Teens: Video Game Addiction
One of the biggest problems facing society today is teenage video game addiction. The fact that spending many hours a day in front of a video game console or computer may be more harmful than many people realize.
To avoid this addiction, which is obviously negative for our children, it is important to recognize the symptoms of video game addiction and take appropriate action.
Teens: technology and video game addiction
New technologies have brought advantages in all areas of life, including entertainment. Video games are included in this, and they can even be positive in many aspects of a child’s development.
However, when it stops being a hobby and becomes an addiction, problems begin.
It is necessary to identify the moment when the hobby becomes an addiction. This is the key to being able to act quickly.
In this sense, it is recommended that parents limit and control the time their children spend in front of the video game console or computer.
Symptoms of Video Game Addiction
Time
Time is one of the biggest indicators that something is wrong with video games. Parents should pay attention to whether playing time increases little by little to the point where the teenager spends many hours a day in front of the console.
Adolescents will exhibit behavior in which they will increasingly need to devote more time to video games .
ages
Although this addiction can arise at any time since the beginning of the activity, it is also true that there is an age group in which the person is more likely to become addicted. In this sense, adolescents are more vulnerable between 12 and 20 years of age.
Isolation
Another of the most common symptoms of addiction is the teenager’s lack of socialization and isolation. In these cases, every day the person prefers to spend hours in front of the computer or the console than going out for some outdoor activity, going out with friends or simply doing another type of activity.
poor school performance
Poor school performance is one of the most frequent symptoms. When teenagers lose control, they start to spend hours playing. They even stay until the wee hours of the morning.
As a result, they get sleepy during school hours, fall asleep and don’t do their homework. Sleep disturbances and changes in sleep patterns are also symptoms of this problem.
withdrawal symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms also appear when your teen cannot play for a certain period of time. The consequences can be: lack of will, sadness, aggression, radical mood swings and a defensive attitude.
loss of relationships
Adolescents with addiction problems also find it difficult to maintain stable personal relationships or friendships. The reasons for this are very simple: reluctance to share and socialize and drastic mood swings.
Treatment for video game addiction in teenagers
Limit game hours
It is recommended that parents set limits and control their children’s play hours. In fact, in some cases, console usage should be limited to one or two days a week.
Time is the key to preventing children from becoming addicted. In addition, it can also be the basis for helping them to overcome this situation.
psychological help
If parents consider that their child has a problem of addiction, they should seek the help of a psychologist to guide and help to overcome this problem.
In extreme cases, there are rehabilitation centers. However, only a percentage between 7% and 13% have problems at such worrying levels.
Encourage other activities
Parents can encourage and encourage their children to engage in other types of activities that are not related to technology. Enrolling the young person in sports, painting or music are good options to help them break out of the social isolation in which they find themselves.
Video game addiction in teenagers is a reality facing modern society. To avoid this situation, parents must take control of their child’s upbringing. Thus, it is necessary to establish clear limits in relation to digital games.
