The World Health Organisation has now classified Gaming Addiction as a disorder. This is drafted for the 11th Internation Classification of Diseases (ICD), due to be published in 2018. The last version was published in 1992.
The classification for Gaming Addiction will suggest that abnormal gaming behaviour would require a 12 month period for a diagnosis to be assigned, but states the period could 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
Governments across the world are attempting
to battle this issue in many different ways.
For example:
- The South Korean government have introduced a law banning online video games for children under 16 between 12am at 6 am.
- In the UK, private addiction clinics have been opened to help to treat the condition.
- Japnese gamers are alerted if they spend more than a certain amount of time each month playing video games.
- Tencent, a Chinese technology & investment company has limited the hours that children can play some of its more popular video games.
The question lies, is this a problem that requires government intervention?
We have already seen recent backlashes from many video games using random reward "boxes", what is essentially gambling with no regulation.
In a world filled with technology, and with companies using psychology in order to capture consumers, how far will our governments "need" to go?
Is it not up to parents to control their childrens habits?
Share your thoughts below
Aww, no! Now I have one disorder more, thank you WHO.
What a great thought.....awesome write-up, yeah this need to be curbed since it has turned something terrible in some country. In Nigeria, children do not see any sin stealing their parent's money to play games in any game vendor shops in the neighbourhood. Hopefuully, Nigeria follow this idea too. I'm i free to follow? lol, it good having you as a friend even if you said no, i have done it with force.......lols
Thanks for your comment - That sounds awful
And of course you're free to follow - Thank you!
Feel free to check my present and past articles, maybe it might worth a resteem, vote, or comment. happy to be a friend!
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Its a good direction. I remember all the documentaries around 2008 about young people addicted to WoW, who lost their friendships and chances for education, because the addiction was treated way to lightly. There´s a fine line between obsession and addiction.
This is shocking to hear that these children are suffering from this type of disorder. For governments to intervene to avoid the disorder from becoming an even bigger problem is scary. Gaming like everything else in life should be enjoyed in moderation. Moderation is key. When we become addicted to certain things, problems and disorders will manifest.... Great post. Really informative :)
What isn't a disorder or addiction these days? It's out of control. I read an article on this earlier. You know why WHO and at least the US Gov't classes stuff as addictions right? For funding purposes.
The gov't provides grants to groups combating insert-ridiculous-addiction - a pharmaceutical company/treatment center/etc comes up with some 'promising' treatment - their lobbyists give gov't officials to promote it - rinse, wash, repeat.
Pretty soon humans won't be held responsible for any of our actions!
Are they planning to make a pill for that?
Awesome, this is great news! Now all the gamers can claim disability and game all day long! =)