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Board Games: The New Cure for Gaming Addiction?
13 Dec
Summary
- Australia's only public gaming disorder clinic helps 300 patients.
- Board games offer a tangible, social alternative to online gaming.
- Experts question why gaming platforms aren't included in social media ban.
In Australia, a unique public clinic at Fiona Stanley Hospital is aiding 300 patients in their battle against excessive online gaming. Fifteen-year-old Sadmir Perviz finds playing Dungeons & Dragons with others more fulfilling than his previous ten-hour-a-day online gaming habit. He notes the genuine human connection and the tactile experience of rolling dice.
This innovative approach contrasts sharply with purely online engagement, which psychiatrist Dr. Daniela Vecchio warns can escalate into addiction. While gaming itself isn't inherently harmful, the risks of prolonged screen time, online predators, and cyberbullying are significant.
Dr. Vecchio questions the exclusion of gaming platforms from Australia's new social media ban for under-16s. She emphasizes the deep interconnection between gaming and social media, suggesting that restricting one without the other may not fully address the underlying issues of excessive online engagement among young people.
