbia national team to win Brazil national team, OR using a small human figure to kill a god. Pulling stunts such as taking down a whole military force are also possible with gaming. In real life instances, these occurrences are nearly impossible, if not impossible.
Life has gotten better than since the invention of video games. I no longer have to get a bottle beer to forget my problems, or take drugs to get high. My game console and pad can do the trick, my laptop also can pull that stunt. Gaming makes man do what seems impossible possible only with the right click of the pad/keyboard/mouse.
I no longer have to get a bottle beer to forget my problems… My game console and pad can do that trick!
A wise man once said “Everything that has an advantage has a disadvantage.” As much as gaming seems to be a safe way of getting high, it is also becomes very dangerous when addicted to. Gaming should be controlled to avoid getting addicted to. Why?
According to the 11th International Classification of Diseases by the World Health Organisation, the state where someone consistently gives precedence to gaming over any other activities in life and also continues gaming in spite of negative consequences in other areas of life is also attributed to the addiction is called a Gaming Disorder!
According to the WHO, the gaming behavior and related features have to be observed in an individual over a period of 12 months for an official diagnosis to be considered.Mental health experts have long spoken out against the harmful effects of prolonged gaming, but this is the first time that it is being officially recognized as a mental health disorder by the international body.
"...this is the first time that it is being officially recognized as a mental health disorder by the international body."
Gaming addiction pushes all other activities to the periphery; It affects personal, family, social, educational and occupational functioning. It can also lead to disturbed sleep patterns, diet problems and also deficiency of physical activities.
Psychiatrists are emphasizing the need for a digital detox as a cure. Dr Sameer Malhotra, director- mental health and behavioral sciences at Max Healthcare says increasing screen time is leading to lack of human interaction, low emotional connection between children and adults because each one hooked on to the virtual worlds. "Families have stopped bonding leading to isolated adolescents. Alertness is also poor because of over exposure to harmful radiation from screen exposure."
"Families have stopped bonding leading to isolated adolescents."
Some countries had already identified it as a major public health issue. Many, including the UK, have private addiction clinics to "treat" the condition.It will suggest that abnormal gaming behaviour should be in evidence over a period of at least 12 months "for a diagnosis to be assigned" but added that period might be shortened "if symptoms are severe".
Symptoms include:
-impaired control over gaming (frequency, intensity, duration)
-increased priority given to gaming
-continuation or escalation of gaming despite negative consequences.
Lots of countries are grappling with the issue and in South Korea the government has introduced a law banning access for children under 16 from online games between midnight and 06:00.
In Japan, players are alerted if they spend more than a certain amount of time each month playing games and in China, internet giant Tencent has limited the hours that children can play its most popular games.
...law banning access for children under 16 from online games between midnight and 06:00
A recent study from the University of Oxford suggested that, although children spend a lot of time on their screens, they generally managed to intertwine their digital pastimes with daily life.
Killian Mullan said: “Technology is being used with and in some cases perhaps to support other activities, like homework, and not to push them out.” “Just like we adults do, children should learn to spread their digital tech use throughout the day, while doing other things."
"...children should learn to spread their digital tech use throughout the day, while doing other things."