JOIN USThe virtual reality
The scene is all too familiar. You download the game, swipe to match three candies of the same colour and crush them to score points. Some obstacles and many challenges later, you tackle the levels, one by one you climb higher, until you reach a point where you can’t live without it. The game is constantly on — be it at breakfast, lunch or dinner, in the middle of a conversation, or in traffic. The ‘Candy Crush Saga’ is only one of those games that has got the world hooked on. The games may be virtual but the problems that come with it are real.
Internet addiction, in all its forms, is increasingly being viewed as a problem world over. And it is not just the adults who are getting lost in tablets, smartphones, laptops and a myriad of applications, the youngsters too are.
Closer home, Service for Healthy Use of Technology or SHUT clinic, a premier technology de-addiction and counselling clinic in the City, has been treating those with internet addiction for some time now.
Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma, Additional Professor, Department of Clinical Psychology, NIMHANS, who also works at the SHUT clinic, sheds more light. “As far as youngsters are concerned, we are predominately getting cases of video-game addiction — like those who play video games for 10-12 hours a day. This can lead to disturbed sleep, bad food habits, academic problems, decreased outdoor or leisure activities and lying or stealing to support the cyber use. Other cases are those that related to pornography, internet browsing, and addiction to social networking sites,” he explains.
“Western study shows that an hour of video game use per day has facilitative effects whereas excessive use leads to craving. There is a loss of control if he or she has stopped playing. There is also irritability and angry outbursts. The consequences are in the form of frequent distraction to access; losing out interest or motivation to carry out leisure or outdoor activities; eye strain, fatigue and weight gain. These are the findings we have received from research and clinical experiences,” he says
Tina (name changed), a homemaker, confesses how she enjoys playing virtual games before going to bed every night.
“I read a bit, then I play ‘Candy Crush’. If I don’t get sleep, I am at it again. It is so addictive probably because there is a child in each one of us. I also play virtual games when I’m travelling or anytime I am bored. I have a lot of friends who are addicted to it. In fact I’ve seen many of them playing it very seriously on Facebook. ‘Candy Crush’, I feel is much better than car racing, which is so violent.” The point of concern is when the distraction turns into an addiction and starts interfering with the daily functioning of an individual.
Video games, such as car racing, have been quite visibly, having a huge impact on the young. Children living in a virtual world, experts point out, are socially isolated and have decreased interaction with family members. Vasudev Bhatt, a parent, says the child cannot be solely blamed for the unhealthy attachment. “Parents are at fault too. Many times, parents bribe the children by allowing them net access for doing something they have otherwise refused to do or as a reward.” Vasu’s four-year-old “loves virtual car racing and fantasises it to be the real one. However, he does not play that often, may be an hour or so.”
Kids are becoming more isolated and detached and those indulging in night gaming are raising more eyebrows than one. But is this something that parents of young children need to worry about? Dr Sharma notes, “Handling gadgets is not a problem but I would like to advise parents to not sacrifice a healthy lifestyle for the sake of gadgets. Children should have enough sleep, play time, food, leisure activities, communication with others and academic activities. The advice should come not just from parents, but schools too, which can address these issues,” he says.
Slowly, internet addiction, including gaming disorders, are being identified and experts say moderation is the key. “Among some netizens, there is a constant need to find out what others are doing or want the world to know what they are doing. After a point, it becomes very difficult to pull yourself away from this urge,” avers Vasu.
But all is not lost as Dr Sharma points out, “if an adult wants to get out of the net addiction, he or she should acknowledge the problem first. Do not neglect it, ask for help. One should not worry or be shy to talk about problems. Also, allow yourself to develop other leisure activities.”
The answer then lies in logging out. The question is how soon!