Introduction :
Are kids these days so glued to their smartphones and tablets that they neglect the real world? Or is virtual reality slowly creeping into every corner of our lives, slowly eroding our sense of what is real? In either case, it’s clear that the gaming industry has taken notice.
Computer gaming addiction has slowly turned out to be a massive problem among the younger generation.
And with more than 100 million gamers under the age of 21 in America alone, there’s even more money to be made bringing new games online.
However, one consequence of this rampant gaming is that it’s attracting an influx of younger children as well.
Since video games are both digital and interactive, they make a fantastic way for children to learn at their own pace. They also have a self-regulating quality: Kids can no longer hide from socialization or pretend that video games don’t exist outside their homes.
As a result, many parents are taking note of how online gaming attracts younger children – and how you can keep them safe. Read more to know how to break computer game addiction.
Statistics on Computer Gaming Addiction among younger children:
Here are some key Computer game addiction statistics:
- Over two billion people play video games worldwide, and the number is likely to surpass three billion by 2023.
- 3-4% of gamers are addicted to video games. In a 2021 systematic review and meta-analysis, the global prevalence of gaming disorders was found to be 3.05%. That means there can be as many as 60 million people (or more) suffering from gaming disorder.
- Between 0.3% and 1% of the general population have symptoms associated with gaming disorders.
- 8.5% of youths aged between 8-18 suffer from gaming disorder.
- 49% of all American adults have played video games, but only 10% consider themselves “gamers.”
- 90-99% of all American children play video games.
- Between 48% and 56% of young adults play video games regularly.
- The average age of a gamer is 35 years old, while the average age of a gaming addict is 24 years old.
- The majority of gamers are within the age bracket of 18 to 34 years old.
- 8.5% of children and teenagers under 18 around the world may be addicted to gaming.
- The prevalence of gaming addiction among teenagers has increased by 4% since 2007.
These are the official numbers for video game addiction during Covid-19:
- Globally, 39% more time has been spent gaming than before.
- The market value of the video gaming industry has grown from $151 billion in 2019 to around $180 billion in 2021.
- The majority of people in the US admit to spending around 59% more time in front of screens of all types.
- The prevalence of gaming addiction has increased because of Covid-19.
The computer gaming addiction statistics show that it is now in an alarming state and we have to press the panic button to save our teens from computer gaming addiction.
What Is Attracting Younger Children to Online Gaming?
Online gaming is attracting younger children because of how easy it is to access games. Many consoles and PCs now come with built-in internet connectivity, making it simple for parents to set up a secure, online gaming environment for their kids.
And while these online gaming environments are a safe way for older kids to play, they’re a goldmine for younger kids. Younger children are highly sensitive to social cues, and they’re still developing their coping mechanisms.
They may have few (if any) filters to keep them from taking too much in, and they may need a lot of external reassurance to keep them from overreacting to the world around them. Online gaming, with its anonymity and lack of real-world boundaries, is a particularly dangerous environment for young children who might be struggling with these issues.
Why Is Online Gaming So Popular with Kids?
Online gaming is so popular among children because it allows them to be heroes. Today’s online games are often crafted as either fantasy escapism or as an immersive experience designed to be “as if you were really there.”
But regardless of the game’s setting, they all aim to provide players with a sense of achievement and community as they compete with friends, compete with online players, or just explore a virtual world. Computer gaming addiction makes children bypass the somewhat awkward transition from “playing alone” to “playing with friends.”
Many games promote social connections, so it can be a little awkward when a child refuses to play with other children even after being encouraged to do so. Online gaming, on the other hand, provides an ideal environment for kids to learn how to get along with others, either through in-game competitions or simply by observing others.
5 Tips for Parents to Get Control Over Their Child’s Gaming Addiction – Strategies That Work
Today’s gaming culture is dominated by video games. They are everywhere; from smartphones to consoles, game apps, and even virtual arcades. It has become a part of our daily lives. Before Teenage gaming Addiction becomes the new normal, let us see how to fight this addiction.
Hence most parents are haunted by the question :
How to break computer game addiction?
Parents are finding it more difficult than ever to get their hands on control over their child’s gaming addiction. Teenage Gaming Addiction has become so ingrained in our society that it is not just the kids who have started playing – adults are getting into the action as well!
This gaming culture also goes hand-in-hand with the rise of technology, which in turn, has made gaming accessible virtually anywhere and anytime.
But as much as this environment is an opportunity for gaming companies, it can also be a challenge for parents who want to restrict their kids from falling too deeply into this world. Let’s look at some tips that will help you get control over your child’s computer gaming addiction:
- Set clear limits
The best way to get control over your child’s gaming addiction is by setting clear limits. If you don’t set limits, it will be hard to control the situation. Most kids like to set limits themselves when they can see the benefits of self-regulation.
So, when you are setting limits with your teen, make sure you are setting them in a way that he/she can understand. For example, if you want your child to be able to play video games for a maximum of two hours a day, tell them why it is important for him/her to set this limit, and make it an important point in your daily family discussions.
In this way, you can regulate your teen’s gaming addiction. Teenage Gaming Addiction is one of the most worrying concepts for parents across the world.
2. Be transparent
Kids want to know what is happening. They want to feel like they are good enough, smart enough, and responsible enough to take on the world. They are at the age where they are trying to figure out life, and gaming can be such a powerful outlet for them.
However, that doesn’t mean that gaming is a good fit for your child. Gaming can be a great way for your child to feel competent, but it should be one aspect of a well-rounded life. When you are gaming with your child, you need to keep things 100% transparent.
Kids are curious by nature and they often find it hard to understand the difference between fantasy and reality. This is where being transparent comes in. Kids need to know why a game is being played, what the purpose of the game is, and how it relates to other things in life.
3. Play to your child’s strengths and interests
To get control over your child’s computer gaming addiction, you should play to your child’s strengths and interests. What do you like to do? What are your strengths in life? What are your interests? These are some important questions to ask yourself.
From there, look for games that can help your child to build on his/her strengths and interests. For example, if your child loves to play sports and is really good at it, then you can look for sports games where he/she can practice and learn skills that are essential to succeed at sports.
If your child loves reading, then a book-based game can be a great way for him/her to build on his/her interests and learn more about the world he/she lives in. Gaming is a great way to help your child to build on his/her strengths and interests.
4. Talk about the real-world extremes
Gaming can give kids a false sense of confidence. This is especially true in online gaming where a player can act out, and be rude, and aggressive to other “players”.
Kids can learn to become bullies and cyberbullies when they get into gaming. Many times, parents aren’t aware of how closely connected gaming is to real-world extremes. When you talk about real-world extremes with your child, keep it simple.
Let your child know that real life has no ties to the virtual world and gaming can’t change other people into things.
5. Use Blocking Apps (Parental control)
Gaming apps are everywhere these days and your kid probably has dozens of them installed on their gaming console, smartphone, or tablet. And with so many different gaming apps available, it can be a challenge to keep track of which ones your child can have access to and which ones you need to keep hidden from sight.
That’s where parental control apps like Family Library come in handy.
What is a Family Library?
It’s an easy way to manage the various games and apps your family uses simultaneously on the same gaming console, PC, phone, or tablet. With the help of Family Library, you can create a single library for all the accounts on one device and automatically download any app that you add without having to log in again.
There’s even an option built into every Parental Control App called “Limit access to games” that allows you to block specific games from your child’s library if needed.
Examples of Blocking Apps for gaming: BlockerX, Block site, HT Vector, FamiGuard, iKeyMonitor
These are just some examples, find what works for you!
With computer gaming addiction comes many challenges, but there are ways to get and stay on top of them. When you are trying to get control over your child’s gaming addiction, try following these tips.
Conclusion
Many people believe that gaming is just a part of our modern world, and it isn’t something that needs to be addressed. However, it is important to remember that excessive gaming can have serious consequences for individuals and families.
You can help prevent gaming addiction in younger generations by keeping gaming out of your home and setting up a gaming schedule. You can also teach your child how to make good choices, and you can talk to your child about their gaming habits.
If you have a child who seems to be getting into an unhealthy level of gaming, there is hope. It is important to remember that gaming addiction can be tough to break, but it can be done. These tips can help you to prevent gaming addiction in younger generations, and you can protect your child from the negative consequences of excessive gaming.
