Digital products and connectivity to the internet are part and parcel of daily lives in contemporary times. However as they say, excess of everything, good or otherwise, is bad and the same holds true for technology as well. It can manifest in multiple ways including the formation of an addiction. Addiction of any kind can have serious consequences. The younger generation continues to be glued to various online games and unfortunately bad habits have set in. The World Health Organization has officially included ‘gaming disorder’ in its International Classification of Diseases as a behavioural disorder. Its signs are generally the same as are associated with substance addiction like changes in behaviour, adverse effect on social life and relationships, excessive preoccupation with video games, and acute withdrawal.
Greater depths of focus are needed in some games which elucidate the kind of threat they present to society. Real-world penalties in these games include a reduction in social life and the wrath of the player’s families. These games take a lot of concentration as some involve teamwork.
Parents are worried on many counts about these games, some related to violence which causes behavioral changes as a consequence. They are also worried, truly so, that there is excessive screen time with learning impairment and behavioral issues in children.
The excessive use of smart gadgets could pose a host of health risks and as per experts; the least of these would be impairment of eyesight. It could also lead to a number of other issues such as stunting brain growth amongst children, causing memory loss, weakening cognitive abilities, which could in turn, impair decision-making.
While there are fears, the administration should initiate a social advocacy programme against their use. It would be wrong if people are punished for playing a video game as it would lend support to those contending that it affects privacy and freedoms.
Authorities also need to form an online ethics review committee to monitor the entertainment software content from time to time in this context.
There is a need to cut down screen time and it can be done telling children how sedentary activities affect their overall health. Talk to them about things they can do to be healthier.
The government of India has already issued an advisory for parents and teachers that talked about the risks of gaming without self-limits.
With summer conditions already there and schools having resumed, parents need to find things to do to get moving and burning energy.
