The rise of INTERNET GAMING DISORDER

HERE'S HOW YOU CAN STOP THEIR HOBBY FROM CAUSING LONG-TERM PROBLEMS

- Trudie McConnochie

For those of us who didn’t grow up with devices in our pockets and screens in every room of the house, gaming can seem like a perplexing pastime.

Yet, for most young people, playing games online is as natural as flicking on the TV or texting a friend. Around 60 per cent of young Aussies play video games, and most of them won’t experience any negative effects on their wellbeing.

But around 10 per cent of kids develop problematic gaming use, which can have concerning effects on their schooling, relationships and physical and mental health. 

“Problematic gamers are basically kids whose gaming leads to a significant problem in one area of their life,” explains Dr Wayne Warburton, psychologist and associate professor of developmental psychology at Sydney’s Macquarie University. “They might be having school grades that are going backwards, they might be having problems with their relationships, there might be mental health and physical health problems.”

Problematic gaming use can lead to Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), which Dr Warburton found affects around two to three per cent of Aussie kids. In extreme cases, IGD can lead to anxiety, depression, refusal to go to school, threats of self-harm and aggression towards loved ones.