{"id":90228,"date":"2018-07-07T05:00:57","date_gmt":"2018-07-07T12:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/securingtomorrow.mcafee.com\/?p=90228"},"modified":"2025-08-25T19:19:43","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T02:19:43","slug":"report-digital-games-can-be-addictive-so-what-can-parents-do-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/family-safety\/report-digital-games-can-be-addictive-so-what-can-parents-do-next\/","title":{"rendered":"Report: Gaming Addiction is a Real Thing. So What Can Parents Do Next?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-90241\" src=\"https:\/\/securingtomorrow.mcafee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_319248722-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"386\" height=\"257\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_319248722-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_319248722-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_319248722-750x500.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_319248722.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 386px) 100vw, 386px\" \/>It&#8217;s one of my biggest\u00a0parenting regrets to date: About a decade ago, I failed to put limits around my teen&#8217;s passion for playing video games. He loved them, and I let him.<\/p>\n<p>I convinced myself that my son&#8217;s video gaming provided him with an instant community where he daily climbed to the top of the scoreboard. A personal, consistent win for my first-born, more quiet child, right?<\/p>\n<p>Looking back, I lied to myself at crucial moments along the way. I minimized his growing obsession by calling it a hobby. As he grew more engaged with gaming, he became more distant from our family. I ignored the fact that he was acquiring friends I didn&#8217;t\u00a0know and forfeiting time outdoors for his preferred virtual landscape.<\/p>\n<p>When our relationship\u00a0hit several\u00a0rough patches in later years, I failed to connect that friction back to his topheavy gaming habits. All the while, as a mom, I knew deep down (in my mom &#8220;knower&#8221;) I could have \u2014 should\u00a0have \u2014 done more to limit his gaming.<\/p>\n<h2>New Findings<\/h2>\n<p>Not surprising, the World Health Organization (WHO) just recently classified\u00a0a new form of addiction called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/national\/health-science\/world-health-organization-recognizes-a-new-form-of-addiction-gaming-disorder\/2018\/06\/29\/fb3eb2e2-74b3-11e8-805c-4b67019fcfe4_story.html\">\u201cgaming disorder.\u201d<\/a> That designation means health professionals\u00a0can now treat dangerous levels of video gaming as a legitimate addiction.<\/p>\n<p>Thankfully, my son&#8217;s one-time excessive gaming didn&#8217;t reach the addiction level even though it was serious enough to negatively impact our family dynamic.<\/p>\n<p>I can&#8217;t go back. However, if there&#8217;s a parent who can learn from my heartache in this area, I hope this post might help.<\/p>\n<h2>The Upside<\/h2>\n<p>We know gaming isn&#8217;t the enemy. In fact, gaming has been credited with helping kids overcome depression, anxiety, and social insecurities. Gaming is also blowing open new doors in education as we understand how today&#8217;s digital learners (many of whom are gamers) consume information and find solutions. We know gaming skills are helping build tomorrow&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/securingtomorrow.mcafee.com\/consumer\/consumer-threat-notices\/gaming-risks\/\">cybersecurity experts<\/a>, app developers, programmers, military strategists, surgeons, and leaders.<\/p>\n<p>With the benefits understood, <em>balance<\/em> is the magic word when it comes to the healthy use of any technology we welcome into our homes.<\/p>\n<h3><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-90243\" src=\"https:\/\/securingtomorrow.mcafee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_100971931-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"356\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_100971931-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_100971931-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_100971931-667x500.jpg 667w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_100971931.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 356px) 100vw, 356px\" \/><\/h3>\n<h2>Definition<\/h2>\n<p>The WHO\u2019s official definition of \u201cgaming disorder\u201d includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A pattern of behavior for at least 12 months in which gaming is out of control.<\/li>\n<li>The pattern of behavior must show an \u201cincreased priority given to gaming\u201d to the point that gaming \u201ctakes precedence over other interests and daily activities.\u201d<\/li>\n<li>A \u201ccontinuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences,\u201d or behavior that affects one\u2019s relationships, education, or occupation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>So what can you do if you recognize even one of the warning signs above? Plenty. It&#8217;s never too late to make changes in your family. All you need is knowledge, action, and some mad follow-through skills.<\/p>\n<h2>5 Ways to Help Kids Balance Gaming<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Set and enforce time limits.<\/strong>\u00a0Start setting technology time limits when your kids are young. If your kids are older, don&#8217;t shy away from announcing new house rules starting today. Yes, kids may complain, but experts agree: Rules help kids feel loved and safe. <a href=\"https:\/\/family.mcafee.com\/\">Parental control software<\/a> will help you set time limits on your child\u2019s device usage and help minimize exposure to potentially malicious or inappropriate websites. Another tip: Set a timer on your smartphone or go old school and crank up that kitchen timer. Take it from this regret-filled mom: Time limits will make every difference in helping kids find balance.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Be a role model.<\/strong> You can&#8217;t tell your kids they have to get off of <em>Call of Duty<\/em> then spend the next eight hours constructing high-scoring word combos on <em>Words with Friends<\/em>. Model smart tech use and moderation. Even place that kitchen timer next to you if you need it.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-90242\" src=\"https:\/\/securingtomorrow.mcafee.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_76101445-300x195.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"260\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_76101445-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_76101445-768x499.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_76101445-769x500.jpg 769w, https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/shutterstock_76101445.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Roll up your sleeves \u2014 get gaming.<\/strong> Jump into the game with your kids so you can better understand the content, the community, and the messages coming into your home. Get a glimpse into the appeal of the game for your child and the skills needed to advance. Once you have this perspective, you will intuitively know how to monitor your child&#8217;s time on specific games. This is also a great opportunity to share your values on certain topics or narratives addressed in games.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Stay safe while gaming.<\/strong> Gaming&#8217;s purpose is fun, so it&#8217;s rare\u00a0that a child or even a parent\u00a0is focused too much on safety when kids log on to play. Still, there are safety risks. A recent <a href=\"https:\/\/securingtomorrow.mcafee.com\/consumer\/consumer-threat-notices\/gaming-risks\/\">McAfee survey<\/a>\u00a0found that parents are concerned with issues connected to gaming such as sexual predators, data risks, inappropriate content, and bullying, but few take steps to remedy those concerns. Several\u00a0products such as\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/consumer\/en-nz\/store\/m0\/catalog\/mtp_521\/mcafee-total-protection.html?culture=EN-NZ&amp;pkgid=521\">McAfee Total Protection<\/a>\u00a0can help keep connected devices safe from malware and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/consumer\/en-us\/store\/m0\/catalog\/mwad_528\/mcafee-web-advisor.html\">McAfee WebAdvisor\u00a0<\/a>can help you avoid dangerous websites and links.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Don&#8217;t overreact.<\/strong>\u00a0It&#8217;s easy to fear what we don&#8217;t understand. True video game addiction is rare. The WHO&#8217;s new classification isn\u2019t describing the average gamer who spends a few of hours a day gaming with friends. The designation targets\u00a0serious gaming habits that destroy\u00a0people\u2019s lives such as neglecting hygiene\u00a0and nutrition, rejecting loved ones, staying up all night, and losing jobs due to gaming. The more you understand about your child&#8217;s favorite games, the better parenting decisions you will be able to make.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"s1\"><i>Toni\u00a0Birdsong is a\u00a0Family Safety Evangelist\u00a0to\u00a0<\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/consumer\/en-us\/store\/m0\/index.html\"><span class=\"s2\"><i>McAfee<\/i><\/span><\/a><i>. You can find her on Twitter\u00a0<\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/McAfee_Family\"><span class=\"s2\"><i>@McAfee_Family<\/i><\/span><\/a><i>. (Disclosures).<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It&#8217;s one of my biggest\u00a0parenting regrets to date: About a decade ago, I failed to put limits around my teen&#8217;s&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":642,"featured_media":94203,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[75,76,3949,4452,32,5514,5530,2205,4222,321,5528,5527,5529],"coauthors":[3359],"class_list":["post-90228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-family-safety","tag-cyberbullying","tag-cybercrime","tag-cybersafety","tag-cybersecurity","tag-data-protection","tag-gaming","tag-mcafee-study-gaming","tag-protecting-kids-online","tag-social-media","tag-social-networking","tag-video-game-addiction","tag-who","tag-world-health-organization"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Gaming Addiction<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The World Health Organization says excessive gaming can now be classified as a mental health addiction. 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