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Pardon the dust! This page includes some jargon that hasn't been added to the site's glossary yet. I'll be around to fix this later, but sorry for the inconvenience in the meantime. |
Should I be concerned
about "video game addiction"?
What is "video game addiction"?
As the name suggests, video game addiction is an unhealthy and potentially dangerous relationship with video games. Whether or not this is a real thing depends on who you ask; for my part, I honestly believe that it's a very real thing - and like most types of addictions, some people are more likely to be at risk for it than others.
That said, it's pretty controversial to claim that someone can become addicted to video games. On one hand, you have experts debating if this is really a separate diagnosis or if it should be treated as another form of an existing one, like an impulse control disorder or gambling addiction. On the other, you have people who saw how crazy moral guardians became over the "evils" of things like Dungeons and Dragons or Harry Potter, and don't want to see yet another round of parents rushing to save their children from an imaginary threat.
...and of course, you also have the occasional person who's addicted to video games and desperately trying to deny it.
In the next section of this page, I'll go over some of the possible signs of video game addiction, and provide some context for each one. The context behind each question is very important, as what's a sign of addiction for an adult can easily be normal behavior for a child.
So if you're concerned about someone being addicted to games, you should always get their side of the story before making a judgement call. Don't be quick to vilify a game or gaming in general; just focus on what specifically worries you and try to get the player to understand why you're concerned. There's always a chance that you're misinterpreting the situation.
Lastly, before going further, it's important to keep in mind that I'm not a psychiatrist or anything - I'm simply someone who's been playing video games throughout their life, and has taken the time to read about addictions.
That said, it's pretty controversial to claim that someone can become addicted to video games. On one hand, you have experts debating if this is really a separate diagnosis or if it should be treated as another form of an existing one, like an impulse control disorder or gambling addiction. On the other, you have people who saw how crazy moral guardians became over the "evils" of things like Dungeons and Dragons or Harry Potter, and don't want to see yet another round of parents rushing to save their children from an imaginary threat.
...and of course, you also have the occasional person who's addicted to video games and desperately trying to deny it.
In the next section of this page, I'll go over some of the possible signs of video game addiction, and provide some context for each one. The context behind each question is very important, as what's a sign of addiction for an adult can easily be normal behavior for a child.
So if you're concerned about someone being addicted to games, you should always get their side of the story before making a judgement call. Don't be quick to vilify a game or gaming in general; just focus on what specifically worries you and try to get the player to understand why you're concerned. There's always a chance that you're misinterpreting the situation.
Lastly, before going further, it's important to keep in mind that I'm not a psychiatrist or anything - I'm simply someone who's been playing video games throughout their life, and has taken the time to read about addictions.
Questions to Ask Yourself
One thing to remember about video game addition is that it's an addiction. In other words, it's not just a hobby or something someone does for fun. When someone has an addiction, then they are driven by a compulsive need to do something; their ability to choose between actions has been compromised. This means that nearly all addictions follow the same song-and-dance, which makes them easier to spot when you know how they work.
Here is a short list of questions that can help you find problems with your gaming habits. Keep in mind that a problem with one or two items on this list isn't a big issue, but when many of them apply to you, it would probably be a good idea to think about how you're spending your time.
Here is a short list of questions that can help you find problems with your gaming habits. Keep in mind that a problem with one or two items on this list isn't a big issue, but when many of them apply to you, it would probably be a good idea to think about how you're spending your time.
Do you spend a lot of time thinking about gaming?
Almost everyone spends time thinking about or talking about their favorite things and hobbies. Children do this a lot more than adults, to the point where they seem to get "stuck" on something. But no matter how annoying it can be listening to the same song or watching the same movie for the millionth time this week might be, it's still a normal part of growing up and nothing to really worry about.
However, when someone becomes obsessed with gaming, to the point that they have trouble focusing on something else, there's a problem. This is especially true when we're talking about adults or older teens who should be taking care of themselves.
However, when someone becomes obsessed with gaming, to the point that they have trouble focusing on something else, there's a problem. This is especially true when we're talking about adults or older teens who should be taking care of themselves.
How do you feel when you can't game?
One of the biggest hallmarks of an addiction is withdrawal. If going without video games makes you angry, irritable, or restless, you should stop and think about why this is - but keep in mind that there are a number of reasons being unable to play a specific game would bother someone.
As an example, online games often host events or tournaments. These are typically only available for a limited amount of time, so players who want to compete in these events can get anxious if something is preventing them from participating. But while it might not feel like it, most of these games will still be there after other responsibilities have been taken care of, so being realistic about things helps a lot.
Another reason people can get restless about being stuck without their video games is simply boredom. Kids (and some adults) can get pretty stir crazy when they're waiting at a doctor's office or riding in the car for a long time, and many people choose to play mobile games to help pass the time. So even though they might look the same, the frustration that comes from being bored isn't the same as the frustration that comes from withdrawal, so don't confuse the two.
As an example, online games often host events or tournaments. These are typically only available for a limited amount of time, so players who want to compete in these events can get anxious if something is preventing them from participating. But while it might not feel like it, most of these games will still be there after other responsibilities have been taken care of, so being realistic about things helps a lot.
Another reason people can get restless about being stuck without their video games is simply boredom. Kids (and some adults) can get pretty stir crazy when they're waiting at a doctor's office or riding in the car for a long time, and many people choose to play mobile games to help pass the time. So even though they might look the same, the frustration that comes from being bored isn't the same as the frustration that comes from withdrawal, so don't confuse the two.
Do you play for unusually long periods of time?
It's generally recommended that people spend less than two hours a day in front of a screen. This amount includes the time you spend browsing the internet, reading emails, playing games, checking social media, and watching movies. I'm not sure how this is supposed to work for people who work on computers for a living, so maybe this is about how you spend your free time rather than your time in general.
Perhaps a better way to view this question is to look at how you plan your time: do you set aside time to play games, or do you play them whenever there's time?
Setting aside blocks of time for gaming, no matter how long these blocks are, can make things a lot easier for everyone involved, so I'd strongly suggest it.
Perhaps a better way to view this question is to look at how you plan your time: do you set aside time to play games, or do you play them whenever there's time?
Setting aside blocks of time for gaming, no matter how long these blocks are, can make things a lot easier for everyone involved, so I'd strongly suggest it.
Do you define yourself by how well you play?
There's nothing wrong with taking pride in your accomplishments, but sometimes people connect their self-image and sense of self-worth to something they've done or can do. Being at the top of a leaderboard or earning a high position in a contest is pretty cool, but it shouldn't be the only thing that defines who you are. Additionally, such fame is fleeting: after a while, these victories become more of a historical footnote than something that matters in everyday life.
Do you spend a lot of time playing games that you don't enjoy?
Video games commonly feature a level or section that players don't enjoy. These could be anything from an escort mission to a level that plays like an entirely different game, but these parts are just the pickle on your game's hamburger. Once they've been completed, the game resumes being an enjoyable experience.
However, there are games that just aren't fun, and sometimes players to feel like they need to continue struggling through games they don't like. There can be many reasons for this (the sunk cost fallacy
comes to mind), but if you're not having fun, then you really should move on to something else rather than continue playing a game you don't like. Life's too short to spend it playing bad games.
However, there are games that just aren't fun, and sometimes players to feel like they need to continue struggling through games they don't like. There can be many reasons for this (the sunk cost fallacy
comes to mind), but if you're not having fun, then you really should move on to something else rather than continue playing a game you don't like. Life's too short to spend it playing bad games.
Do you use games to escape from your problems?
One reason people end up developing an addiction is because they use something to escape from their real or imagined problems, and honestly, I'm not surprised that people are turning to games for a temporary way out. It seems like there's something new to be outraged about every day, with some new battle that everyone needs to fight or some new disaster lurking around every corner. The way social media and online news just pile on one crisis after another has to wear someone down after awhile.
Now, there's nothing inherently wrong with wanting to relax by playing a game, anymore than there's something wrong with preferring to relax by reading a good book or watching one of your favorite movies. But if you feel like you always need to escape into a fantasy life to escape, then I have to ask why that is. What are you doing or surrounding yourself with that makes your regular life so bad?
Now, there's nothing inherently wrong with wanting to relax by playing a game, anymore than there's something wrong with preferring to relax by reading a good book or watching one of your favorite movies. But if you feel like you always need to escape into a fantasy life to escape, then I have to ask why that is. What are you doing or surrounding yourself with that makes your regular life so bad?
Are you neglecting your health?
Before gaming really started to become mainstream, there was a popular stereotype that depicted the "gamer" as someone who is grotesquely fat, smelly, covered in Cheeto dust, and wearing the same dirty clothes smeared with sweat and urine for most of the month. This disturbing image didn't come out of nowhere: there really are people who take gaming so seriously that they've grown accustomed to ignoring their own hygiene. In fact, several people have even died because they were playing games for so long that their body just gave up on them.
Today it's very unlikely that anybody will end up like that, though it's still fairly common for players to get so immersed in their games that they lose track of time. It's not a big deal if someone occasionally loses track of time while playing games, but it shouldn't be allowed to become a habit.
Interestingly, this is more likely to be an issue with quiet, slow paced games - Minecraft in particular has become a pretty notorious example.
Today it's very unlikely that anybody will end up like that, though it's still fairly common for players to get so immersed in their games that they lose track of time. It's not a big deal if someone occasionally loses track of time while playing games, but it shouldn't be allowed to become a habit.
Interestingly, this is more likely to be an issue with quiet, slow paced games - Minecraft in particular has become a pretty notorious example.
Are you spending too much money on gaming?
Gaming can be a costly hobby. Many games aren't free, and there are more than a few that charge subscription fees. Then you have in-game purchases, which can add up quickly. Now, there's nothing wrong with spending your money on video games - but it can become a problem when you choose to spend more than you can afford. Like it or not, the rent and bills should be paid before you buy another game or some fancy skin.
There's also a problem with video games simulating gambling using a luck-based prize system, commonly known as a loot box or loot crate. These are virtual boxes that contain randomized loot, often including some rare or limited edition items. The catch though, is that a lot of the games using this mechanic require players to purchase a "key" of some sort in order to open the box, and it doesn't help that some gaming communities view owning some of these rare items as a sort of status symbol. This leads to people spending more than they should in order to open dozens of loot boxes in hopes of getting just the right item - just like how a gambler may hope to hit the jackpot on the next hand.
Younger gamers aren't quite as likely to get caught up in this madness (their allowances can only go so far after all), but it's something to watch for when you're older and have a credit card of your own.
That said, it's another matter entirely if someone is resorting to stealing to fund their gaming habits. It's not unheard of for kids to do this, but I'm not sure if stealing money would fall under addiction or simply show a lack of good moral judgement.
There's also a problem with video games simulating gambling using a luck-based prize system, commonly known as a loot box or loot crate. These are virtual boxes that contain randomized loot, often including some rare or limited edition items. The catch though, is that a lot of the games using this mechanic require players to purchase a "key" of some sort in order to open the box, and it doesn't help that some gaming communities view owning some of these rare items as a sort of status symbol. This leads to people spending more than they should in order to open dozens of loot boxes in hopes of getting just the right item - just like how a gambler may hope to hit the jackpot on the next hand.
Younger gamers aren't quite as likely to get caught up in this madness (their allowances can only go so far after all), but it's something to watch for when you're older and have a credit card of your own.
That said, it's another matter entirely if someone is resorting to stealing to fund their gaming habits. It's not unheard of for kids to do this, but I'm not sure if stealing money would fall under addiction or simply show a lack of good moral judgement.
What have you given up?
It takes a lot of time to play video games - time that could be needed for other things, like homework, chores, or spending time with friends. It can be difficult to juggle everything, and eventually you'll need to put the games aside in order to make time for something that's more important. The question then, is whether or not you've been doing this.
Of course, children will prefer almost anything to doing chores or homework, so claiming they've become "addicted" when they choose to play games instead isn't really fair to them. You'd get destracted just as easily if you spent eight hours waiting to go home only to have more work to do.
But when people keep passing up on important things - promotions at work, plans or promises made with friends and family - just so they can spend more time gaming, something's gone wrong somewhere. Think about it this way: how we spend our time reflects our priorities just like how we spend our money. Are your games more important than the people around you?
Of course, children will prefer almost anything to doing chores or homework, so claiming they've become "addicted" when they choose to play games instead isn't really fair to them. You'd get destracted just as easily if you spent eight hours waiting to go home only to have more work to do.
But when people keep passing up on important things - promotions at work, plans or promises made with friends and family - just so they can spend more time gaming, something's gone wrong somewhere. Think about it this way: how we spend our time reflects our priorities just like how we spend our money. Are your games more important than the people around you?
Some Final Thoughts
Readers may have noticed that the list above doesn't mention anything about children preferring video games to playing outside or their other toys, and there are several reason for this. One of which is that times have simply changed; where a child's favorite toy used to be a doll or teddy bear, for many of today's kids, their favorite toy happens to be their video games. In other words, be careful not to make mountains out of molehills.
However, we can go one step farther. Something I've noticed recently is that a lot of the toys available in stores today are just plastic recreations of video game characters. This is a neat idea, especially from a collector's point of view, but no matter how cool the toy is, it's always going to be less interesting than the game it came from. To make things worse, one of the most important features of a good toy is that it provides an oppurtunity for children to make up their own fun adventures, and with these video game sets, everything's already laid out for you.
There's also a problem with blaming video games as the reason children don't play outside anymore. Many kids and teens would probably love to go outside and play - but it's becoming harder and harder for them to find spaces where they're allowed to do this.
It used to be, teens could hang out at the mall, a neighborhood burger joint, a local park, or some other safe place in the community. Today, stores use specialized speakers to drive away "loitering" teens, most fast food places want you to leave as soon as you're done eating, and nobody is comfortable letting kids go to the park on their own anymore. The result of this is that everyone just stays inside to avoid getting into trouble, and when they end up socializing via online games and communities, they get in trouble anyway because people say they're using their devices too much.
If you really want to go down this rabbit hole, look up information on third spaces. A third space, in short, is a place where people can spend time together that isn't their home or workplace. The number of third spaces that today's teenagers are allowed to use is strikingly small - and likely to get smaller if we keep treating them as annoyances rather than people.
However, we can go one step farther. Something I've noticed recently is that a lot of the toys available in stores today are just plastic recreations of video game characters. This is a neat idea, especially from a collector's point of view, but no matter how cool the toy is, it's always going to be less interesting than the game it came from. To make things worse, one of the most important features of a good toy is that it provides an oppurtunity for children to make up their own fun adventures, and with these video game sets, everything's already laid out for you.
There's also a problem with blaming video games as the reason children don't play outside anymore. Many kids and teens would probably love to go outside and play - but it's becoming harder and harder for them to find spaces where they're allowed to do this.
It used to be, teens could hang out at the mall, a neighborhood burger joint, a local park, or some other safe place in the community. Today, stores use specialized speakers to drive away "loitering" teens
, most fast food places want you to leave as soon as you're done eating, and nobody is comfortable letting kids go to the park on their own anymore. The result of this is that everyone just stays inside to avoid getting into trouble, and when they end up socializing via online games and communities, they get in trouble anyway because people say they're using their devices too much.If you really want to go down this rabbit hole, look up information on third spaces
. A third space, in short, is a place where people can spend time together that isn't their home or workplace. The number of third spaces that today's teenagers are allowed to use is strikingly small - and likely to get smaller if we keep treating them as annoyances rather than people.