Video Game Addiction: Pitfalls and Power-Ups

Video Game Addiction: Pitfalls and Power-Ups

By Kevin Kepple

Do you ever find it hard to stop watching online videos, interacting with social media, or playing your favorite video game? It’s because these activities are made to be fun and engaging. In particular, video games offer a captivating combination of sight and sound that stimulates your mind and reflexes. But can video games become an addiction?

Potential Pitfalls

An addiction is a behavior that’s hard to control and continues despite negative consequences. It is the subject of intense study among scientists, doctors, and other health experts. The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially recognized that video games can become an addiction. According to the WHO, signs of video game addiction include:

  • Not being able to stop gaming
  • Gaming taking priority over other interests and activities
  • Continuing to game despite negative outcomes

Next-Level Neurons

Video games can be addicting because they encourage the release of chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. This word is a combination of neuron, a type of brain cell, and transmitter, something that sends a signal. When you advance to the next level or score lots of points, neurotransmitters are released that make you feel accomplished and satisfied. You then want to keep playing for the next big achievement, then again for the next one.

Gaming on the Mind

Scientists can see the larger effects of video games on the brain using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine. An MRI machine can scan the brain and generate an image of brain regions that are active during game play. For example, a puzzle game might activate regions of the brain involved in problem-solving. These brain-stimulating effects can make it hard for players to take a break, even when it’s really needed.

Staying Powered Up

The WHO recommends that players be alert to any changes in health that could be attributed to gaming behavior. Players and parents can keep gaming fun by making mindful, informed decisions. If you love gaming, remember to find a healthy balance—play games with others, set time limits, and make time to explore and enjoy other hobbies.

Player Data

  • About 90 percent of kids say they play video games
  • Only 1.4 percent of all video game players may have an addiction
  • Video gaming can double neurotransmitter levels in the brain—that sounds like a lot, but it’s only about the same as eating a dish of ice cream

Discussion Questions

  • Write down the name of your favorite game. Next to it, write something about the game that makes you want to keep playing it. How might you know if the game is becoming addicting?
  • Imagine playing a game you like. What function of the brain do you think it activates? Examples include memory, concentration, teamwork, hand-eye coordination, decision-making, and navigation.
  • Team up with your classmates and brainstorm ways to make gaming healthier.

Vocabulary