Student Corner Recognizing Teen Game Addiction
By Rye Tae-hyung
Video game addiction, often associated with video game overuse, is an obsession. Many teens excessively and compulsively use computers and play video games and shun other interests to the point where they withdraw from society and focus on gaming achievements rather than broader life events. This sort of behavior should not be encouraged, and that's why it's important to know the signs of game obsession and how to deal with it.
Recognizing the signs of teen gaming addiction isn't as easy as we think. Though there is a big difference between just loving the activity and being obsessed with it, sometimes it's difficult to distinguish because a simple interest may grow into an addiction at any time. By the time they're in their mid-teens, teenagers have some rather impressive reasoning and debating skills, making the task even more difficult. When others question their motivations for repetitive game play, they rebut our concerns with logic and defend their gaming.
Because most parents don't want to admit any flaws in their children, many convince themselves that spending hours in front of a computer isn't that bad. After all, our lives are now interconnected with computers, cell phones and other electronic devices.
It's important that parents consider the children's standpoint. However, teenagers need correction and guidance. Parents need to be careful not to fall prey to the logical teen, and should not allow teenagers to debate them out of the issue. Parents should acknowledge that video games are indeed addictive. If children are given free reign, it's likely that games will overtake the child's priorities, and this is why time spent playing games should be carefully monitored.
The moment parents find their teen's grades falling, homework undone, and social life starting to drop, game time should be taken into consideration. If parents wait too long to restrict game time, they're likely to face other teenage problems such as temper tantrums, disobedience and other forms of rebellion for which a parent may not be prepared.
Behavior change is another sign of obsession. A teen obsessed with gaming may be quick to lose patience, his or her temper and react to situations without fully thinking about the consequences. It's unfortunate, but many games promote this kind of violent behavior.
That's why it's important that parents restrict access to such entertainment and try to replace it with activities that slow down thinking (such as art, music, acting, etc.) and expose teens to other non-violent pleasures (sports, reading, studying, etc.). There's much debate today on the impact that video games have on our youth, and some demand closer attention. If a parent finds out that his or her child plays video games, he or she shouldn't fret; video gaming is a widespread phenomenon that's evident in almost every case of today's teenage life. Parents should rather do well with their teen's desire to play games, sometimes by talking with them and by keeping a close eye out for undesirable changes.
Ryu Tae-hyung is a senior at CheongShim International Academy in Gyeonggi Province.