Addiction to Online Games

Addiction to Online Games

What is it? What can you do?

Playing games is a part of growing up, and with the emerging phenomenon of the Internet, games are now being played online. Games are encouraged, as it is a great way to learn and socialise as well as competing in a controlled environment Online games also have numerous extras such as online-chat with others playing the game and web forums. However due to the extras and the 'online' features, in most cases, they are no more dangerous that other games that kids play.

Although sometimes the computer and online games are more than fun and games they can become addictive. An addiction the same as caffeine and nicotine. The worst thing, this addiction is controlling children, especially when there brain is developing. This may be affecting your child's psychological and physical well-being.

Children escape into games to flee the real world. They can get caught up in this fantasy world that keeps them out of real life responsibilities. But this isn't affecting just children it is affecting adults as well. With the average age of people playing games is 28 years of age (Australian Bureau of Statistics).

The most addictive of the games are the online numerous player games. These games include role-playing, endless levels and chat functions. These groups can play on teams or against each other, as well as chatting in the fantasy world.

Playing online games can be an innocent activity, but it can turn into pathological behaviour. Addicted gamers spend hours on the computer, excluding other important activity and real life human contact with friends and family, preferring to stay home and interact with their "online friends".

The number one problem with chatting online through a gamer's site is the online predators. The predators can't think of anything better than a fantasy world that includes large numbers of children. Most of the time the online chatting conversations will often only revolve around the games and bragging about their level position. But if things become serious it is easy for most of the gamer sites to turn off the 'chat-room function'. This means the gamer can still play but won't be able to be contacted by other players.

If a parent of concerned member approaches the gamer they will protect and hide their gaming activity. Most computer users know how to delete the Internet history. Marian Merritt at Internet Safety Advocate, Symantec says "if you notice a huge gap in the history, like Saturday is completely empty, then you know that your child knows how to clear the history and it might lead to a conversation".

Donna Cross from Edith Cowan University, Western Australia, explains, "Have those discussions at times when you are able to loosen up the discussion much more so than other times. With younger children, at night, in their room with the lights off, in the sense they do not have to see your face and perhaps the parents can conceal their anxiety around this issue as well. Open ended questions." Symantec suggests asking questions like: "What do your friends do on the Internet?" "What sites do your friends like to visit on the Internet?"

Physical warnings signs include sleeplessness, dry eyes and in the long run, carpal tunnel injury.

Harris Interactive reports that nearly "one in ten kids between the ages of 8 and 18" are addicted to online games. It is becoming increasingly common for kids to drop out of high school to play games or spend 60+ hours on a game site per week.

Adults that get caught up in the online gamers world turn their backs on families, threaten to lose jobs, spouses and their financial well-being.

Some gaming sites that cause greatest addictions can actually cost money. Many of the popular online games require money. You actually have to buy the game through a monthly subscription fee, the tools and accessories and even your character. Kids openly tell Robyn Treyvaud, Education Consultant that "Oh, I used Mum and Dad's credit card." Most of them then say "of course" their parents knew about it. But the older the kids that Robyn talks too say, "Look, I subscribed to the 'World of Warcraft'. It's $15 US a month. Mum and Dad wouldn't even notice that on the statement, because it's such a little amount, and they don't read the statements anyway." This sort of exploitation is commercialised, kids sign up and then continue going up and up to the next level, costing more and more money. One site listed a complete 'World of Warcraft' character for sale for the excessive beginning bid of $1,600.

The default settings can provide an open connection between the computer and a gaming website or chat room. This means your work or home computer is open to intrusion and possible theft of identify. This means as a parent you are responsible for educating your kids and sitting with them when they sign up to a new program so they don't just click away. Most parents need to realise that there are settings that can be disabled with the online programs. You can turn chat off, disable the open connection between other computers and you can ensure that your credit card doesn't get into the hands of a child. Norton recommends that it's always a good idea to install Internet security software on your computer, especially when it's used for online gaming, networking of downloading. Parenting is the best prevention for kids online.

Engage your child in regular conversations about their lives, and have dinner as a family this will show your children that they are provided with time to speak with you about their life, online and offline.

If you find it difficult to speak with your child try having 'the talk' whilst driving, this way it creates conversation without being a serious one-on-one talk. Donna Cross explains, "Have those discussions at times when you are able to loosen up the discussion much more so than other times. With younger children, at night, in their room with the lights off, in the sense they - they're not having to see your face and perhaps the parents can conceal their anxiety around this issue as well. Open ended questions." Symatec suggests asking questions like: "What's going on, why are you spending so much time on the computer?" "Why aren't you go to 'so and so's' house anymore?"

If you notice an addiction, limit the computer time, but not as a punishment. Just insist that a timetable for when the PC is available is used, and this means it can be shared throughout the family. Also keeping in mind that the Internet is now vital for education and assignments. So plan online gaming time and online researching time.

If a problem does persist you should seek professional psychological help for the addicted gamer. As an addiction is serious, regardless of what the addiction it too. Helping a child beat the addiction may require expertise that a parent can't provide.

Dr. Douglas Gentile, Director of the Media Research Lab at Iowa State University and the Director of research for the National Institute on Media and the Family, says, "It is important that people realise…for something to be an addiction, it has to mean more than you do it a lot. It has to mean that you do it in such a way that it damages your life."

The hardest thing to do is to remove the computer from the child if they show signs of addiction, Marian Merritt says that children are obviously receiving some feedback "from the game that's important to them, whether it's 'Look at the points I've racked up," or "Look at the skills I've developed." The gamer is proud of that. A positive to the online gaming word is for children with an aggressive personality, it is an environment to express anger and emotion, compared with fights in the playground.

The addiction is the same for programs such as MSN messenger, and Instant Message (IM) program. The dilemma is at what point does it become a problem? Robyn Treyvaud, an education consultant says "I used to be on the phone for hours, and now girls just go on MSN. When do we cross that fine line between being connected and dependency". Rosalie O'Neil from Australian Communications and Media Authority, says that their research shows that children may "be spending hours and hours and hours on a laptop, with five or six MSN Messengers open, but you'd be doing your homework at the same time, as well as updating MySpace, as well as doing any number of things." It's hard to work out the difference between communication and dependency, but for the majority of the population the Australian Communications and Media Authority says that there is still an "even balance there."

Online games are a huge phenomenon with the emerging facilities on the Internet. Nasty phenomenons like cyber bullying are increasing in Australia. It is defined as an act where one uses electronic communication to harm others. It is a new high tech version of the standard schoolyard bullying, however you can't exactly walk away. Cyber bullying is completed either online or through mobile phones. Cyber bullies can use text messages, phone calls, email, chat rooms, discussion boards, newsgroups, game web boards, instant messaging, social networking sites or blogs and web pages to harass and embarrass others. The bullying could be spreading false rumours, telling upsetting stories or posting awkward images and sending offensive messages, of which some could be of a sexual, stalking or threat nature.

Family members and parents can look for the important signs of Internet related problems, such as cyber bullying and addiction and be ready to attack if these symptoms become worse. If an averred gamer starts forgetting their real world friend and obligations and start being aggressive towards their family and environment, it is time to talk to them. If they are rude when asked to get off the computer or don't get off at all, to the extent they are skipping meals because they are so immersed then this the time when you should seek professional psychological help for them.

Marian Merritt at Internet Safety Advocate, Symantec has a website that responds to your questions - www.norton.com/familyresources Australian Communications and Media Authority have developed a program that is suitable for both parents and young people surfing the Internet www.cybersmartkids.com.au