Online gaming refers to the practice of playing video games through a computer network, often pitting you against players from different nations. Games may be played on dedicated video game consoles, computers or mobile devices https://147.139.145.195/.
Multiple studies have discovered that potentially problematic video gaming is associated with reduced psychological functioning, decreased offline friendships and acquaintances, poor school performance, and inactivity at school. Unfortunately, their exact source remains unclear.
Origins
Online gaming refers to video games played over a network, usually the Internet. This may be local to one institution’s intranet or global in scale; text-based multiuser dungeons on modem-based bulletin board systems were common during the 1980s; today massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs), where people from across the world connect via the Internet and engage in a virtual world, are far more prevalent https://149.129.220.28/.
By the 1990s, Internet usage had become widespread enough for online games to enter mass markets. Sega’s Genesis console was among the first to enable Internet play; Nintendo used satellites to enable Japanese customers to participate. Today’s games are more intricate and online gaming has grown into an enormous industry.
Recent years have witnessed increased research into the effects of online video game playing. While results vary between studies, many point to negative consequences such as decreased real-life friendships, psychological distress and psychosomatic symptoms; as well as poor academic performance.
This webinar, based on recent cognitive science research, is intended to inform parents about the risks of children or young people playing online gaming and what can be done to ensure their safety while at the same time exploring some key issues pertaining to this ever-evolving area of technology.
Symptoms
Video games can help relieve stress, alleviate depression, enhance vision and multitasking abilities and facilitate decision making. But too much gaming may interfere with school or work activities, increase irritability and hostility towards others, lead to poor nutrition/weight gain or cause relationships to break down – it is therefore vital that children understand what games they choose as well as any associated risks. It’s also essential that adults talk with children about these risks so that everyone involved has an awareness of any consequences related to gaming addiction.
Gaming addiction is characterized by compulsive engagement in gaming that results in significant daily, work, and family disruptions. Gaming disorder has been proposed by the American Psychiatric Association as a potential mental disorder; further study should be conducted (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition).
Symptoms may include playing for long stretches without stopping, lying about other activities to play video games instead, denying there is a problem, being argumentative or aggressive over gaming-related purchases and neglecting friends and family. Furthermore, overindulgence may result in physical symptoms like eye strain, thumb twitch and wrist pain as a direct result.
Online gaming also exposes players to cyberbullying, sexism and racism as well as criminal activities like “griefing”, purchasing loot boxes filled with virtual items for sale or trade or skin betting where people predict the outcomes of in-game events. Children and teens may also become vulnerable to distributed denial of service attacks (DDOS) or hacking that result in lost access to game servers or personal data as well as money.
Treatment
The video game industry is flourishing and there is an abundance of different types of video games available today ranging from role playing to simulations, as well as complex titles with intricate plots and many characters. While gaming may provide many positive benefits, it can also be harmful. Gaming addiction can create more than psychological issues; it also presents physical risks. Too much time spent gaming video games leads to obesity and may increase blood pressure or cause heart disease; it may even interfere with sleep causing insomnia. Parents need to educate themselves about which games their children are playing and set appropriate daily and weekly limits as to when and how long they can play for.
Gamers must also remember that gaming may cause them to neglect their responsibilities at home and at work, leading them to neglect relationships with family, friends and colleagues as well as work performance and academic achievements. Some gamers must even lie about their gaming activities in order to hide them from others.
Gaming addiction treatment options exist; however, in order to effectively treat this problem it’s crucial that we address its underlying source. If someone has depression or anxiety they must receive professional therapy prior to being able to overcome their gaming addiction.
Prevention
Online gaming refers to playing video games with other people over the internet using dedicated consoles like Playstation and Xbox, computers or mobile devices. Online gaming has experienced phenomenal growth over the past decade with popular titles like League of Legends, World of Warcraft and PUBG drawing millions of players globally. Unfortunately, studies have linked its addictive qualities with poor health outcomes, social isolation and lower grades for students as well as lower grades overall (Samson 2009).
Cognitive factors identified in this review may be relevant to two criteria of Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), specifically: Criterion B (preoccupation with or frequent thinking or anticipating gameplay) and Criterion H (loss of interest in other hobbies and entertainment activities as a result of or apart from Internet Gaming) (American Psychiatric Association 2013). Such cognitions might include:
There are many risks associated with online gaming, including social isolation, cyberbullying and being exposed to inappropriate content. Children and teenagers can be especially susceptible due to being encouraged to share personal details in online chat rooms – such as age, passwords, home address or email address – and download “cheats” that contain viruses/spyware. Furthermore, playing with gamers from around the world leaves them susceptible to fraud/criminal activities like skin betting and loot boxes which has received media coverage as a potential mental illness risk factor. These dangers have led to concerns among government bodies that video gaming should be classified as mental illnesses.
