Online games these days have been dramatically popular worldwide making adults as well as the young ones too hooked on it. This is now a major issue which cannot be undervalued.
Charities, parents, medical and addiction experts have raised concerns about children playing online games in a vast amount of time. Data group Euromonitor statistics show that UK spending on titles will top £3 billion this year with games like "League of Legends", "World of Warcraft" and "Grand Theft Auto" which is 10 times more than households spend on traditional board games such as Monopoly or Scrabble, reports The Guardian.
"Whether you call it an addiction or not, this is an enormous and growing problem," said Dr Aric Sigman, a freelance lecturer in child health. He added that parents have been asking doctors for sleeping pills for their children.
Nowadays, the parents' greatest challenge is their children's screen time which they find ill at ease compared to the usual issues like healthy eating or homework according to the Charity Action for Children. "We were surprised it came top. We hadn't picked up that it was such a big issue. With gaming, children get a lot of satisfaction and positive reinforcement, it can build their confidence. But that can make it become addictive," said Carol Iddon, the charity's managing director.
Peter Smith, a director at Broadway Lodge, an addiction treatment centre in Weston-super-Mare said: "The games are designed to keep you playing. If you're a parent with a 15-year-old who's playing endlessly, staying up late, not eating properly and then missing school because of it, where would you go for help? There isn't anywhere."
Professionals have the same opinion that the online gaming's escapism and socialization aspects could be a huge part of the appeal but it doesn't mean a friendly environment. For instance, in the game "Clash of Clans", a clan system allows players to invite other players on to their friends' list and play as a team against other clans.
"If you're playing and make a mistake, you can have four people on your own team screaming at you, wishing you had cancer or your mother and father were dead. People take it so seriously, they lose touch," said a 27-year-old heavy gamer who has been addicted to online gaming since he was 15. Unfortunately, there is a limited funding for research to recognize this kind of addiction to lay down a formal diagnosis for children who lose touch with reality.