Video Game Addiction - Disease or Disorder?

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To answer this question, they are definitely addicting, but severe and dangerous addictions are uncommon. Universally, we can agree that's a problem worth paying attention to I hope. I think leave dealing with psychotic disorders to the professionals and limit the governments overbearing restrictions on the majority of players who are normal while offering resources to those who may need help. ## Why is this important now? The WHO (world health organization), recommended to recognize it as a "medical disorder" [last year](https://www.who.int/features/qa/gaming-disorder/en/). Now they are thinking of officially making the classification as a disease on par with alcohol and drug addiction. I guess the addicts or stakeholders didn't take kindly to it being labeled a potential and likely disorder. Ultimately its a decision to be made by medical professionals and not people living in their mom's basements or those trying to make money. This will affect government policy and therefore its political. If you think this is stupid, I've got news for you, sorry to say, but you are stupid. #### Gaming disorder is quite rare, but in extreme cases it is a serious condition. For most gamers, all they should do is be aware of how much time they spend gaming and moderate or seek help when they think it is necessary. Here is a news source that talks about it: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2019/05/18/video-game-addiction-could-soon-recognised-official-disease/ Infamously the **BBC** said 20 hours a week or more of videogame playing means someone is addicted. Although this isn't the best measure, 3 hours a day is a lot of time. If you work at 10 dollars an hour that's like 200 dollars a week - or a lot of money to buy in-app purchases and save up for that PS4 or new gaming rig ;) From my understanding (and experience), if you are a male under 30 you are most at risk. The game they specifically mentioned is Fortnight. I have never played it, but I've seen it being played. I have played PUBG which is similar (aimed a little more for adults and from Korea).

*Winner winner chicken dinner! I wonder who they are trying to market to. This is one of yy photos from Gstar convention in Busan 2017. As you can see I am more interested in booth girls.* ### In Korea There are places called PC rooms everywhere in Korea. You can use a very nice gaming rig in a room for about 1 or 2 dollars an hour. The chair is comfortable, they serve snacks and all the latest and greatest games are available. It's actually way cheaper than buying your own gaming rig unless you play over that 20 hours a week that means your an addict =) The Korean gaming industry is worried. The gaming industry is huge here and the government has already been under fire for trying to curb addiction here. Education is super intense. Being away from it for long can impact your chances of success in life. But people need an escape from the harsh reality (a sign of addiction btw). Definitely, the industry can lose money if it is more strictly regulated. Clearly, they will fight against this just like big tobacco or the breweries and distillers. There business is technically entertainment, but don't act fooled, they are mostly interested in the negative effects on profits. They are on the losing side of history. Keep in mind just like junk food, video games are primarily advertised to children and young adults. Alcohol, drugs, gambling, and tobacco face severe advertising restrictions to everyone. Not only have countless careers, chances of a good future, and relationships been ruined because of addiction, but people can die. Even in the case of video games a few people have even died, in one case famously a couple's real baby died while they were raising a virtual baby online. Obviously, the last case is extreme. However, who doesn't know someone who missed a good chance because they were sitting in a basement playing videogames? Who hasn't played an online game where someone who was banned went, for lack of better words insane, threatening people and trolling. There are obviously government programs aimed at curbing addiction. Some of the larger churches even chase the devil out of you, lol. I've heard the situation in China is even crazier with boot camps and electric shock therapy. Guaranteed to cure masturbation and video game addictions. ### Video Game Addiction If you don't think video games are addictive, you haven't been paying enough attention or you are so addicted to video games it pains you to admit they are addictive. The conpanies hire behavioral psychologists to hekp make it as fun as possible without crossing the line (they want u to be hooked not addicted) According to [gamequitters.com](https://gamequitters.com/video-game-addiction-signs-symptoms-causes-and-effects/), there are 9 signs of videogame addiction: >1. Preoccupation with video games >2. Withdrawal symptoms >3. Tolerance - the need to spend increasing amounts of time engaged >4. Unsuccessful attempts to control >5. Loss of interests in previous hobbies >6. Continued excessive use >7. Has deceived [people you should trust] >8. Use of video games to escape or relieve a negative mood. >9. Has jeopardized or lost a significant relationship Those are 9 general signs of addiction and if you can tick off 5 within the last 12 months for you or someone you know well, you could be addicted. I know some are worse than others, but you get 5 and they reset every 12 months. Come on put down that controller and live a little.

*This is a Korea PC room, they are pretty fun places and these kids look focused and are having fun relaxing. However, if you spend more than 20 hours a week in here you may have a problem. [Source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Korean.culture-PC.bang-01.jpg)* ### Addiction as a Disorder and/or Disease I'm not a doctor and I don't know the difference, but I'm guessing a disease is more physiological and a disorder is more psychological. In other words, a disorder is all in the head. However, I think in terms of addiction, a disease is just a stronger type of addiction than a disorder. The WHO wants this issue to be taken more seriously. Seriously it doesn't matter what we label it as. Obviously, there are worse things to be addicted to than video games. You can be addicted to setting things on fire, self-harm, violence, crack cocaine, gambling, alcoholism, dangerous sexual activity, etc. Some of the signs of addiction (if not many) are the same. Addictions are all largely psychological. Some are more physiological than others, but most will alter your brain activity in a harmful way if uncontrolled. ### Are Video Games Dangerous? Videogames definitely increase certain types of brain activity. They also can affect your emotions, that's what they are designed to do. This is why they are fun. I think they are most related to gambling addiction (in-game payments and micro-rewards), or SNS addiction (the social aspect of MMORPGs rings a bell) Modern video games (especially those with micropayments on mobile devices) reward you for farming or otherwise always being logged in. They accept money if you want to get ahead, etc. Some people constantly have them on. It's depressing to watch hardcore gamers do their thing if you aren't interested in the videogame. And to think a ton of kids want to be pro gamers or streamers. These people are most at risk. =/ ### Money and Games I don't care what you spend your money on personally. I've always hated the p2w vs f2p debate. If you want f2p don't play a p2w game. Obviously, the games that make money are going to have better events and expansions and such. I understand avoiding games that make you better if you pay out of principal, but you should be willing to support developers in games that are fair or pay to play - for the game itself / expansions, skins only as micropayments, console games, or the subscription model. I do think if you are spending too much money on gaming (ie it is replacing stuff you need to buy like quality food or rent money) that's a wholly unrelated issue, but it is probably at least one if not more of the 9 signs of addiction. ### Violence in Games I don't by the whole violent video games makes you violent argument. Newer and modern games are more immersive and we need to take precautions. But there are rating systems, age systems and warnings not to try this at home. It is probably more likely to relieve stress and can even be therapeutic (good for certain types of problems like anger management). Good parents obviously have a responsibility to monitor and help control and limit their children. No one wants a nanny state, but we kinda need it. People who go out killing ~If they listen to Beethoven before doing so, that is way creepier and psychotic imo than playing a little bit of GTA V first. Swatting is messed up and definitely a negative aspect of streaming culture that needs to be dealt with severe when it happens. Videogames don't kill people. People kill people. ### Me Personally Thb I've experienced 1 (Preoccupation with video games), 3 (Tolerance), 8 (Use of video games to escape or relieve a negative mood). However, I haven't played very much of any game for over a year. Admittingly I played a lot of games in High School and University. But ever since I graduated, I would say less than an hour a day. I did work for a Korean Video Game company for a while. I was technically 'playing' for 8 hours a day. I quit the games the day I quit the job, lol. I liked that job, but I definitely met a few hardcore addicts who definitely needed help. It was however a fraction of a percent of overall gamers and on a game that was particularly addiction prone. If your actions as a player lead to lawsuits or police calls, you have a serious problem, even if someone wronged you. It is afterall just a game. Try talking some sense into someone who was banned on the main account from a video game they love playing for obvious cheating, it's like taking away an addict's crack pipe. To say it doesn't cause them severe psychological stress is ignorance. Do you want to see video games make people violent? Borrow their account and cheat to get them banned (it happens but it is also a popular cover story) or maybe just walk up and push the reset button the old fashioned way. Who could imagine someone doing such a cruel thing, fml? ### So is being addicted to video games a disease? Well, I think addictions are a type of disease or at least potenyially one. I also think the WHO should classify it as a disease. Individual societies and countries can better think of what to do. Video games are becoming more immersive and more realistic. Addiction will only get worse and worse as the differences between the real and virtual world become less and less clear. And, video games are becoming more important in society. Progamer and streamer is actually becoming an increasingly viable career choice. We need to recognize the difference between the healthy and the unhealthy. Also, the video game industry is becoming more and more powerful, better to give governments more power to regulate and moderate where necessary before it becomes harder and harder. I don't think we should ban video games. I think we should classify it as a disease so curing it and treating it can receive more government funding and serious attention. Oh and if you think it needs more research first? Well, labeling it as a disease will allow for more research money. If further research reveals that it is only a disorder and not a disease, the nice thing is, the WHO can change their mind. A lot of societies used to label fornication as a disease. I think we need to consider the issue seriously. I think the 20 hour a week or 3 hours a day average is a good model to go by. Obviously, it depends on a few things. But I get the point. Limits, especially for potential addicts are good. I do think we should leave it up to the professionals. They can study former and current addicts. We don't exactly ask crackheads if they are addicts or not. They can report the symptoms but they can't diagnose. One thing about a disease is it is diagnosed. So they are upping the ante. I think with the increasing immersiveness and imporance of gaming for youth this makes sense. Online gaming and even watching people play on Youtube or Twitch (that doesn't sound like an addiction at all), is relatively new. Long term studies haven't been done. Its difficult in the fast evolving market. I can't imagine the effects this has. I grew up on offline games. I mean i played a couple online games but WoW didn't come out until I was done with schooling and Twitch didn't come out until long after. Never mind the huge evolution in the quality and scope of games in general. If you think you are playing to much, limit yourself, find another hobby, ask for help. If you are simply worried about the difference between a disorder and a disease, that's cool, but it doesn't change much. Maybe if it is considered a disease the stereotypes can be labelled as cruel. If you are worried about the effects on the gaming industry, it's just gonna stop the worst types of abuse. Most governments won't get carried away with blanket bans or anything. As mentioned, we need to focus on limiting over reaching governments, not on stopping doctors and scientists from doing research. Your account is safu and you ten year old probably shouldn't be playing fortnight between midnight and 6 am. Posted using [Partiko Android](https://partiko.app/referral/abitcoinskeptic)
Originally posted here: https://steemit.com/gaming/@abitcoinskeptic/video-game-addiction-disease-or-disorder-rsnuappb