Have you ever played online games? Did you reach a point where you couldn’t stop playing at all? That, my friend, is called online gaming addiction. I’ve seen articles that show me the bad side effects of being addicted to online games. As part of the #makeITsafePH campaign, I’m here to tell you what problems manifest as result of online gaming addiction and how you can curb it! Here we go!
Problems Associated with Online Gaming Addiction
There are different aspects when it comes to problems that are associated with online gaming addiction. Here are 6 that I found:
Psychological
Some people that deal with online gaming addiction also tend to struggle with issues like depression, low self-esteem, high stress levels, and shyness/social anxiety. This means that people tend to feel more down when they’re addicted to online gaming.
Physical/Health
When you’re spending a lot of time sitting in front of your computer, you tend to be less active. You wouldn’t be able to play as much physical sports if you spend too much time doing online gaming. You could even lack sleep or eat unhealthy food because of it!
Family
This one feels so sad if you ask me. People who can’t control their online gaming addiction tend to be more distant from their family. The other family members would leave it be at first. If the gamer can’t control his addiction, the family will eventually demand change. This may anger the addict for “interfering” with his life. He will deny that this is bad for him and claims that this is “none of your business”.
Financial
Online gaming is very, very expensive. Besides paying for the internet (and the online subscription), you have to spend for computer upgrades! When a new game comes out, the addict will surely spend for it!
School/University
One of the most obvious casualties of online gaming addiction is academic success. They may ignore upcoming deadlines, promise to study “tomorrow”, deny that they have homework, and rush through assignments so that they can continue playing.
Interpersonal Impact
As someone spends more time playing online, he/she is less likely to mingle and interact with other people. He gets more online contact than real-life ones.
How Do We Curb Online Gaming Addiction?
With all those negative effects, is there a way we can curb online gaming addiction? I thought of tips that one can follow in order to get back some sense of real life.
- Talk to a friend who has gone through what you’re going through
- Set a timed break to take a walk outside or just take a power nap. (The game will always be there; time won’t)
- Go on a vacation! (Spend money by relaxing and going to another place, preferably a place with a lot of green)
I could say more tips but I think those with severe online gaming addiction should ask for help. If he/she is afraid, that person should bring a friend to keep him/her company. I hope this post helps people be aware of this.
About the #makeITsafePH campaign:
Hootsuite, a US-based social media management platform, has released its “Digital in 2018” report of social media and digital trends around the world. The report revealed that the Philippines now has 67 million Internet users, with all of them active on social media. This widespread use of the internet gives rise to the emergence of internet-related crimes such as rape, theft, bullying and piracy which made the public, especially the youth, very vulnerable.
Because of this, Globe Telecom, being a purveyor of digital lifestyle, came out with the #makeITsafePH cybersecurity and cyberwellness campaign to educate consumers about online threats and what they can do to avoid becoming a victim. The campaign also teaches the public proper online etiquette so that they would not become a source of such deplorable behavior.