COMPUTER AND GAME ADDICTION
Developing technology is rapidly changing people’s lifestyles and habits. Our speed increased, cities got closer to each other, the world got smaller. The cultures of the societies also got closer to each other and permeability began to occur. Children and young people at the computer are affected by the local culture of their parents; They are also influenced by a new culture formed in the virtual world.
Play is a tool that enables the child to develop socially and academically. There are rewards in games for the child and this allows the child to enjoy playing the game. The child can develop himself physically and mentally while playing and can enjoy everything he encounters in life by making it a game. The child’s rewards in the game are exemplary, such as passing a stage, beating a friend, and gaining recognition.
Computer games contain more rewards and colorfulness than outdoor games. All games appeal to the competitive side of the brain to help kids connect with them.
Now the game environments that have disappeared with the growing cities have closed the children to their homes. Children who are compelled to play computer games chat with their friends while playing. Socializing over the Internet has come to such a state that the children coming together have begun to remain silent as if they have forgotten how to speak. They are unable to speak without a keyboard or microphone in front of them.
For young people who grow up in a virtual world in front of a computer, the real world will seem very difficult and boring in their adulthood. In computer games, the young person who is used to the rewards given after passing the level, now has to get success after long training and long working hours. In the long run, these young people become steadfast people who are accustomed to not wanting to work for anything.
Internet usage is increasing day by day. While approximately 1 million people used the internet in 1993, today this number has exceeded 2 billion users. As the use of the Internet increases, the time spent playing games on the Internet, spending time in virtual environments such as Facebook and Twitter, and meeting through the virtual world have also increased. In fact, terrorist propaganda is made to young people online, and they are also subjected to sexual harassment.
The excessive and unconscious use of the Internet disrupts the physical and spiritual development of children and youth. Obesity problems and spinal problems may occur in children who are inactive at the computer.
In addition, the Internet can seriously affect the school success of children and young people. The pleasure of studying may be completely gone, and getting high grades may no longer motivate him.
Now there is a disease called computer and internet addiction in the world and it is spreading gradually. Computer addicts spend most of their time in front of the computer. Eating, studying, chatting with family and even sleeping is a waste of time for them. They don’t even want to leave the computer and go to school. In their dreams, they always see things related to the game they are playing. They experience all the emotions in the game. The game starts to matter more than the real world. Now all his work starts to fail, he goes to school late, he doesn’t do his homework, he doesn’t go to the appointments he has to go to… He reduces meeting with his friends. Adults may have processes leading to divorce.
Internet games played for a long time increase addiction a lot. Especially strategy games can be played 24 hours a day and make them addicted. It also increases the tendency to violence. Fights may start with parents and siblings at home.
Internet and game addiction is seen together with some diseases. It is especially common with social phobia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, conduct disorder, alcohol and substance disorders.
When the patient is no longer in front of the internet, he shows withdrawal symptoms. He cannot concentrate on his work. He starts to lie to his parents and people around him in order to be able to play games and to be in charge of the internet. Children can even steal from the house in order to upgrade the characters in the game. His mood changes, he may experience diseases such as depression and anxiety. Failing to pass a stage in the game can cause serious disappointments and depression.
In progressive cases, he no longer enjoys the game as much as before, increasing the time before the game and the internet. He begins to transform into a completely different person from his real personality.
Apart from game addiction on the Internet, there may be various addictions such as chatting in virtual environments, shopping, hacking, gambling-claiming on the Internet.
What should be done: Those with internet and gaming addiction need to cooperate with their parents. Banning the internet and gaming completely is not the solution.
Families should do research to find other activities that may interest the child and young person. Before that, a plan should be established to go to a doctor and organize the treatment together. If the social and sports activities of the child and the youth are shifted to the hours where they spend the most time in front of the computer, the time they spend in front of the computer can be reduced a little. By agreement with the patient, the time spent in front of the computer can be limited. When this limited time is over, the parents shut down the computer, albeit forcibly. Even if they are very difficult at first, this habit will settle over time.
In addition, accompanying diseases such as attention deficit, hyperactivity disorder and depression should be treated by the doctor.
During holidays and trips, especially children should be kept away from the computer. Parents should also stay away from the computer.
With therapies, the time spent in front of the internet by the patient should be reduced gradually, minute by minute, in agreement with him. The difficulties experienced while reducing it should be discussed and solutions should be found.
It is helpful for families to spend some time online with their children. By surfing the Internet with the child, he can follow the child’s condition and help with the problems that may arise. The computer should be under the control of the parents in a prominent place such as the living room. Limit time in front of the computer. Warn children and young people about the dangers of the Internet. Talk about what he does online. Let it teach you something. Get security programs and consult computer experts on these issues.
Families need to be vigilant about computer addiction, especially with problematic children and youth. Before a complete addiction develops, it should be recognized and necessary precautions should be taken.
