Online Gaming Addiction – Is Your Child at Risk?

In recent years, the popularity of video games has exploded. What used to be a niche market has risen to become one of the most popular forms of electronic entertainment and one of the most bustling businesses in the entertainment industry. While adults have become an increasingly larger part of the gaming population, children have continued to make up a huge amount of video game fans in the United States, and as such, the effects of video games have often been studied in relation to younger gamers. With video games - like World of Warcraft, for example - taking on such an expanded role in society and as an entertainment outlet, overuse has come into play as a topic of debate. But can you really suffer from a WOW addiction? Is online gaming addiction a real threat?

Online gaming addiction and video game addiction have been topics of study in recent years, and the American Medical Association has classified these problems along the lines of eating disorders, workaholism, and gambling addiction. The AMA has found that there are "concerns about untoward side effects (from video gaming), ranging from physical symptoms such as seizures and tendonitis, to socially maladaptive behaviors such as increased short-term aggressiveness and overuse syndromes."

While online gaming addiction has yet to earn the title of a true "addiction," debating the classification of this disorder is beside the point. Parents of children hooked on their video games and the Internet know that this illness can cause serious health and developmental problems in all aspects of a young person's life - mental and physical health, relationships, performance in school, behavior, and more.

If video games seem to have taken over your child's entire life, talk to your doctor right away. With medical help, you can determine whether your child might be suffering from Internet addiction or online gaming addiction and find ways to help halt this disorder. In fact, the Mikko Que was designed to help with issues such as these, as it offers parents unprecedented control over their children's screen time on the TV, Internet, video games, and more. It can help you teach your children responsible time management and media consumption skills. In tandem with the advice of your doctor, this innovative device can help you control an online gaming addiction and create a healthy system for your children to use media wisely. Contact us today to find out more about the Mikko Que.

Media Management for Children … It’s time.