When you buy through affiliate links in our content, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn 
What is Video Game Addiction?
Video game addiction is a behavioral condition characterized by impaired control over gaming. It develops unhealthy habits that can impede other social aspects, including mental and physical health, relationships, and performance at school and work.
This disorder is often associated with playing computer games, console games, mobile games, arcade games, and online games. The effects of gaming addiction vary from person to person, and the types of games that cause gaming addiction also differ in every case.
As the gaming industry grows in success, more people are pursuing gaming as a hobby and form of entertainment. However, it is important to recognize the dangers of video game addiction and what can be done to ensure gaming remains a safe and healthy activity.
Key Takeaways
- Video game addiction is the development of unhealthy habits from playing games.
- Video game addiction is caused by playing video games beyond the recommended time.
- Symptoms include prolonged playtime duration, antisocial behavior, aggressiveness, and decline in physical and mental health.
- Up to 10% of the US population is affected by video game addiction.
- Treatments include spending less time playing video games, finding healthier activities, and talking with a professional.
Video Game Addiction Causes
As the name suggests, there is one common factor of what causes video game addiction – video games. Addiction is influenced by both game design and personal lifestyle.
Game Design
At their core, games are designed to keep players engaged with the content and continue playing for longer periods of time. By keeping players engaged, games can accomplish several monetary goals.
Games are designed to be engaging to ensure customers are satisfied with a purchase, equating time invested to value. Players who engage with a game for longer are less likely to consider refunding their purchase or voice a negative opinion of the game.
Players who engage with a game for longer are exposed to more opportunities to invest in other monetary systems within the game, such as microtransactions. Players who spend a lot of time playing these games are more likely to spend money on these systems. This has led to a rise in microtransaction addiction, a sign of video game addiction, and players heavily invested risk damaging their financial stability.
It is important to recognize that developers have a responsibility to gamers in addition to creating compelling games.
HOWEVER:
Tools, both extensions and built-in features, are available that allow players to better manage their game time. The Nintendo Switch and PS5 offer parental controls that limit time spent playing games, disable purchases, and restrict access to certain content based on age rating. There’s also the Xbox Family Settings app for Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One, too.
Escapism
One of gaming’s greatest strengths is its creative liberties. It can take place in fictional worlds that differ from real life. This is most commonly seen in role-playing games (RPG), which allow players to embody a role or character in a virtual world.
Often, players immerse themselves in the settings and stories established in games to temporarily distract themselves from real life and comfort themselves. This isn’t unique to video games, but it is by far the most interactive and can leave the biggest impression on players.
Misconstruing fantasy and real life can result in neglect of real-life problems in pursuit of escapism and what causes video game addiction. Prioritizing quests in games, improving mechanical skills in competitive multiplayer, over-completing work, or socializing with friends.
HOWEVER:
Games feature incredibly well-known characters that inspire players to improve themselves – particularly young people. Some of the best story games teach important real-life morals and are both highly critical of and raise awareness of modern-day issues. Games can serve as a distraction, yes, but also an inspiration to take action.
Isolation
Gaming as a physical hobby is often experienced solo, often in an isolated place of comfort such as the bedroom. Video games are not constrained to physical presence and can offer online socialization through friendly competition or social interaction.
Isolation can be a sign of video game addiction since lonely or isolated people may resort to games for social contact and a sense of belonging. Gaming can very easily become someone’s sole means of communication with others, creating a dependency on gaming to meet emotional and social requirements.
Relying on video games alone can result in someone neglecting to reach out socially in real life or seeking to engage in other physical activities. This is particularly dangerous for young children, who are more likely to be at risk when conversing with strangers online.
HOWEVER:
Online social interactions will always be a double-edged sword with risks and dangers, but playing online can be a great way to stay in contact with friends you know and form new lasting friendships based on shared interests. In many cases, video games have been shown to increase social interactions and, as a result, boost mental well-being and life satisfaction.
Video Game Addiction Symptoms
There are many physical and invisible signs of video game addiction, and whilst gaming can be a fun hobby, it is important to recognize when it’s time to put the controller down.
Taking regular breaks is a great way to prevent or treat gaming-related issues. If you show any video game addiction symptoms or the symptoms worsen, we recommend seeking medical professionals for advice.
Video Game Addiction Statistics
The World Health Organization recognized gaming addiction and added it to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) in 2019. It came into effect on January 1, 2022.
As a result, research and methodology are incredibly varied, and many of the criteria remain undefined. We recommend practicing caution when reading statistics or data surrounding gaming addiction.
Check out Techopedia’s guide to every video game statistic you need to know in 2024.
Lawsuits
Key cases to consider are video game addiction lawsuits filed by several families against gaming developers. According to legal sources, at least a dozen lawsuits have been filed against major video game companies like Epic Games, Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, and Nintendo since 2022.
The majority of these cases were filed by parents concerned for the well-being of their children, who have reportedly been playing games excessively and overspending on in-game purchases. A major example includes the time three concerned parents engaged in a class action lawsuit against Epic Games in Canada because their children stopped eating and sleeping to play Fortnite (via BBC).
Some of these cases are still ongoing. Whilst very few of them include expert evidence that connects gaming with addiction, it does highlight increasing scrutiny on the industry and how gaming addiction is slowly being recognized as both a legal and medical issue.
Game Addiction Treatment
Here are Techopedia’s recommendations on how to break video game addiction.
Manage Game Time
Tackling game addiction starts with time management and reducing the amount of hours in front of the screen.
Setting up a time limit can help maintain healthy habits. It can be as simple as setting an alarm on your phone.
Parental controls are also another option for younger children, as parents can not only control how long children play games but also what times they can play and what content they are exposed to. We recommend browsing through the Play Time Controls on PS5, Microsoft Family Safety on Xbox, and the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app.
In some cases, video game addiction treatment may involve enforcing a digital detox. This involves fully removing yourself from gaming for a period of time and serves as a behavioral reset.
Pursue Something New
Finding alternate hobbies is a great way to deal with video game addiction. Making small changes, like going out on walks more, working out, or engaging in more social activities, can go a long way toward reducing the amount of time spent playing games.
The key is to build more habits that encourage physical activity whilst spending time away from a screen. Sitting idly by or staring at a screen will only replicate the problems that occur with gaming and reinforce the addiction.
Alternatively, spending more time socializing with others can help strengthen real world relations, and can serve as a refreshing experience from being online.
Counseling or Therapy
Seeking out professional advice can help define any underlying issues and serve as video game addiction treatment. These are often held in one-on-one sessions and can help identify key triggering factors of addiction and also set out clear goals.
It is a great place to start for those who do not know how to properly address their gaming addiction, and can serve as both a social interaction and a means to improve self-esteem.
Games are Changing
Games are implementing more features to both improve the gaming experience, discourage antisocial behavior, and ensure safe practices when playing video games.
Most online competitive games feature an extensive report system that penalizes users who act aggressively to other players. Games will often reward sportsmanship, which encourages players to communicate and interact with one another in a positive way.
Games are also implementing more user-friendly microtransaction practices, such as the decreased presence of luck-based mechanics such as ‘loot boxes’ in favor of direct cosmetic purchases. More countries and platforms are introducing regulations to better monitor these practices and ensure they are not predatory or likely to cause video game addiction.
The Bottom Line
Time often flies by when you’re having fun, but spending too much time playing video games can become a problem later down the line if not properly addressed. Whether it’s making new healthier habits or seeking interaction through socialization or counseling.
Whilst research is still ongoing, the signs of video game addiction shouldn’t be ignored. It can affect both your mental and physical health if not properly addressed, though the severity of it can vary.
Video games are a great way to unwind, and everyone deserves a break now and then, but it’s important to ensure that winning in gaming doesn’t come at the cost of losing in real life.
FAQs
What are the signs of video game addiction?
What is considered a gaming addiction?
How many hours a day is considered an addiction?
How can you tell if you have been gaming too much?
What is the root cause of gaming addiction?
References
- Xbox family settings: peace of mind for parents | Xbox (Xbox)
- Video Game Addiction: What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment (My.clevelandclinic)
- Exploring the prevalence of gaming disorder and Internet gaming disorder: a rapid scoping review (Link.springer)
- The Health Effects of Video Games in Children and Adolescents (Publications.aap)
- Time spent playing video games is unlikely to impact well-being (Royalsocietypublishing)
- Gaming disorder (Who)
- Children stopped sleeping and eating to play Fortnite – lawsuit – BBC News (Bbc.co)
