Swedish group calls gaming addiction a 'pandemic' threat

A Swedish organization called the Youth Care Foundation claims that computer gaming addiction is reaching pandemic proportions around the world. This is the same group that called World of Warcraft "the cocaine of the computer games world" back in February.

In an interview with Sweden's English paper, The Local, Sven Rollenhagen of the Youth Care Foundation touts his position as one that helps young people in Sweden recognize and manage computer gaming addiction.

Already ahead of the curve by "daring" to view gaming addiction as something distinct from other common problems facing young people, Sweden's Youth Care Foundation has put the country on the map as a leader in developing strategies for coping with the issue.

"Sweden has long been at the forefront of efforts to battle addiction," he said, adding that there are very few, if any, experts elsewhere in the world who have dedicated their work completely to the study and management of gaming addiction.

Obviously addiction should be taken seriously, but to suggest that we risk a pandemic of strung-out child gamers is just ridiculous. As it turns out, parents can turn off or simply take the games out of the kids hands, thwarting the game-play demons.

"If you extrapolate from the number of calls we received or simply from the millions of games that are sold around the world each year, you start to see how big the pool of potential addicts is," he said.

Extrapolating data is a tried and true tactic to conflate statistics, and in fact has provided plot-lines for both the Simpsons and Family Guy. It's also part of the renewed FCC investigation into Janet Jackson's 2004 Superbowl wardrobe malfunction wherein the number of complaints was extrapolated in order to prove a point, rather than provide a true statistical analysis.

I'd write some more but I have to get through the WoW Burning Steppes before a Blood Elf steals my gold.

Follow me on Twitter @daveofdoom.

[ozznom]

Dave: You're spot on about extrapolating data, but I think you've missed the point about computer game addiction (although whether "addiction" is the correct word is a separate issue, the debate amongst psychologists is continuing). To dismiss the risk as "ridiculous" and suggest that "parents can turn off or simply take the games out of the kids hands" shows a complete lack of understanding of the problem. I have known kids to sneak into their parents' bedroom at night and steal their own laptop so they can continue gaming into the wee hours of the morning. There are kids who miss school due to gaming. There are families breaking apart over this. Pandemic? Perhaps over the top, but since I haven't seen the stats, I don't know. I do know that this is a real issue that does need to be spoken about and addressed publicly. All credit to the Youth Care Foundation for raising awareness.

Note: I do not think that gaming is intrinsically harmful, in the same way I do not think that alcohol (for example) is intrinsically harmful. Gaming, however, can cause great harm if misused over time.

[daverosenberg]

That's fair. I just think the 'pandemic' sensationalism puts the whole argument into question.

[Dalkorian]

Calling a lack of self control "addiction" is a pathetic abuse of the language. Addiction implies a dependency, in other words if it's taken away there are physical ramifications. Alcoholics and drug addicts suffer withdrawal symptoms which can be life threatening, when I quit smoking I spent a week wanting to kill everyone I saw (cold turkey might taste good in a sandwich, but it's a tough way to quit smoking). The only ramifications these children have when you take their video games away is crying and acting like the spoiled rotten brats they have been raised as. That is NOT an addiction, it's simply another symptom of BAD PARENTING.

Read my lips - THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS "GAME ADDICTION".

[OPR8R]

This isn't surprising; I've long suspected it myself. I hope this is taken seriously. As we learn more through neurosciences, I think their theories will be proven. I suspect many WoW players are addicted to their own dopamine/adrenaline. They play for hours (and hours) for the chance of finding a rare object or to level up. When they do, they're rewarded with a rush- chemical dopamine. That stuff is addictive. They aren't aware of it, but the pursuit of that rush is what drives them to play for hours upon hours.

Really, WoW isn't addictive, dopamine is. I wouldn't go so far as to say Blizzard is a conscious pusher, but they've got whatever million people paying to play (for hours) a game that's like 4 years old. I could be wrong, but I really think these Swedish guys are on to something important.

[chris8772]

First of all, nothing is ever proven. A theory can either be supported or disproved.

Second, there may be something to the addictiveness to video games but I get the point of the article, there is no need to over-sensationalize the theory. A pandemic? Really? I think not. Is it an issue? Yes. There just needs to be a healthier, more intelligent way to make your point and start the dialogue.

[Len Bullard]

What you might follow up with is a serious look into game design to discover if the game designers consciously ensure that the game keeps the user at the screen as long as possible. Just as TV producers work hard to stop surfing behavior, games are designed to enthrall (if you don't like the term 'addiction'). I'm making no judgement here. I'm pointing to the obvious.

Take it up with Raph Koster who's Theory of Fun is one of the design bibles.

[shezcrafti]

"I'd write some more but I have to get through the WoW Burning Steppes before a Blood Elf steals my gold."

I know you meant it to be funny, but your ending sentence suggests to me that you don't even play WoW, or at least not a lot of it. So I find it kind of funny that you're quick to downplay this issue. I am an ex player who quit the game (officially) a few months after the WOTLK expansion, and as someone who used to play very heavily, I can tell you that video game addiction, to World of Warcraft in particular, is a very serious issue.

During my 4 years of playing, I have seen people lose their jobs, college students fail out of school, marriages break apart, children being neglected, lives ruined, you name it. Mind you, there are plenty of sensible players (and I'd like to think I was one of them) who can balance the game as just another part of their busy lives. But there's a whole world of people, especially kids, who get sucked in, maybe gradually at first, and have no idea how to cope.

Like another poster, I also don't agree that solving the problem is as easy as taking the computer away or uninstalling the game, etc. A lot of parents are clueless about anything technical like that. And that statement also doesn't address the issue of adults becoming addicted, who have it within their power to turn the computer off or uninstall the game, but who who never will if they can't recognize that they have a problem.

[Zoobie]

Why should gaming be different than other distractions that take over people's lives (like someone who sits in front of the TV all day/night)? I do have a problem labeling gaming as an addiction and a medical issue unto itself. I know people who were "addicted" to gaming, but these people had deeper underlying problems that led them to gaming as an escape from the real world. Taking away games isn't the issue--I believe it's just treating the symptoms of other underlying problems. If an adult can't turn off a game, they should address the other aspects of their life (job, relationships, money, health, etc.) that they are trying to escape.

[shezcrafti]

Great point Zoobie, and I agree with you to a degree, but it's not always the case that someone has other issues going on in their lives. Often times it's just the game itself. I think the danger is mostly in MMOs like WoW where you're forever trying to keep up with the Joneses for things like leveling, gear, achievements, arena points, DKP, PvP rank, etc. etc. to the point where you feel like you're way behind if you don't play for so much as a day. Its the reason why you hear stories about people playing 24/7 with no sleep when new expansions come out just so they can be the first to hit 80 (or 70 back when BC came out) and get that ever-important server first.

[baconstang]

Hopefully these 'victims' can fully recover and back to binge drinking and Star Trek conventions.

[daverosenberg]

Best comment so far.

[Dalkorian]

I'm appalled at how many people are taking this seriously. I would think an addiction to oxygen would cure most of them of this need to believe without thought, but I guess not.