The WHO have officially called it: video games are addictive. Recently released in its revision of international diseases, video game addiction can be included on your doctor’s sick note come Monday morning.
Sadly, this isn’t your be-all, end-all answer to finally sending away younger siblings who cut way too deep into your nightly Netflix time. Only 3-4% of the millions of gamers around the world are said to be affected by this disease, and the criteria is pretty hefty.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has officially recognized video game addiction as medically diagnosable affliction ahead of 2020’s revision of the ‘International Classification of Diseases’.
If you’re starting to worry about yourself after last weekends record 36-hour Crash Bandicoot run, don’t. You would have to spend roughly 12 months cutting out family, friends, work, meal times and even personal hygiene in order to be legally declared a ‘gaming addict’.
Since the rise in popularity of mass media in society, there has been a strong debate on either side as to how much popular culture can influence an individual. From Natural Born Killers to Call of Duty, violence in movies and video games have been correlated with antisocial behaviour in youths. With this newly recognized affliction, can we expect stronger regulations around violent games with addictive qualities?
