Video game addiction
In children and adolescents aged 10 to 17, 56% play video games daily and 84% every week (SELL/Médiamétrie study, 2019)
What is video game addiction?
The’addiction to video games or addiction is unfortunately not a myth. However, it is important to distinguish between “normal” behaviour towards video games, especially when it is a passion for the child, and addictive behaviour that can harm their physical and mental health. Several factors must be taken into account, starting with the game and the player.
How can you identify addictive behaviour in relation to video games?
If you are concerned about your child because you fear they may be addicted to video games, you can assess the situation by using the 7 key questions from American psychologist Mark Griffith :
- Does your child play almost every day?
- Does your child play for long periods without stopping (3 to 4 hours at a time)?
- Does your child play for the «thrill»?
- Is your child restless and irritable when they cannot play?
- Has your child given up their social relationships or sporting activities in favour of video games?
- Is your child playing instead of doing their homework?
- Is your child trying to stop playing without success?
If you are keeping accounts at least four positive responses, this should be seen as a warning sign regarding your child's relationship with video games. In this case, do not hesitate to seek outside help. You can contact us on 3018.
Video game addiction: the nature of gaming
Some video games are more addictive than others.
This mainly concerns role-playing games massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs) that allow players to experience adventures in often fantastical worlds through their avatars. Quests and puzzles may require players to join a team. Everything is designed to keep players spending time on the platform. In fact, the worlds are said to be persistent because the game never really ends, as the range of possibilities is so vast. This is why MMORPGs can lead to spending a lot of time in front of screens.
This is why some experts recommend avoiding massively multiplayer role-playing games before the age of 16, even if some games are rated 12 and above by the PEGI rating system, such as World of Warcraft.
This type of game can quickly become a refuge for children and adolescents who have a natural tendency to isolate themselves or who are experiencing problems at school or within the family. It is therefore important to ensure that gaming does not become a means of escaping reality and remains a leisure activity like any other.
Other types of video games can more easily lead to addiction. These mainly include:
- of shooting games whose immersive nature causes adrenaline rushes, which can captivate the player's attention for long periods of time; ;
- of strategy games, which aim to eliminate opposing armies and cities from the map, encouraging players to defeat their opponents before leaving the game. Only then can players finally feel safe. This type of game awakens the survival instinct.
- of management games, which immerse the player in a world created by the game itself, opening up a world of possibilities. Players are encouraged to spend many hours in front of their screens in order to perfect every aspect of the game. What's more, as these games often operate on the principle of a virtual night/day cycle, they also carry the risk of distorting the player's perception of time.
Video game addiction: the gamer
In children, and particularly adolescents, several factors can make them more vulnerable and increase their susceptibility to video game addiction.
Thus, particularly anxious adolescents will view video games as a escape route allowing them to withdraw from reality and to be in control. Similarly, “depressed” teenagers will see video games as a source of immediate pleasure although fleeting, and therefore risk consuming them more often than necessary to fill a void in the real world.
Teenagers who lack self-confidence may also be more “fragile” and feel the need to create a separate world for themselves where they feel stronger.
Furthermore, in general, the environment is a potential risk factor for video game addiction. Children who suffer from bullying at school, who are under too much pressure, who find themselves in the midst of family conflicts, etc., are more likely to use video games excessively.
However, if he continues to go out with his friends and maintains his academic performance, there is no need to worry. On the contrary, if you notice that he is falling behind at school, isolating himself and abandoning his friends and other leisure activities, you should see these as warning signs.
In any case, video games are not a solution to these problems. It may sometimes be necessary to consult a doctor or psychologist if you think the situation has become too serious.
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