12/03/18

Problem-Solution Essay

Detrimental Effects of Online Gaming to Students

Online game is one of the most acquired technology industry in today’s

time, wherefore, game developers have the most advantage. Computer games

began in 1970, a research conducted by Rivenes in (2017) said that the main

purpose of computer games in the early days is to test the computer’s capability to

receive signals from network connections and to test the internet’s speed as it

evolve in time. As technology marches on, the evolution of online games went

along. Today, most of the people see computer games as part of their daily lives.

With the explosive growth of social media, according to Ray (2012), online game

developers take the opportunity on integrarting their games to social networking sites

such as Raptr.com (an online social networking site that allows player to upload

pictures and manage online game life), Worldofwrcraft.com (a social networking

site that was made specially for players or gamers that helps them connect with

each other, to guide, chat, and share ones progress in the game),

REvHolics.com (an online casino like website), and facebook (the most popular

social networking site in today’s generation), that gives people a quick access to

the online games.

variety of people of all ages. Generally, these games are available in the internet

without age restriction for free. In a research conducted by Kuss (2013), it is said that

students in their teenage years has the largest percentage of online gamers. Most

online game players spend hours on their desired virtual worlds that typically leads to

addiction. Online gaming addiction generally refers to an unhealthy, excessive amount

of time playing online computer games. This issue of gamming addiction uncontrollably

spread widely across the world. According to Kuss (2013), in the early 2000s empirical

studies examining the various aspects of problematic online gaming and online gaming

addiction increases in numbers. It is due to the Massively Multiplayer Online Role-

Playing Games (MMORPGs) that allows the players to adopt various virtual personas.

Multi-player games such as Mobile Legends gives several motivations for online gamers

that allows them to be virtually social with other gamers, accomplish game goals, and

immerse in the game. The variety of gaming motivations have contributed to why online

games are very much addictive. The addiction to the challenge and excitement of the

game make it the most common entertaining platform for students that causes them to

be disconnected from their surroundings.

Advancement of electronics and computer games can be a great threat to youth

and adolescents. A study conducted by Zamani et al. (2009) showed that addiction to

computer games may cause physical health problems, anxiety, and depression. In their

study they found out that teenage students who often play computer games have

connections with their physical health. The study showed that students with obesity are

more likely to be attracted with computer games. As an effect, students tend to stay at
home and play virtually with other gamers online that results to insufficient amount of

body movement and activity that causes them to gain unwanted weight. As a result, it

lowers the child self-esteem that transform their behavior which usually triggers anxiety,

depression, isolation and lack of self-confidence to socialize with other people. In the

early days, youth were physically involved playing with other children, yet children of

this day invest most of their time and energy in playing online computer games that

prompts addiction. Other studies show that most students who are addicted to online

games suffers from high blood pressure and usually have high heart beat count due to

excessive amount of excitement and stress in playing the game. Most of these students

are more likely choose to stay on the game than to eat. According to Griffiths (2015)

negative results of online gaming addiction also includes sacrificing education, work,

hobbies, sleep, time with family, may increase stress, decreases verbal memory

performance, increase aggression, and the like. Online games that promote violent

actions and scenarios may lead addicted gamers to be consumed by violence according

to Christopher (2017). They may adopt an isolated view of society or establish

aggressive thoughts and tendencies. Academic success is often one of the most

obvious causalities of online game addiction. Long hours of playing online games

affects the student’s behavior in school if the student is preoccupied with online games,

it may cause trouble in falling asleep, may have problems paying attention, and poor

test scores than those students who does not spend a great deal of time playing online

games. Relationships with family and friends may also suffer due to loss of interest in

social activities that limits the amount of conversation and communication. However,

regardless of the negative effects of online gaming, according to Khurana (2018), it

tournaments locally or internationally across the world. Moreover, scientific studies

claim that by limiting online gaming to a certain number of hours a day can train the

human mind to be agile and alert that also helps them in adapting certain strategies in

order to survive.

Similar to other potentially positive activities, online games have their room in a

healthy, well-rounded life, but when gaming start to take importance over studies, work,

or relationships, professional help is necessary. There are several ways to threat online

game addiction. In a study conducted by Karapetsas et al. (2014) claims that prevention

is the key solution. In a world full of technological advancement parents and/or gardians

hold the most significant role in the process of prevention and rehabilitation. Parents

should set a limit on how much time a child should play the online game, a short break

after 30 minutes of playing online games is a good example to defocus them on the

computer or mobile gadgets. It also helps them to relax their eyes from radiation and

light. Moreover, parents should give their children the time to communicate with other

children face to face and allow them to play physically outside their home. Controlling

and limiting the use of internet can also be a good method. One of the common ways to

fight online gaming addiction is through the Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)

(Kirschman, 2018). It is a form of psychotherapy that treats problems and increases

contentment by transforming dysfunctional behaviors, emotions, and thoughts. Hartney

(2017) said in one of his research that CBT has an exceptional track record with

numerous studies showing the effectiveness of treating addiction. In fact, in a research

conducted by Ford (2018) stated that in 2009 the researchers review 53 research
studies analizing the effectiveness of Cognitive Behavior Therapy, they have found out

that CBT has a large effect on the outcomes specially if it is combined with additional

psychosocial treatments.

Games are a form of entertainment, but excessive or abusive usage of this will

clearly lead to addiction. Online gaming addiction can attack anyone, whether young or

old, but most likely are students in their teenage years. The first step in treating online

gaming addiction is by acknowledging the issue. Counseling and behavior modification

are very powerful in addressing this kind of problem. Developing preventive

interventions in playing online games such as social engagement, setting a step-by-step

action plan to detox from the game, considering physically involve hobbies, finding

professional help, and others that will help in reducing the obsession to online games

such as psychological help, family guidance, moderation, or even abstinence from the

game, will help in succeeding the fight against this kind of addiction. With some work

and tremendous effort, at the end of the day it still depends on the persons’ capability of

controlling themselves and their willingness in allowing themselves to play in

moderation to avoid addiction.

References

Christopher, D. (2017). The Negative Effects of Video Game Addiction . Retrieved from
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emotional-development-delay-in-an-8-year-old-child/?ajax=1&is=1
Ford, H. B. (2018). Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Retrieved from Hazelden Betty Ford
Foundation: https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/education/bcr/addiction-
research/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-ebt-517
Griffiths, M. (2015). Online Games, Addiction and Overuse of. Retrieved from
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/9781118767771.wbiedcs044
Hartney, E. (2017). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Addiction. Retrieved from Very
Well Mind: https://www.verywellmind.com/cognitive-behavioral-therapy-for-
addiction-21953
Karapetsas, A., Karapetsas, V., Zygouris, N., & Fotis, A. (2014). INTERNET GAMING
ADDICTION. REASONS, DIAGNOSIS,. Retrieved from Encephalos:
http://www.encephalos.gr/pdf/51-1-02e.pdf
Khurana, A. (2018). The Good and Bad Impacts of Online Gaming. Retrieved from
Street Directory:
https://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/103868/gaming/the_good_and_bad
_impacts_of_online_gaming.html
Kirschman, E. (2018). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Retrieved from Psychology Today:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/basics/cognitive-behavioral-therapy
Kuss, D. (2013). Internet gaming addiction: current perspectives. Retrieved from PMC
US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3832462/
Lynch, M. (2018). THE POSITIVE CONNECTION BETWEEN GAMES AND ONLINE
LEARNING. (The Tech Edvocate) Retrieved from
https://www.thetechedvocate.org/the-positive-connection-between-games-and-
online-learning/
Ray, M. (2012). Online gaming. Retrieved from Encyclopedia Britannica:
https://www.britannica.com/technology/online-gaming
Rivenes, L. (2017). The History of Online Gaming. Retrieved from Data Path:
https://datapath.io/resources/blog/the-history-of-online-gaming/
Zamani, E., Chashmi, M., & Hedayati, N. (2009). Effect of Addiction to Computer
Games on Physical and Mental Health of Female and Male Students of
Guidance School in City of Isfahan. Retrieved from PMC - US National Library of
Medicine National Institutes of Health:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3905489/