Last Updated on April 13, 2023 by Mike Robinson
The addiction to video games is a problem of the present, and that probably increases with the entrance of more technologies, like virtual reality. In this article, I will explain six of its consequences and how to deal with them.
Have you ever wondered what video games have that catch the attention of so many children and teenagers? Have you ever felt that you cannot control the amount of time your kids spend on this entertainment? Today, there are a lot of video games that seem to be addictive.
Children and youth spend many hours a day in front of the console while their parents worry about non-studio hours or other activities, such as sports.
However, there are things you can do to avoid this situation. Read on to learn more about this type of addiction and how to avoid it or lessen its negative consequences.
Differences between addiction to video games and a hobby
Now, what is the limit that separates abuse from use? When this limit is unknown, the problem arises. Video games can be very entertaining and even didactic. Many stimulate abstract thinking; others implement fine motor skills, and the list of benefits can be extensive.
However, when a child cannot “peel off” the console and spends long hours in this activity, it stops being a game and becomes an addiction. When a child has become an addict, just like with any other addiction, he loses his freedom, and his health is at risk.
Identifying the boundary between use and abuse
The holidays come, and with them, the amount of time the guys spend playing video games increases. But what is the time limit they should play for to avoid addiction? The Institute of Mental Health of Peru precisely released a statement on the matter.
It seeks to raise awareness among parents so that they control the time their children spend with video games. Limiting that time is key to preventing the game from becoming an addiction.
In general terms, it can be said that no child or adolescent should spend more than four hours a day playing on the console. If this time is exceeded, there may be some type of pathology involved.
How do you know if your teenager has become addicted to video games? If you notice that you have stopped caring about your food or even your personal hygiene, then the problem can be serious.
If you have children who spend many hours playing video games and see that they spend hours without saying they are hungry or if you talk to them and they do not respond, then it is probably time to set limits.
In other cases and when the situation has already passed, signs of fatigue, changes in sleep schedules, and even behavioral disorders may appear. In the case that addiction is added to some type of disorder such as anxiety or depression, the picture becomes more serious.
Sometimes family or social problems can favor addiction. In such situations, professional intervention is necessary.
The six worst consequences of addiction to video games
As with any addiction, if your children fall into it, they lose their freedom, and their whole life can be disrupted. Next, we’ll see how addiction to video games can alter a person’s life.
It is worth bearing in mind that adolescents are the most vulnerable population to suffer from this type of addiction.
1: Loss of the notion of time
If your child is addicted to video games, he can spend hours in front of the computer or mobile device without any sense of time. When he cannot play, he only thinks about the moment he can do it again.
In extreme cases, addicts no longer know whether it is day or night. They can spend all night playing and only sleep when they no longer resist it. Meals are also lost during meal times.
2: decreased personal relationships
The addict has as its main focus the computer or laptop, the smartphone, or the video game. As you go deeper into addiction, stop attending events with friends or family.
If you notice that your teenager is increasingly limiting his environment and inventing excuses not to leave, he may be suffering the consequences of addiction.
3: decreased academic performance
School performance can drop significantly. The addicted kids study less because the hours that I dedicated at home to the studio are now dedicated to the video game.
On the other hand, the quality of the time in the classroom is also inferior. Sleep and eating disorders have a negative impact on attention and concentration.
Thus begins a vicious circle, because when the first low marks arrive, the addict is demotivated. The lack of attention paid by the study is likely to decline further. In some cases, teenagers addicted to video games end up abandoning their studies.
4-Family Discussions or Problems
If you confront your child and raise the problems that their addiction to video games is causing, there will be arguments. In other cases, the family does not know the problem and only notes that there have been changes in the behavior of your child without knowing the reason.
If there is no good communication, this can cause distancing and misunderstanding.
5-Economic problems
If your child works but is addicted to video games, he may put his position at risk. Alterations in sleep can affect work performance, and addiction is capable of causing late arrivals and absences at work.
6 physical health problems
In addition to mental health, clearly distorted by addiction, the body also feels the consequences of it. So much time spent still and sedentary generates conditions conducive to obesity.
Problems like hypertension and heart disease are more frequent in children and adolescents who spend a lot of time with video games.
How to Avoid Video Game Addiction
The solution is not to eliminate or prohibit all video games. In fact, when a person does so within certain reasonable limits, playing video games can have certain benefits.
The problem is the extremes. The objective is always to be able to enjoy this activity and not be a slave to it.
If you are a parent of children or teenagers and you are concerned about a possible addiction problem with video games, we give you the following recommendations:
1-Check and limit exposure times
Explain clearly to your children what exactly the new rules will be about. The time for play will be limited. It is even a good idea to explain to them the serious consequences that can occur if they play for too long.
It is important that you do not give in to the protests and keep firm to the rules you have proposed.
2: Do not use video games as a nanny.
When you are tired, have little time, or feel that your children are getting you out of the house, do not see yourself trying to entertain them with the console. As an adult who sets limits for educating your children, your actions must be consistent with what you say.
If you let them play longer than set when it suits you, then you will not be respecting the limit. You cannot wait for your children to respect you. To have moral property and to exercise full authority is to preach by example.
3: You are the owner of the console.
In the family, each member has a role. Adults are responsible for each one to fulfill theirs. In the specific case of the video game, you are the owner of the console, so you must control its use.
Think about the following question. Would you put a weapon in the hands of your children? A console that is not used properly can also cause serious damage to the lives of your children. Therefore, you must have control.
4: Regulate the purchase of video games.
Always playing the same video game can be boring. Do not buy new games and prevent your children from doing so. In this way, you will somehow be discouraging the use of the console.
5 proposals for alternative activities
If you are going to limit the time that your children are in front of the console, you can propose alternative activities for them to entertain themselves in their free time. Sports, board games, or activities such as drawing or painting can be very good ideas.
It’s also not bad that your kids get a little bored at first. Boredom can stimulate their imagination and lead them to create new games or think about what new activities they would like to do.
In summary, to prevent your kids from becoming addicted to video games, you should limit the time they spend in front of the console and suggest other types of entertainment.
Also read: Night Terrors: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments
And always remember that the first person to respect this limit is you, no matter how much you use video games to entertain your children while you rest.
