To think gaming addiction is the new drug

[Kerry987]

I have been meaning to put this thread for awhile.

I think it is sad that so many children are becoming so addicted to games that they do not want to do other things anymore.

My children had times when they have become addicted to games like Robblox and Amongs us; their behaviour changed; however once I stopped and deleted the games they went back to being the normal happy and creative children they are.

I know of so many young children who do not want to leave the house and play outside anymore and just want to be attached to a screen and I wonder the impact this will have in their adult life.

I remember having an argument with my SIL ages ago when we went on a family holiday and her daughter was having a massive strop in the car because her tablet ran out of batteries.
I was trying to explain that when we were younger, we didn't have any 'entertainment'. I would just listen to the radio and watch the views as we drove by. Maybe play a word game. She wasn't having it and eventually was given an adults tablet to watch something on. She was 6.
SIL argued we can't expect kids to do that today. I think were going to eventually end up with some really emotionally stunted children, who lack the ability to concentrate and focus and who won't have the same creativity... Although I'm sure there are plenty of people from the opposition who would argue that stuff on the tablet is creative etc

It's 2021 now and I remember 1981 was a big year for computers becoming a household item. That's 40 years that we've been playing games now! In my family, we have family members from age 5 to age 85 playing games be it a computer or a console. It's all about balance at the end of the day. Also, Fortnight / Roblox / Minecraft is nothing compared to World of Warcraft. That was the definition of gaming addiction and I remember hearing horror stories on the news about Warcraft addiction back in the early/mid 2000s.

I do not think they should ban games completely but there should make some of them illegal, some of them really want the kids stuck to it all day long.

Also, there should be more education about screen and gaming addiction and more parental control and limits. It is very sad to see kids under 12 who just do not want to play outside anymore and do other things. Also the creativity is getting loss.

Kids under 12 should not own a tablet or mobile phone in my opinion.

I wonder what these kids will remember as great childhood memories when they grow up? It seems really sad to sit in front of screens all day.
My adult dc ages 32 and 26 were talking about this the other day, remembering playing outside and climbing trees, skateboarding and riding bikes, meeting friends etc.
They used to play some games on the computer but not all the time.
I m glad I m not trying to bring up young dc now.

Also neither owned a phone till year 7

Gaming addiction has been around since the beginning of times before it was dice or pebbles or cards or wtv!!

If I had kids over again, my son is 40 I'd go and live in a remote part of Snowdonia or the Orkney Isles for their entire childhood. Anything to keep them away from screens and gaming so they could have a normal childhood.
I think gaming is poison for children. It ruins their childhoods. When I think how much fun I had on my grandparents farm when I was a kid with my cousins, we were up to something all day everyday and never bored, always outside.

We banned the Switch in our house last week and the improvement in behaviour has been astonishing. They didn't even play violent or inappropriate games. I was anti gaming anyway but DH is a gamer so it snuck in with the kids. After seeing how much better they are without it he is now on my side!

My ds10, dss8 and dss11 are completely obsessed. The dss's main obsession right now is Fortnite, while ds just watches endless YouTubers playing Pokémon games. They also play Among Us and Roblox.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely hate it. But right now, in lockdown, in February, there isn't much else to do. I could take them off screens and do some creative play but I admit I can't stand the fall out and the complaining, particularly dss11 who displays actual withdrawal symptoms such as crying, shaking etc if removed from his screens. It's a nightmare.

I think gaming gets a bad rep. Plus, as PPs have said, it's nothing new - when I was a kid, people spent hours playing games in arcades. I've posted before about my kids being Minecraft addicts, but from that they are learning how to code their own mods and run them on their own servers. I'm a huge advocate for learning coding, not only as a tool in its own right, but also as a way to learn how to break down problems into smaller parts. However, I also agree that some games are designed to be very addictive, and do have issue with the ones that encourage purchases within the game in order to progress or continue playing. So, like anything else, there are issues within gaming (don't get me started on the sexism), issues with certain games, plus there is always a balance to be found with getting plenty of time outside, but that doesn't mean that gaming overall is a bad thing.

@Kerry987

I do not think they should ban games completely but there should make some of them illegal, some of them really want the kids stuck to it all day long.

Also, there should be more education about screen and gaming addiction and more parental control and limits. It is very sad to see kids under 12 who just do not want to play outside anymore and do other things. Also the creativity is getting loss.

Kids under 12 should not own a tablet or mobile phone in my opinion.

Games should be illegal because some patents can't regulate their kids behaviour?

What type of games would you want to make illegal, OP? What would the criteria be?

I agree it’s a serious issue if it starts to become a dominant activity,

A while ago I attended a talk from someone who has done research in this area and they made the point that for the most part it’s not that gaming/screen time activity is harmful, but what is harmful is the fact that it can displace other activities. So if a child is spending all their spare time gaming, they are going to spend less time doing other things like exercise, playing outside, reading, making things, chatting, etc.

It is true that gaming addiction has been around a long time; however it is becoming more prevalent now, especially on children and teenagers; so more needs to be done.

@Kerry987

Do you mean actual addiction or are you mis-using the word due to your obvious personal dislike of gaming? An actual addiction ruins lives. Gaming has zero impact on creativity, in fact many games are shown to improve cognitive function.

What games exactly would you make 'illegal'? Why do you think it's gaming that's the issue, rather than individual parenting style? Why is it always gaming that 'rot brains' when the same parents don't realise they're often being hypocrite with their own personal use of free time on Mumsnet?

but there should make some of them illegal, some of them really want the kids stuck to it all day long
Parents should ban them from their house if they don't want them to play it, but let's not make them illegal or a countrywide ban, that would be bonkers.

I have DSCs. Both have what I would describe as unhealthy relationships with their screens. They spend all their time in their rooms, barely ever come out, even eat their meals in there. I find it alarming and I worry about the impact it will have on them. I certainly didn't allow this for my own DC (who are older now) but it's not my parenting decision.

[quote BrumBoo]@Kerry987

Do you mean actual addiction or are you mis-using the word due to your obvious personal dislike of gaming? An actual addiction ruins lives. Gaming has zero impact on creativity, in fact many games are shown to improve cognitive function.

What games exactly would you make 'illegal'? Why do you think it's gaming that's the issue, rather than individual parenting style? Why is it always gaming that 'rot brains' when the same parents don't realise they're often being hypocrite with their own personal use of free time on Mumsnet?[/quote]
Well, I think it can potentially ruin the lives of children - certainly their future prospects.

I mean actual addiction: Children, Teenagers and adults who spend the majority of the day and night gaming; who do not do other things, barely leave their room, feel at lost when not in front of a screen, do not help or do anything in the house, Do not have other hobbies or interests.

It is not the game or screen itself, it is the inability to do other things unless they are attached to a screen.

I feel it is becoming a real problem and many kids do not have the ability to self-regulate, and many parents are so busy that just leave them to it, because it is easier, at least they are out of the way and not bothering anyone.

It is damaging for young children and teenagers.

People have been saying this sine the 80s when video games were first widely available. So it's nothing new. It never seems to become the disaster that people think it will when they are having huge moral panic.

I do think it's important to have a balance. But, I don't think it's a wholly new phenomenon - I remember being addicted to my SNES when I was a kid and my mum telling me I couldn't play as much.

I do think it is a worry the sheer amount of tech children are exposed to now, especially when they getting to teen age and social media etc is a concern.

We're a gaming family, we love them and enjoy playing lots together and individually- however we also have lots of other interests and love being creative, playing boardgames, reading, being outside etc. It's definitely important to make sure that kids have other interests, and are able to be "bored" sometimes. I think it's our job as parents to make sure this happens, and I would find it worrying if someone didn't and just let their child play games for prolonged periods, and didn't encourage other interests

It isn't a new thing (ex WoW player) back in the early times World of Warcraft actually had a reminder on the loading screen about spending too much time in Azeroth.

I reckon it's becoming impossible to limit screen time.

Oh goody, another gaming bashing thread. Yes, we all know that if you let your child be in the same room as anyone who's ever been near a PlayStation their brains will turn to mush and they'll be doomed to spending their lives shackled to their PC in a darkened room surrounded by their own filth unwashed, unloved, and forever alone.

I don't think it's gaming that's the problem as much as it is parenting.

I was musing on this earlier, as I saw somebody on Facebook asking from bedroom decoration ideas for her 10-year old son. With only one or two exceptions out of 70ish replies, every room had at least a games console with a massive screen in it & some a laptop too. To me, this means it is much more likely or perhaps even designed to be used overnight and/or for long periods of time. I think this is unhealthy & promotes poor sleeping habits. None of us have phones upstairs nor games consoles, even DH & I.

My DS1 is 12 & does love his Xbox & his phone, but is only allowed them downstairs. He has a strict limit for them of 2.5 hours per day, once schoolwork is finished & he has come on a walk with us (although I am allowing an extra hour in lockdown). He has to ask before going on them & is encouraged to have other interests such as Scouts, going out with friends, football & reading. I'm not saying we are perfect parents but we do try to limit screen time & as DS knows this, he doesn't usually create a fuss about it.