ADHD and Internet Addiction – What’s The Cause?

The internet touches all areas of our lives. It entertains, educates, and connects us in ways that were unimaginable even a decade ago. For many people, it’s a force for good, providing more opportunities than ever before.

However, for others the internet can be as addictive as drugs, alcohol, and gambling, and people with ADHD are even more susceptible. This article looks at why ADHD is a risk factor for internet addiction, and shares advice on how to create boundaries around technology to stay healthy and productive.

What is internet addiction?

happy couple turned unhappy gamer

Internet addiction is a term that describes the uncontrollable urge to go online despite negative repercussions like disrupted sleep, strained relationships, missed deadlines, physical and mental health issues, and financial problems.

Typical symptoms of internet addiction include:

  • Constantly wanting to be online – some people are addicted to one aspect of the internet – gaming, shopping, porn, gambling, social media – while others switch between different apps and websites
  • Needing to use the internet for increasing amounts of time to find the same rush of pleasure
  • Losing track of time while scrolling – this is known as ‘time blindness’
  • Using the internet to escape from problems
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms if online access is restricted
  • Feeling restless and irritable when attempting to limit tech use
  • Losing interest in everything else – school, work, friends, family, hobbies, etc
  • Hiding the amount of time spent online and lying to others about it

So, can ADHD cause internet addiction? Let’s look at Timmy’s story.

Timmy’s story

man looking at phone

When Timmy was young, he was an active kid who couldn’t sit still for long and often got distracted. His teachers noticed this and informed his parents. Soon after, Timmy was diagnosed with ADHD. “It’s not a problem, he’ll soon grow out of it,” they thought.

When Timmy entered adulthood, although he no longer had the common ADHD symptom in children – hyperactivity – he was still unable to concentrate on university work without distracting himself by scrolling through TikTok. And he often bought video games impulsively when he saw ads on steam sales, even though that money was meant for his education.

Timmy didn’t think he had ADHD anymore, but believed he’d picked up bad habits around using the internet and technology for long periods of time. In reality, Timmy suffered from ADHD and his addiction to the internet made his symptoms worse.

The truth is, Timmy is not alone and millions of people are struggling with ADHD and internet addiction. So, if you’re wondering, “Is screen addiction a symptom of ADHD?” then read on.

Why people with ADHD are more vulnerable to internet addiction

Internet addiction is positively associated with ADHD among adolescents and young adults, according to a 2017 systematic review on the link between ADHD and internet addiction 1 1. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28724403/ × . This isn’t surprising if we consider the main symptoms of ADHD – impulsiveness, hyperactivity, and the inability to focus – because these behaviors make people with the condition more vulnerable to digital distraction.

Certain aspects of the internet such as video games, social media, online shopping, messaging, and endless sources of entertainment can make ADHD symptoms worse.

If we take gaming as an example, video games are designed to provide hyper-stimulation and goal setting. Players need to defeat the dragon, win the weapon, get to the next level, complete the mission, etc. People with ADHD often struggle to remain focused, but gaming is a fun and exciting experience that appears to hold their attention. But since they’re so stimulated all the time and jump from one game to another at the first sign of boredom, this also decreases their ability to pay attention properly. There are also lots of deceptively designed microtransactions that prey on their impulsivity and fear of missing out. So, gaming can worsen these ADHD symptoms (distractibility and impulsiveness). In extreme cases, an individual with ADHD can develop a video game addiction.

Social media is another potentially risky activity for people with ADHD who often struggle in social situations. It can be a relief to have somewhere to escape from feelings of frustration, loneliness, and rejection, which doesn’t require any mental energy. Social media preys on impulsivity, inability to focus, and boredom and promises a ‘cure’ for all these things. So someone with ADHD may see a TikTok notification and feel compelled to open up TikTok – that’s their impulsivity being manipulated. Next, they watch a few TikToks and keep mindlessly scrolling – that’s their inability to focus and time blindness being exploited. To understand why apps like TikTok are so bad for people with ADHD, discover how TikTok affects the brain.

Online shopping is another way that people with ADHD can become addicted to the internet. ADHD brain crave dopamine and impulse buying produces an intense feeling of pleasure and reward – known as a ‘dopamine rush’ – which can be irresistible. Having 24/7 access to spending opportunities can be problematic for people with ADHD who struggle with impulsive behaviors. Not only can they become addicted to online shopping, over time they can spiral into debt as constant spending outstrips their income.

These are just a few examples of how those with ADHD can be more susceptible to the addictive nature of internet, and why it may be necessary to set strong boundaries around technology.

How to deal with ADHD and technology addiction

adhd subtypes

As having ADHD makes people more vulnerable to internet addiction, it’s important to create some boundaries to stay healthy and productive. These boundaries will be different for everyone, but here are some tried and tested tips on how to deal with ADHD in a tech-focused world. (They are directed at the person with internet addiction, so if you’re a concerned loved one, please share the advice with them. You may also find this ADHD guide for parents a useful read.)

Consider whether the internet helps or hinders you

Do your online activities improve your life or have a negative impact? Once you’ve come up with the answer – which is probably that much of what you do on the internet isn’t worth it – you can start limiting your screen time. So, what is the best lifestyle for people with ADHD? For most people with ADHD, quitting entirely is unrealistic because we live in a digital world. Even if you avoid it in your leisure time, your school or job will require you to use the internet.

Devise ways to limit your usage

Working out how to effectively moderate your internet and tech use is very individual because everyone has their own go-to apps and websites. But here are some general ideas that you may find helpful:

Avoid short-form content

Try to avoid short-form content, especially when you’re bored, because it will train your mind to be more distracted. Short-form content can be text based – like blogs, news items, or social media posts – or video content on YouTube, TikTok, Facebook Reels, etc.

Use newsfeed blockers

Having a newsfeed that’s constantly flashing up the latest news and updates can be an irresistible pull for anyone struggling to limit their internet use. Clicking onto any of the stories can be a big time waster when you’re trying to complete a school assignment or work-related task. Try using a newsfeed blocker to avoid unnecessary distractions.

Be more intentional

Think about how you can use the internet more intentionally and break free from mindlessly scrolling. Work out ways to create friction between you and whatever you do online. This could involve setting time limiters on your phone apps or even removing apps completely so you need to log in each time. That way you can be less impulsive, and it will take more effort for you to be distracted. You can also be intentional by choosing the best games to play if you have ADHD.

Schedule your time

Another way to avoid automatically reaching for the internet is to schedule your free time using Google Calendar. A common symptom of ADHD is impulsivity, so planning the day in advance can help you manage this behavior. For example, if you take medication for ADHD, maximize your productivity during the hours when your medication is most active. If you aren’t medicated, you should also identify what times of the day you have the best focus and be diligent about using that time for productive work.

Consider quitting certain activities

As mentioned above, it’s impossible for most people to stop using the internet completely because it’s difficult to function without it. However, certain online activities are a non-essential part of life such as shopping (which can be done in person), news updates (which can be consumed in a newspaper or on the radio), and gaming (which can be replaced with other hobbies and interests). Delete these apps and websites completely, or get rid of your gaming console to avoid temptation.

Seek support from others

Having read the above suggestions, you may have good intentions but it can be difficult to limit your internet activities alone. That’s why it can be helpful to seek accountability and support from others: friends and family, professionals, or people with ADHD who are facing the same struggles. Online forums are a good place to connect with the latter. The Game Quitters Discord platform has a mental health channel where you can post questions and receive support. Be sure to turn off your notifications on Discord unless absolutely necessary so they don’t distract you further.

Need help with ADHD and internet addiction?

Game Quitters Reviews

If you’ve read this article and are wondering, “Do I have ADHD or am I just addicted to my phone?” you should seek professional help to find out if you have the condition. Then, you can establish how best to manage it – medication, psychological support, or both.

Do you need our expertise to manage internet addition and/or video game addiction? If so, check out our specialist coaching programs for gamers and families. Then get in touch to find out how we help you regain control of your life.

ADHD and Video Game Addiction – Your Questions Answered

It’s widely recognized that ADHD can make people more prone to video game addiction. But what are the signs that you or a loved one may be playing problematically? In this article we explore the common symptoms of gaming addiction, explain how they may affect people with ADHD, and share tried and tested tips for regaining a healthier game/life balance.

If your child has ADHD and is a keen gamer, our ADHD guide for parents is a useful read alongside this article.

Why do video games appeal to people with ADHD?

Living with ADHD can be stressful and some people suffer from anxiety. However, research has found that simple video games like Angry Birds may enhance emotional well-being; they can help to improve mood, promote relaxation, and reduce anxiety 2 2. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2014/02/video-game × . The study also highlighted that video games enable players to build emotional resilience – a valuable skill for people with ADHD to develop in order to deal with the day to day challenges they face.

People with ADHD are often drawn to playing video games because it’s a safe space. Those who lack social skills and feel excluded at school or work are often more confident about interacting with others while gaming. This is because there’s no need to stay focused on conversations, read facial expressions, or pick up on social cues. It’s much easier to respond appropriately in virtual situations as an avatar.

Another symptom of ADHD that video games can help with is lack of concentration. The immediate and frequent feedback of video games makes people with the condition able to focus (often called ‘hyperfocus’) for longer periods in order to progress through the game and achieve goals. They can learn from their actions during gameplay, which is motivating and rewarding. Making mistakes is all part of the process, and unlike in real-life situations there’s no chance of being mocked or teased.

These benefits of playing video games can make some people with ADHD ask themselves, “Am I using video games as a coping mechanism and if so, is that a problem?” While some individuals with the condition have a healthy game/life balance, others struggle to keep their gaming under control and this can lead to video game addiction.

Why are people with ADHD more at risk of video game addiction?

gamer with gaming catalog

The ‘hyperfocus’ that some people with ADHD experience when playing video games can make it difficult for them to stop gaming. So, does ADHD make you addicted to video games?

We don’t know what percentage of people with ADHD play video games but we do know that there’s a link between ADHD and video game addiction. A two-year study of 17 to 29-year-olds across more than 300 gamer groups in South Korea found that:

  • 59% of participants with internet gaming disorder had ADHD
  • 82% of participants with gaming disorder had ADHD

Please note: Internet gaming disorder and gaming disorder are both terms used to describe excessive gaming that has negative consequences, but the former relates to internet-based gaming only, whereas the latter encompasses all types of gaming.

What are the signs of too much gaming?

mom learning to spot the signs of gaming addiction

People with ADHD tend to have similar signs of video game addiction to those without ADHD. These include unsuccessfully trying to cut down or stop playing, withdrawal from friends and family, loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy, and continuing to game despite the problems it causes. For video game addiction to be diagnosed, they must have been showing signs of problematic use for at least a year. However, there are other more physical signs that those close to them may notice sooner.

So, what are the physical symptoms of too much gaming? One of the first things that tends to suffer is sleep. We hear from many parents and partners who are concerned about their loved ones staying up late, gaming all night, or waking in the early hours to play. Sleep deprivation can manifest in different ways, affecting their mood and behavior, causing headaches, and making it even harder to concentrate during the day at school or work. This can be particularly problematic for people with ADHD who may struggle to focus even after a good night’s sleep.

Other physical symptoms of video game addiction are triggered by leading a sedentary lifestyle. Hours spent hunched in front of a screen, repeating the same movements, and neglecting to eat or drink – or bingeing on unhealthy snacks and fizzy beverages – will take its toll. Obesity and heart problems can start to develop, along with repetitive strain injury, and sometimes secondary addictions can occur, such as soda addiction. Research has found that eating a healthy diet appears to decrease the risk of ADHD by 37%, whereas a diet of processed food, and consuming high amounts of artificial food coloring and sugar, seems to increase the risk of ADHD by 92% and 51% respectively 3 3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9608000/ × .

How can gamers with ADHD play more responsibly?

benefits of gaming in moderation

As experts in video game addiction, we’re often contacted by gamers and parents of gamers with ADHD. They want to know how to reduce game play to a manageable level but don’t know what steps to take. Here are some tried and tested tips to help build healthier gaming habits.

1. Set time limits for gaming sessions

To help you decide on appropriate boundaries, we recommend you check out these screen time guidelines.

Parents: Make sure you monitor that your child is sticking to whatever screen time limits you’ve agreed. Use a timer or set an alarm and warn them that the session is coming to an end. Expect some pushback but if you’re consistent and stick to your guns it will soon become the new normal. Give praise when they step away from the screen, which is a good dopamine boost for kids with ADHD.

Gamers: Set yourself a daily screen time limit and remember this should include all online activities – scrolling social media, online shopping, checking news feeds, etc – as well as gaming. Use apps, alarms, or other tools to help you stay on track. Remove all game-related items from your bedroom so you’re not tempted to play at night. Delete gaming apps from your phone to stop you playing mindlessly when you’re on the go. Ask friends and family for support while you try to get your gaming under control.

2. Find video games that help with ADHD

Once you’ve decided on a daily screen time limit, consider the best types of video games for people with ADHD. You may have heard of EndeavorRx, the FDA-authorized video game that’s available on prescription. It’s specifically designed to help improve the attention of 8 to 17-years-olds with ADHD. The game developer, Akili, has restricted the amount of time kids can spend playing EndeavorRx. Once five missions are complete, the game will not allow them to play any more until the next day.

Although not specifically aimed at people with ADHD, video games designed for a mainstream audience can help manage the symptoms of ADHD too. For example, Roblox, Fortnite, Guitar Hero, and Minecraft are among the titles that may improve memory, focus, communication, and other valuable life skills that you or your child may lack.

3. Encourage in-person socializing

Many people with ADHD find it difficult to make friends because they’re less aware of other people’s thoughts and feelings, and don’t always know how to respond. But the combination of ADHD and long gaming sessions makes it even harder to develop and practice relationship skills. That’s why it’s important to regularly socialize with peers, to learn how to interpret facial cues and body language signals during face-to-face conversations and interactions.

4. Find alternative hobbies to video games

Get inspired by these hobby ideas and screen-free activities.

Parents: The amount of input you have in planning your child’s schedule will depend on their age. It’s easier to be more hands-on if they’re younger, but you can still try to influence how teens spend their time. Getting out of the house and away from the games console will mean they’re less likely to want to play.

Gamers and parents: Any hobbies and interests that involve movement are particularly beneficial because people with ADHD have low dopamine, and exercise provides a natural dopamine boost that can help ease physical symptoms and improve emotional well-being.

Need help?

help for gaming issues

Are you worried that you or your child with ADHD might be addicted to video games? If so, take our short quiz for gamers or test for parents to find out whether the gaming behavior is cause for concern. If they, or you, meet criteria for ADHD video game addiction, we can help.

As experts in gaming addiction, we’ve supported gamers and families all over the world, including those with a gamer in denial.

Take the first step and apply for a Gameplan strategy call. During the call, we’ll discuss your situation and explain what’s involved in our coaching programs. (Please note that we have limited spaces on the programs and are unable to accept all applicants.)

Alternatively, you can join our parent Facebook group.

You can also watch our video on the 3 secrets of gaming addiction.

ADHD and Video Games: Good or Bad?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (better known as ADHD) is a mental health condition that’s most commonly found in children and increasingly diagnosed in adults.

As experts in gaming addiction, we’re often asked if there’s link between ADHD and video games. Over the years, we’ve seen many instances of kids with ADHD being drawn to gaming. In this article we look at whether playing video games causes ADHD, or if they can help people with the condition to manage their symptoms.

Why can ADHD kids focus on video games?

adhd gaming icons

Many parents don’t understand why kids with ADHD concentrate on video games but not homework. If we look at the main the symptoms of ADHD – hyperactivity, impulsivity, and difficulty focusing – these are traits that can make kids more drawn to the highly stimulating and distracting nature of gaming. Here are some of the reasons why video games have such a strong pull:

Instant feedback

One of the main reasons why video games hold the attention of kids with ADHD is because they provide instant feedback. A study by the University of Buffalo 4 4. https://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2015/07/036.html × found neurotypical kids tend to perform well when asked to do something to the best of their ability, whereas kids with ADHD usually need some sort of immediate gratification or reward.

Gameplay provides instant rewards and this happens via the feedback loop:

  1. Understanding the situation
  2. Taking action
  3. Applying the rules
  4. Instant feedback, which leads to a better understanding of the situation

As each stage of the feedback loop happens very quickly, it can help gamers with ADHD to stay focused because they immediately learn from their actions.

Motivation

Kids with ADHD often struggle with internal motivation, and gaming provides not only a fun and exciting experience to capture their attention, but external motivation to complete the goals within a game – you need to beat this opponent, get the weapon, and finish the mission. There’s a goal and a structure to work toward.

Pleasure and reward

Studies show that people with ADHD also suffer from low dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain responsible for feelings of pleasure and reward. In day-to-day life, having dopamine deficiency may cause people to disengage from activities that require focus, and lose motivation to work toward a future goal.

However, as video games provide frequent stimulation and immediate rewards, they allow kids with ADHD to experience pleasure, despite low levels of dopamine. Discover more about how gaming affects the brain.

Social connection

It can be difficult for kids with ADHD to make and maintain friendships because of their symptoms. Interacting with others online while playing video games can be an easier way to build relationships. However, this can be a double-edged sword. Spending an excessive amount of time gaming can lead to social isolation, which reduces the chance of making real-world connections.

Focus

One of the main symptoms of ADHD is a short attention span. However, people with the condition are capable of hyperfocus when activities are particularly engaging – and this can happen with gaming.

As most video games are visually exciting and highly stimulating, kids are less likely to get distracted. There’s always something happening on the screen which requires them to respond immediately or else they’ll lose. But as the tasks are changing so quickly and gameplay is constantly shifting focus, only short bursts of attention are needed.

Do video games cause ADHD?

Typical symptoms of ADHD – such as impulsive behavior, inability to focus properly, and becoming easily bored – can be easily exploited by video games. However, there’s no proof that excessive gaming actually causes the condition.

Potential causes of ADHD

Although the exact cause of ADHD is unknown, genetics appear to play an important role according to the Centers for Disease Controls and Prevention 5 5. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html#Causes × . The following factors may also be involved, but the evidence isn’t strong enough to conclude they may be the primary causes of ADHD:

  • Brain injury
  • Exposure to toxins, e.g., high levels of lead during pregnancy or at a young age
  • Smoking and alcohol use during pregnancy
  • Premature delivery
  • Low birth weight

ADHD and video game addiction

Although there’s no evidence to suggest that playing video games causes ADHD, research has found a link between ADHD and gaming disorder. The study concluded that people with the condition have a greater chance of developing video game addiction, and those with the most extreme ADHD symptoms are even more likely to become addicted. The researchers suggested that gamers with ADHD may benefit from being informed about the potential risk of problematic play.

Too much screen time can worsen symptoms

As well as the risk of video game addiction, there are more potential harms of too much screen time. Kids start to neglect other things at an important stage of their development, such as school, sport, hobbies, family time and hanging out with friends in person. So, what is the best lifestyle for people with ADHD?

These screen time guidelines can help you work out a healthy balance for your family, and non-screen activities are also a good way to help you achieve it. Although limiting screen time and encouraging offline interests is important for all kids, it’s particularly important for those with ADHD. Sleep deprivation due to hours spent gaming can make their symptoms worse. They can find it even more difficult to concentrate and complete tasks, and become more easily distracted.

Do video games help with ADHD?

gamer with gaming catalog

While there’s no evidence to suggest that gaming can cause ADHD, research has shown the benefits of playing video games and their potential as therapy for ADHD.

Video games can improve attention

In a study by The Lancet 6 6. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/landig/article/PIIS2589-7500(20)30017-0/fulltext × , a sample of 8 to 12-year-olds with ADHD used a video game-like interface for 25 minutes per day, five days a week over a four-week period. The results showed an improvement on the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA), a neuropsychological assessment that measures a person’s attention and focus. This was one of several studies commissioned by the digital medicine company, Akili Interactive, that paved the way for EndeavorRx (AKL-T01) to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2020 as a treatment tool for kids with ADHD.

How is EndeavorRx different to other video games?

EndeavorRx is a video game for 8 to 17-year-olds with attentive or combined-type ADHD, who have an issue with staying focused 7 7. https://www.endeavorrx.com/ × . It’s designed to be used in conjunction with medication or behavioral therapy, rather than as a stand-alone treatment. The big difference between EndeavorRx and other video games is that it adapts to the player’s cognitive function, allowing them to progress to a level that challenges but doesn’t over challenge them. For example, if a player makes too many errors, the speed slows down but if they’re managing to avoid obstacles, the game speeds up. This means that every player has a positive experience of the game, regardless of their ability.

How gameplay improves cognitive function

Each player’s avatar is a space cadet who travels over different worlds and landscapes. They must take part in missions along the way, while saving aliens from extinction. This includes the following cognitive tasks:

  • Navigating around obstacles, which requires constant attention
  • Completing several tasks at once so they can’t just focus on one at a time
  • Remembering which type of alien to capture, which aids working memory

The EndeavorRx Insight app allows parents to follow their child’s progress. Feedback is positive: 73% of kids reported an improvement in their attention span and 68% of parents have seen improvements in ADHD-related issues after two months of treatment.

When you are considering whether or not to play video games as someone with ADHD, it’s worth consider the best games for ADHD.

What people with ADHD wish you knew

Despite video games sometimes getting a bad press, especially now there’s evidence that gamers with ADHD may be at greater risk of addiction, they can help young people with the disorder to develop important life skills, including:

  • Strategy and problem-solving
  • Visual-spatial awareness
  • Focus and concentration
  • Hand-eye coordination
  • Prioritizing and sequencing
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Planning, organization, and time management

We know from speaking to kids with ADHD that they wished their families would acknowledge the positive as well as the negative aspects of video games. Our ADHD guide for parents is packed with helpful information and insights.

Need help?

At Game Quitters, we have lived experience of ADHD and video games. We know what it feels like to be a mom with ADHD – or a dad or teen – who can’t stop gaming. Our founder, Cam Adair, has previously suffered from gaming addiction with ADHD. We understand the technology struggles that many people face, which helps us to work with gamers and families.

If you or someone you care about have ADHD and are gaming compulsively, we can help. Take the first step today and apply for a Gameplan strategy call. On this call, we’ll see if you’re a good fit for our coaching program. We have a limited places available and we’re unable to accept all applicants.

Alternatively, you can join our community forum to connect with other gamers or our parent support group on Facebook.

10 Negative Effects of Social Media

Social media is a divisive issue. While some people extol its benefits, others can only see negative repercussions and worry about the long-term damage it may cause. But why is social media bad for some users and not for others?

At Game Quitters, our expertise extends beyond video game addiction to tech overuse in general. In this article we explain 10 ways social media can cause harm.

What are the 10 negative effects of social media?

girl being bullied online

Although there are positive aspects of social media, it presents some significant risks. That’s why it’s important to know both the pros and cons of social media. So, how does social media have a negative impact on life? Here are 10 ways it can have a detrimental effect, including some negative effects of social media statistics.

1. Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying can include harassment (sending abusive, offensive, or threatening messages), doxing (posting someone’s private details without their consent), cyberstalking (unwanted attention that may continue offline), impersonating someone (setting up a fake account in their name), and even revenge porn (sharing sexually explicit images or video to humiliate an ex-partner) on sites like OnlyFans.

Cyberbullying can be triggered by homophobia, religion, race, or misogyny but sometimes it has more to do with the perpetrator than the person being abused. They may have been cyberbullied themselves, feel jealous of the victim, or simply get a kick from inflicting misery. Whatever the reason, the impact of cyberbullying on social media is far-reaching – it can cause emotional, psychological, and physical distress.

According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, online abuse is on the rise among US youth 8 8. https://cyberbullying.org/cyberbullying-continues-to-rise-among-youth-in-the-united-states-2023 × . A 2023 survey of 5,000 13- to 17-year-old US middle and high school students, revealed that 26.5% of respondents had been subject to cyberbullying in the past 30 days, compared to 23.2% in 2021, 17.2% in 2019, and 16.7% in 2016. The 2023 study found the most common types of cyberbullying that took place online were:

  • mean or hurtful comments – 77.5%
  • someone spreading malicious rumors – 70.4%
  • being embarrassed or humiliated – 69.1%
  • intentionally being excluded from a group activity – 66.4%
  • being repeatedly contacted after telling someone to stop – 55.5%.

2. Age-inappropriate content

One of the other potential harms of social media is age-inappropriate content. Across platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, children and teens can inadvertently encounter or deliberately search for content they’re not ready for developmentally. Images, videos, and other material that are directed at adults can be upsetting and disturbing for impressionable young minds. That’s why it’s important to set appropriate screen time guidelines based on age.

One of the risk factors of viewing age-inappropriate content is young people providing a false date of birth to gain access to social media platforms. A 2022 UK study by Ofcom found that 32% of 8- to 17-year-olds have a user age of 18+, after providing fake information when they initially registered 9 9. https://www.ofcom.org.uk/news-centre/2022/a-third-of-children-have-false-social-media-age-of-18 × .

3. Withdrawal from family and friends

Although one of the positive effects of social media is connectivity, overuse can cause a disconnect with friends and family. Hours spent scrolling and posting in the online world often creates friction in real-world relationships. Parents become increasingly frustrated when their child barely looks up from the screen and is monosyllabic during interactions. And real-life friends can feel excluded when those they were close to seem distant and unavailable. Online friendships are different from fact-to-face interactions as we miss out on body language and tone of voice so messages can be misconstrued, leading to misunderstandings and conflict.

In-person connection and support play an important role in child development and this can be lost when someone withdraws from friends and family. An increasing reliance on social media for connectivity and belonging can put a strain on existing relationships and make it difficult to develop new ones. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. ‘The Global State of Social Connections’ – a 2023 study by Gallup and Meta – highlights the prevalence of loneliness worldwide 10 10. https://www.gallup.com/analytics/509675/state-of-social-connections.aspx × . It found that 25% of respondents aged 15 to 18 years old feel “very lonely” or “fairly lonely”. How does social media affect you socially? Does it have a positive or negative impact on your relationships?

4. Lack of interest in other activities

It’s not just friends and family who can be neglected when an individual becomes hooked on social media. They can also start to lose interest in hobbies and activities they once enjoyed. The pull of checking for likes, follows, and updates can become all consuming, taking up more and more hours each day. Although some people can continue to pursue their passions on social networks, it’s not always the same experience. For example, following well-known hockey players on Instagram or watching game highlights on YouTube is different from training with teammates or playing hockey in person.

With the average US teen spending 4.8 hours a day on social platforms, it’s no wonder that other hobbies and interests are taking a back seat (4). So, we’ve put together 50 best screen-free activities by age and 60+ hobby ideas to help anyone wanting to reduce their social media use get a healthier tech-life balance.

5. Physical health problems

Excessive social media use may also cause physical health problems when individuals start to lead a more sedentary lifestyle. As shown above, hours spent scrolling can replace and interfere with more active hobbies. This can cause weight gain and obesity, which have serious health implications. In fact, a study by the University of Buffalo found that social media overuse may increase the risk of certain cancers, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, and lead to more frequent visits to health centers for headaches and musculoskeletal problems like back and chest pains.

It’s not just inactivity that can negatively affect physical health, excessive social media use can also adversely impact diet and sleep. Taking a break to make a healthy meal may seem like too much effort – it can be quicker and easier to grab some junk food and soda. Even stopping to get a good night’s sleep is a struggle for those who are constantly checking social media, and some people even wake in the night for an update. Over time, this will lead to severe sleep deprivation, which can affect day-to-day functioning and physical health.

6. Mental health issues

The negative effects of social media on society are not only related to physical health problems, but the rise of psychological issues is also significant. So, how does social media have a negative impact on mental health? Although it can be a lifeline for some people, who feel a sense of belonging and connection in their online communities, it can make others feel lonely and isolated. This is because it can create a false sense of true engagement. And loneliness can be a contributing factor to mental health problems such as depression. A 2023 study that examined the association between social media use and loneliness among adults found that more time spent on social media was associated with more loneliness 11 11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9817115/ × .

Young people are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of social media on mental health because their self-worth is often linked to approval from others. The number of likes, follows, comments, and shares they receive can have a direct (and often adverse) impact on their emotional well-being. The negative effects of social media on youth mental health can also include lower self-esteem and comparison anxiety. Most people only post the positive aspects of our lives on social media, giving an unrealistic view of reality, which can make them seem more popular, attractive, or wealthy. Having a window into their near-perfect lives can compound matters for those already feeling inadequate.

7. FOMO

As mentioned above, young people have a greater tendency to compare themselves to others on social media and this can lead to FOMO (the fear of missing out). FOMO makes some individuals feel compelled to constantly checking their social media accounts. There are numerous reasons for FOMO, including missing important posts, direct messages, live chats, and news; not knowing what others are doing or saying; annoying someone by not responding immediately; being left out of discussions, jokes, and events; and losing popularity or influence. FOMO can lead to problematic use and cause those affected to miss out on real-life relationships and activities.

8. Negative body image

There are positive and negative effects of social media on body image. Although it can celebrate diverse body shapes, promote body positivity, and offer health and fitness advice, it can also negatively impact how users view their bodies. Negative issues occur because of the idealized (and often filtered and AI) images posted on social platforms like Instagram and Facebook, which can lead to unhealthy comparisons and self-esteem problems for those who may not match these unrealistic beauty standards.

Research in 2023 found a link between social media, body image, and eating disorders in young people 12 12. https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0001091 × . It recommended that because of on the scale of social media usage by youth, this issue should be considered an emerging global public health concern.

9. Unrealistic expectations

Let’s now look more at the negative effects of social media on self-esteem. Social media influencers – paid by brands to promote their products and services – post carefully curated content that can create unrealistic expectations. Many people fail to see the marketing ploy and instead think this portrayal of a flawless image and lifestyle is realistic. Constant comparisons can make them feel inadequate and lead to unrealistic expectations about their appearance, home, holidays, car, job, social life, etc. It can also distract users from their own choices and aspirations.

Influencers can significantly impact on their followers’ buying decisions. According to a report from Mintel, almost 50% of German and British consumers have purchased a product from an influencer they follow 13 13. https://www.mintel.com/media-content-producers-market-news/impact-of-influencer-marketing-on-consumers-purchasing-journey/ × . They can also encourage their followers to purchase products and services they neither need nor can afford.

10. Social media addiction

While social media is a fun way to keep in touch with friends, stay informed, and be entertained, overconsumption can start to affect the brain. Dopamine is a chemical in the brain responsible for motivation and reward, and people who constantly scroll through social media can deplete their dopamine level, which can make them feel low, bored, and anxious. They crave more of the dopamine ‘reward’ so keep bombarding their brain with pictures, videos, memes, ads, and captions, and needing more likes, comments, and interactions to experience the same rush of pleasure.

If you’re worried that you might be affected, check out the signs and symptoms of social media addictionand find out more about Instagram addiction, Snapchat addiction, TikTok addiction, and YouTube addiction.

Need help?

man being controlled by his phone

If you think you’re addicted to social media, you need to decide what to do – limit it or quit. Start by identifying the different platforms that are causing issues, and consider whether you need to continue using them. Sometimes it can be a relief to remove yourself from toxic situations, or sites that are taking up too much of your time.

How to limit your social media use

If you decide to limit your social media use, think about the positive aspects of your engagement, such as staying connected with friends and family from all over the world. Then reflect on the negative side of your interactions, like having heated debates with strangers, or going down a rabbit hole of endless short videos.

Work out which platform(s) you’re going to use for which purposes, then de-activate the ones you want to leave and log out of the ones that you’re keeping. So, each time you want to check your feeds, you have to log into your accounts. This will make you consider your actions rather than impulsively reaching for your phone whenever you have a spare moment. Over time you’ll engage more mindfully with content that enhances and adds value to your life.

How to quit social media

If you want to leave social media for good, it can be a difficult journey to take alone. Read Phil’s story about why he quit social media for inspiration. If your social media problems are deep rooted, you may need professional support.

10 Positive Effects of Social Media

Having grown up in the digital age, today’s teens cannot imagine life without Instagram, TikTok, Discord, Snapchat, and YouTube. Even those who remember the pre-internet era, would struggle to function without many of these platforms now.

Despite its challenges, social media has many positive effects when used responsibly and in moderation – from helping us stay more connected than ever before, to providing access to communities where we feel accepted. In this article, we explore the most notable benefits of social media on our lives.

Positive effects of social media statistics

stat about teen social media use

Social media is often vilified for its negative impacts but here are some statistics about the positive effect of social media on US teens:

  • Young people are more likely to report that social media has pros rather than cons, according to a study by Pew Research Center 14 14. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/04/24/teens-and-social-media-key-findings-from-pew-research-center-surveys/ × :
    • 58% say it helps them feel more accepted
    • 67% feel like people in their networks can support them through difficult times
    • 71% appreciate having a platform to demonstrate their creative side
    • 80% use social media to feel more connected to their friends’ lives.
  • The main three positive effects of social media on teens::
    • Connections/socializing – 46%
    • Information/learning – 25%
    • Entertainment/fun – 14%

What are the 10 positive effects of social media?

happy social media icons

Although social media can present some risks, it has multiple benefits when used responsibly. That’s why it’s important to understand the pros and cons of social media. So, how does social media help in a positive way?

1. Connectivity

As a society, we’ve never been better connected and much of that’s down to social media. Previous generations have communicated by post, phone, or in person, often sporadically. Whereas now, we can keep in touch anytime, anywhere with anyone in our social network. It’s the perfect forum to share news, photos, and videos.

As well as staying up to date with the lives of friends, family, and colleagues, social media allows us to follow the accounts of celebrities and other public figures. It can be exciting to have a window into their world, makes them more relatable, and allows direct interaction when they respond to comments. This engagement enables us to feel more connected to them.

2. Belonging

Although spending hours online may seem like a solitary activity, social media platforms are a great place to make friends. Having an online community can make us feel supported and understood, which can boost our emotional well-being.

This sense of belonging is especially important for people who struggle to make face-to-face connections, perhaps because they have social anxiety or haven’t found like-minded people in their immediate vicinity. It’s also a way for those who live in remote areas with limited access to social activities to overcome loneliness and isolation.

3. Communication

Social media has changed the way we all communicate. Instant messaging apps like WhatsApp, Snapchat, Wizz, Discord and Messenger are an increasingly popular way to stay in touch. They can be used for much more than simply sending text messages, with features such as group messaging, video chat, free calls, photo-sharing, and messages that delete after a certain time.

Many businesses use social media to communicate their products and services, with targeted ads that appeal to our specific interests and preferences. We’re also bombarded with recommendations about different brands from influencers on social media. This means we can discover and connect with many more products than ever before, wherever we live in the world.

Social media is very useful in emergency situations when important public safety information can be posted to a mass audience. It was a vital communication tool used by governments and public health authorities around the world during the Covid-19 pandemic to provide regular updates.

4. Awareness

Another of the positive effects of social media on society is raising awareness and influencing people. It can be a powerful tool for shining the spotlight on social problems, political issues, charitable causes, and other important campaigns. In fact, 31% of Americans say social media is very effective in raising awareness about political or social issues, and 49% believe it is somewhat effective 15 15. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2020/09/09/americans-think-social-media-can-help-build-movements-but-can-also-be-a-distraction/ × .

When harnessed successfully, social media can reach new audiences, encourage dialogue, mobilize support, and drive change.

5. Accessibility

Social media companies have invested considerable time and money to make their platforms accessible to the widest possible audience, including people who have sight, hearing, motor, or cognitive disabilities.  As a result, many social platforms have accessibility features including:

  • alternative text (alt text) that provides an audio description for blind and partially sighted users
  • automated video captions for deaf people and those with hearing loss
  • information written in plain English to make content more accessible to individuals with cognitive disabilities
  • consistent and predictable navigation to help people who have physical or motor disabilities.

6. Inclusivity

Have you ever wondered, “How does social media have a positive impact on life?” One of the major advantages is that social media is a platform for everyone, irrespective of gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other identity. It provides a forum for previously marginalised voices to be championed and heard.

And social media isn’t just a space for people with similar backgrounds and preferences to communicate and connect. Brands that advertise on social media are also becoming more aware of the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in their content and campaigns.

7. Information

While the internet gives us instant access to a world of information, social media offers much more than a one-way experience. It allows us to interact, share, and engage with information that interests us by joining groups and discussions across different platforms.

For many of us social media also plays an important role in how we access news. Gone are the days when the information we received about local, national, and global events was controlled by media outlets, many of which have their own agenda and political allegiances. Thanks to social media, our feeds are now packed with information, insights, and opinions shared by ordinary people from diverse backgrounds.

8. Learning

Although many parents feel frustrated by the amount of time their kids spend on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, etc., there are positive effects of social media on youth. One of them is the many learning opportunities available on these platforms. For example, the American Museum of Natural History regularly posts interesting facts about its collection, and NASA shares information about its people, programs, and missions.

Many universities use social media platforms like YouTube Live, Facebook Groups, and Instagram Live to stream lectures. Not only does this make learning more accessible, but it also allows these live streams to be recorded and captions added. Having subtitles can help non-native speakers and students who are deaf or have hearing loss fully understand the content, and re-watching lectures can help all learners revise for exams.

It’s not just young people who can benefit from the impact of social media on learning. People of all ages can access information, webinars, events, and courses on a wide range of topics. The interactive nature of social media means it’s easy to ask questions to engage further with the subject matter.

9. Entertainment

Social media has transformed the way we’re entertained by giving a platform to millions of people rather than a select few who get a record label or make it onto our TV and movie screens. Using platforms like TikTok and YouTube, anyone with a skill or talent can showcase their work and reach large audiences, especially if the content goes viral.

Gaming has always been a social activity, particularly massively multiplayer online (MMO) games, but social media has taken it to a different level. The entertainment aspect of gaming now extends far beyond simply playing video games. On platforms like Twitch, Kick and YouTube, players can keep up with the latest gaming news, watch live game streams, and connect with other gamers to share tactics and experiences.

10. Mental health

Social media often gets a bad press when it comes to our emotional well-being, but there are positive effects of social media on mental health. It can reduce loneliness, provide a sense of belonging, and improve our self-worth. The way that others engage with our social media content (via likes, favorites, comments, shares, retweets, mentions, etc) can make us feel happy and valued, which demonstrates the positive effects of social media on self-esteem.

Despite reports of negative effects of social media, such as people getting depressed and anxious when comparing themselves to others online, there are positive effects of social media on body image. In the past magazines, advertisements, TV, movies, etc. featured glamourous models and actors, whereas social media gives us access to people of all shapes and sizes.

Need help?

safe online family

Despite the many benefits of social media outlined above, it’s important to recognize that there are also negative effects, including social media addiction.

If you or a loved one are concerned about your social media use, try reducing your screen time, switching off notifications, or finding other hobbies and interests. However, if your urge to constantly scroll is deep rooted, you may need professional support.

At Game Quitters, our coaching programs are designed to help individuals and families have a healthier and more balanced relationship with technology.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Social Media?

Scrolling through social media is one of our favorite pastimes. There are currently 4.89 billion social media users globally, which represents more than 60% of the world’s population, and this is projected to reach almost 6 billion in 2027.

However, despite its popularity, social media is highly controversial. Those whose loved ones lives are consumed by TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, Twitch, Kick and other popular platforms will argue that the cons outweigh the pros, while those who avidly use social media will say the opposite.

Objectively, there are tangible benefits of social media when it’s used responsibly. But there are also negative impacts that cannot be ignored. So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of social media?

This article looks at how social media affects society. We explore the pros and cons of social media to help you and your family harness the positive aspects and try to minimize the potential harms.

Pros of social media

people using social media

Let’s start with some of the main pros of social media. Many people will advocate that it’s a force for good and has brought numerous benefits to society. They believe that it can positively impact mental health and well-being when used in moderation.

Here are some of the main ways that social media can enhance our lives:

Increased connectivity

A key advantage of social media is increased connectivity. It allows people to stay in touch with friends and family from all over the world, regardless of distance or time zone. Through different social platforms, they can maintain close contact by sending messages, sharing photos, and using video chat apps.

Social media is also good for connecting people with similar views and interests. It enables them to easily communicate, share content, and discuss ideas. For individuals with niche hobbies, it’s a way to find likeminded people in other cities, states, and countries. Having a close-knit community can foster a sense of acceptance and belonging.

This connectivity was particularly important during the Covid-19 pandemic because it was a safe way to communicate when lockdown measures were in place. By enabling relationships to stay strong even when we were unable to meet up physically, it became important for the mental health of many people globally.

Mass communication

Social media is the most popular news source for 18 to 34-year-olds in the US – 47% use social platforms to get their daily news 16 16. https://www.statista.com/statistics/717651/most-popular-news-platforms/ × . It can be a reliable source of information, but fake news is an ever-present risk.

Information can be posted in real time on social media. So, we get access to news as it happens – often from eyewitnesses – sometimes before traditional news outlets can cover it. Following other people’s reactions to news and information also draws people to social networks to really get under the skin of a story.

Another benefit is that social media can be used to communicate and discuss topics that aren’t covered by mainstream media – possibly because they’re too niche or controversial. Those who want a platform to share and seek views with likeminded people now have a space to do so.

Knowledge and learning

There are pros and cons of social media for students but one of the main advantages is learning opportunities. Children and young people can build up knowledge on a broad range of subjects in an interactive way. With different views and perspectives shared across multiple platforms. they can engage with issues and have their voices heard.

As most social media platforms have a global reach, there are no geographical barriers to learning. Anyone of any age can access online courses, webinars, tutorials, and training programs delivered by experts to learn new skills and broaden their understanding of the world. Plus, many educational institutions share valuable insights on social media, which can give students access to information and resources beyond the walls of their school or college.

Inclusivity

People with disabilities sometimes feel isolated, but social media can provide valuable support outside their immediate community. It can break down physical barriers and allow those with disabilities to communicate with others on a wide range of subjects and build a social network. .

Social media can also be a lifeline for people who feel marginalized because of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender. They can easily find people who share similar backgrounds, preferences, and identities using hashtags and other search criteria. These connections can be crucial for their mental health and well-being.

Entertainment

As well as enabling groups of people to build communities, social media offers a myriad of entertainment options – memes, GIFs, videos, quizzes, puzzles, live streams, challenges, and much more. This entertainment is highly accessible because social media users already have phones, tablets, and computers, so they can view most of this content for free on platforms like Omegle, Wizz and Discord. What’s more, much of it is humorous and lighthearted, which can be a healthy distraction for anyone feeling lonely or depressed.

One of the most popular types of entertainment in the world is playing video games. And many gamers use social media to connect with other players, keep up with the latest gaming news and trends, and watch video games or live stream their own gameplay on platforms like Kick. This type of entertainment and engagement is replicated across thousands of other hobbies and interests.

Creativity

Social media allows users to express themselves creatively to a much wider audience than ever before. They can develop a platform to share their skills and talents via carefully curated messages, photos, and videos. For example, many people have successfully built a huge following on social networks like TikTok where their posts reach thousands, or sometimes millions, of people.

As well as using social media to share creative content, it’s also a great place to get inspired. Many people access social media to spark their creativity by following accounts, searching hashtags, or joining groups that relate to their hobbies and interests. There’s something for everyone from make-up tips to interior design ideas.

Cons of social media

sad people from social media

Despite the pros of social media, there are also disadvantages that can negatively impact our quality of life – from constant distraction and disrupted sleep, to cyberbullying and addiction.

It’s important to be aware of the dangers of social media to recognize when to stop engaging with any harmful platforms, content, or people. Understanding these red flags can help us navigate social media more responsibly and prevent any problems from further escalating.

These are some of the common cons of social media:

Cyberbullying

Social media makes it easy for individuals to carry out a relentless campaign of bullying and harassment. Often, victims don’t know who’s behind the abuse, but sometimes they may suspect who could be sending them threatening, offensive, or obscene messages. Either way, it can be difficult to prove, and perpetrators are able to stay anonymous without facing any consequences. Cyberbullying can be highly traumatic and cause emotional distress, low self-esteem and, in extreme cases, self-harm and suicide.

This toxic and aggressive behavior can take various forms including:

  • Discrimination – Abusing someone because of their gender, age, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or any other unfair or prejudicial distinction.
  • Doxing – Publishing someone’s personal information online – possibly their IP address so others can help to crash it.
  • Outing – Revealing a person’s sexual or gender identity without their permission.
  • Trolling – Making inflammatory and antagonistic comments to provoke others into starting arguments.
  • Swatting – Calling emergency services to report a fictitious crime or crisis taking place at the victim’s address.
  • Hacking – Gaining access to a victim’s social media accounts to post vile and hurtful messages.
  • Cyberstalking – Making persistent efforts to contact the victim, which can sometimes escalate into stalking them offline as well.

Misinformation

One of the pros of social media is mass communication, but this is also one of the cons. Unfortunately, social networks have become a breeding ground for spreading fake news to manipulate and distract users from the real story. There’s so much information pushed out on social media that users find it difficult to filter out the truth.

Misinformation is quickly and easily shared across platforms, which can lead to confusion, distrust, and division. This is exacerbated by the fact that algorithms often display content that aligns with an individual’s existing views and beliefs, which can create echo chambers. They aren’t shown diverse opinions about a subject, and this can lead to polarization. In extreme cases, the spread of false information can interfere with democratic processes and influence election results.

Mental health issues

So, is social media bad for our emotional well-being? Despite the negative press, there are pros and cons of social media on mental health. On the plus side, connecting with likeminded people can foster a sense of acceptance and belonging, as shown above. However, the cons arguably outweigh the pros for some users, and it can have a detrimental effect.

One of the main issues is that social media can present an airbrushed version of other people’s lives. Some individuals constantly compare their home, car, job, holidays, friendships, etc to this idealized lifestyle, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. Another downside of social media is that users can become increasingly reliant on likes, comments, and shares to feel good about themselves. If they fail to generate enough of these it can have a negative impact on their emotional well-being.

Cyberbullying also puts a huge strain on an individual’s mental health. It’s often relentless and impossible to escape from, which can induce stress, anxiety, depression, and other psychological disorders.

Lack of interest in other activities

When we look at the pros and cons of social media for youth, one of the main cons is time wasting. A 2023 survey found that more than half of US teens spend a minimum of four hours each day on social media – females 5.3 hours and males 4.4 hours 17 17. https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradadgate/2023/10/18/gallup-teens-spend-more-time-on-social-media-than-on-homework/ × . This is time that could be spent on other activities like homework, sport, hobbies, and socializing with friends in person. The irresistible urge to scroll through social media can cause conflict at home as parents become increasingly frustrated by their child’s procrastination and lack of motivation to do anything else.

Privacy risks

Social media platforms contain personal information, which may be vulnerable to abuse by unscrupulous people. When someone sets up a social media account, they agree to the terms and conditions. This allows social media companies to collect and share data with third parties for marketing and other purposes. But there can be privacy risks from data breaches. For example, in 2022, more than 200 million email addresses were stolen from Twitter/X and published on an online hacking forum 18 18. https://www.reuters.com/technology/twitter-hacked-200-million-user-email-addresses-leaked-researcher-says-2023-01-05/ × .

There are also privacy risks associated with what users post about themselves – name, date of birth, location, employer, pet’s name, etc. Armed with this type of information, scammers can do a lot of damage – from setting up fake social media accounts to full identity theft. There’s also the risk of burglary if people post photos and videos while on vacation. An empty house can be an open invitation for thieves, which is why some insurance companies warn against doing this.

Social media addiction

Social media addiction is not officially recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illnesses, fifth edition (DSM-5) by the American Psychiatric Association, so the actual number of people affected globally is unknown. However, it’s estimated that 10% of Americans are addicted to social media and this may well rise as more apps and platforms are launched. But what is social media addiction and why is it happening?

The barrage of likes, comments, notifications, and reactions can be highly addictive and this is one of the reasons why social media has been described as ‘digital dopamine’. Scrolling through updates, photos, and videos can induce a similar high to drugs and alcohol. And the fear of missing out (FOMO) only exacerbates the problem as people feel obliged to constantly check what’s happening in their online world. Dedicating so much time to social media often has a negative impact on an individual’s daily life, relationships, and mental health.

If you think that you or someone you care about may have a problem, check out the warning signs of social media addiction.

Conclusion – What are the benefits and harms of social media?

social media icons

As this article shows, social media is a double-edged sword. The pros and cons of social media will affect different people in different ways depending on how they engage with it. There are some positive aspects when it’s used responsibly and in moderation. However, there can also be negative effects if it’s used excessively and causes harm.

You should always be aware of the cons of social media, and if you notice the first signs of these cons developing, consider moderating your use. Read our tips for achieving a healthier balance with social media.

Need help?

safe online family

If you or a loved one are unable to stop engaging with gaming content on social media and it’s causing problems, we can help.

At Game Quitters, we’re experts in screen addiction. Our specialist coaching programs are designed to allow those using devices to choose to manage their time effectively. It’s not just about gaming or using social media less – it’s about building a life you (or they) no longer need to escape from.

To find out more, get in touch to book a Gameplan Strategy Call. During the call, we’ll see if you or a loved one are a good fit for our coaching program. We have limited spots available and are unable to accept all applicants.

15 Best Games for People With ADHD

Games provide more than entertainment for people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They’re also a great way to develop important life and social skills. The positive effects of playing games include enhanced memory, improved concentration, and better communication with others.

In fact, there’s even an FDA authorized video game treatment for children with ADHD. (Although as experts in video game addiction, we know that people with ADHD can be more susceptible to playing compulsively, so striking a healthy balance is key.)

In this article, we look at some of the best types of games for people with ADHD.

What is ADHD and how can playing games help?

adhd

ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that affects children and adults. People with ADHD often get easily bored, find it difficult to focus, act impulsively, and struggle to sit still.

While many young children display these types of behaviors from time to time, they generally grow out of them. However, for people with ADHD the symptoms continue, which can cause problems at home, school, work, and in social situations.

Although medication can make a difference, it’s important to find other ways to alleviate and manage the symptoms of ADHD. Playing games can help:

  • improve eye-hand coordination
  • enhance communication skills
  • develop social skills
  • build working memory
  • inspire creativity
  • increase attention span.

What games are good for ADHD?

best adhd games for kids

Finding games for someone who struggles to pay attention, follow instructions or finish a task, and gets easily distracted can seem like a challenge, but it is possible. With some adaptations – such as regular breaks, set times to start and finish the game, and modified rules, if necessary – certain games can be beneficial.

But what are play activities for ADHD? Let’s look at different types of games that can help people with the condition:

Board games for ADHD

Board games are a great way for people with ADHD to develop their cognitive and social skills in a low-pressure environment. So here’s a round-up of some of the best board games for ADHD – kids and adults.

Snakes and ladders

This classic game is popular with all ages, especially children. Players take turns to throw the dice and move along the board toward the winning square at the top, climbing ladders or sliding down snakes when they land on them. It’s a fun way to improve concentration, math skills, and social interactions, while learning how to deal with failure and disappointment. (It’s easy to go from first to last place as there are lots of snakes to navigate.)

Story cubes

Story cubes are sets of dice with a different picture on each face. Players narrate a story with each roll of the dice, and this encourages creativity and imagination. The stories are often very funny, which helps people with ADHD want to stay focused on the game and interact with others.

Jenga

Jenga is a block-stacking game where players take turns to remove one block from lower down and place it on top of the tower. Eventually the tower becomes so unstable that it collapses. Jenga is often used in play therapy, which is why it’s one of the most popular games for ADHD. It has multiple benefits – from improving fine motor skills to problem-solving and responsive thinking.

Sorry!

Sorry! is a classic game that only takes about 30 minutes to play. The winner is the first person to get their four pawns safely round the board. If someone lands on a space occupied by another player, they say “Sorry!” and send that pawn back to the start. As a result, the game helps people with ADHD to work on impulse control and manage frustration.

Battleship

During this strategy board game, players take turns to try and hit each other’s ships using grids and coordinates. So not only does it teach math in a fun and engaging way, it helps to develop logic and reasoning skills too.

Card games for ADHD

Card games have many of the same benefits as board games in alleviating and managing the symptoms of ADHD. There are lots of fun options available that provide instant rewards, which is particularly appealing to people with ADHD.

Memory game

This simple game involves laying multiple cards face down on a table. Each player turns over two cards at a time to find a matching pair. As the name suggests, it’s a great memory training exercise for people with ADHD. They also have to watch what other players are turning over, so need to ignore distractions.

Monopoly Deal

Often, people with ADHD prefer fast-paced games that don’t last too long. That’s why Monopoly Deal is a good choice. The traditional board version of the game can take hours, but this card game offshoot is billed as ‘fast-dealing card-stealing fun!’ The aim of the game is to collect three complete property sets, which requires strategic thinking and organization skills.

UNO

Another fast-paced card game is UNO. It’s particularly good for young children with ADHD because the rules are simple. They love the bright colors and it helps with number recognition, making it an educational as well as an entertaining choice. It will also hold their attention because the action moves quickly from player to player. Everyone is trying to get rid of their cards until they have only one left and can shout: “UNO!”

Hedbanz

One of the best ADHD games for practicing social and critical thinking skills is Hedbanz. One player chooses a card and puts it in their headband without looking at it. They then ask the other players questions with “yes” and “no” answers to work out who or what they are –and it’s all against the clock.

The Gift of ADHD card game

This card game has been specifically designed for children and teens with ADHD. Players learn how to harness the positive aspects of the disorder to deal with everyday challenges. This upbeat approach helps those with ADHD to see how their differences can also be strengths.

Video games for ADHD

Video games provide more than entertainment to those with ADHD – from boosting attention and concentration, to improving organizational and multitasking skills. However, playing in moderation is important to harness the positive effects of video games and avoid the negative aspects of too much game play.

So, having looked at board games and card games, what games are good for ADHD online?

Roblox

Roblox is a popular platform that allows players to create their own games and try out games designed by others. It can help those with ADHD improve focus and concentration, plus it encourages creativity and enhances problem-solving. These skills can then by applied to real-world situations. There’s also a social aspect of the game which can also help with social interactions outside the game.

Minecraft

There are no set rules in Minecraft – players can use their creativity and imagination to build whatever they like in their virtual world. This can be quite a challenge for people with ADHD, because it requires planning, organization, and focus. However, these qualities can be developed and practiced over time. And if played as a multiplayer game it provides great opportunities for collaboration with others.

Guitar Hero

Guitar Hero involves using a guitar-shaped controller to play along to different tunes. While children and teens pretend they’re famous pop stars, this video game is teaching some valuable skills. Learning new songs can help those with ADHD to follow instructions, memorize patterns, and stay focused, while sharpening their working memory.

Fortnite

This action-strategy game is a combination of other popular titles like Minecraft, Valorant, and Call of Duty. Although Fortnite is primarily a fighting game, the cartoonish graphics make it less gory than other video games of this genre, so it has a wide appeal. Game play requires players to stay focused and alert to survive, and allows them to use creativity when building safe structures – important skills for people with ADHD.

EndeavorRx

So, what is the FDA approved brain game for ADHD? EndeavorRx is designed boost memory function in 8 to 12-years-old with the condition (2). It was created by neuroscientists and game designers and is available on prescription. 73% of children reported an improvement in their attention after playing. The game involves multitasking and ignoring distractions while racing through different worlds and dodging obstacles.

Need help?

gamer slang terms

While gaming can be a positive experience for many people with the condition, for others ADHD and video games can be a brutal combination.

Are you worried about your gaming habits or concerned that someone you care about is playing compulsively? Take our video game addiction test to see if you – or they – meet the criteria for addiction.

At Game Quitters we’ve helped hundreds of people all over the world to either stop gaming completely or reduce it to manageable levels. And we can help you and your family too, especially if you are struggling with ADHD and video game addiction.

Take the first step and learn a new 3-step process that works even if your gamer doesn’t want to stop – get free access now.

25 Twitch Slang, Emotes and Lingo Explained

If you’re new to Twitch, it can be difficult to follow what’s going on. Even regular users and streamers sometimes struggle to keep up with the latest slang, emotes, and abbreviations. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the ever-evolving terminology, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, we explain the most commonly used Twitch lingo to help you communicate confidently with other viewers and streamers. As a global support community for gamers and families, providing jargon-busting guides is all part of our service at Game Quitters.

Common questions about Twitch

Twitch is the go-to streaming platform for gamers and the one we receive the most questions about. Here are some examples of recent queries from confused gamers and parents:

What do you call a Twitch streamer?

As well as being referred to as a streamer, another term to describe someone who broadcasts content on Twitch is a creator.

What are Twitch emotes?

Emotes are small pictures used by viewers and streamers on Twitch chat to communicate instead of using a word or comment.

What does Twitch chat mean?

Twitch chat allows streamers and viewers to converse with each other and build a community on a Twitch channel.

What is the meaning of Twitch in social media?

As a streaming platform for gaming content and other entertainment, Twitch is classed as social media. Users can interact with others using the chat function.

What is a Twitch in English slang?

This is one of the more random questions we’ve received! We assume the enquirer doesn’t understand Twitch. For the full lowdown and how to get started on the platform, check out our Twitch guide.

A-Z of Twitch terminology

twitch streamers xqc and pokimane

Here’s a round-up some of the most popular Twitch terminology to help you fully engage with other users:

AFK – An abbreviation for ‘away from keyboard’ which often appears in Twitch chat to tell others that a viewer or streamer is offline. It’s a term that’s also used on other social media platforms.

Bits – This is the currency used on Twitch: US$1 = 100 Bits. Viewers can donate Bits to their favorite streamers to show their support.

Bot – Good bots (like Moobot and Nightbot) help streamers by moderating the chat and answering basic questions from viewers. Bad bots engage in ‘hate raids’ (see definition below) on streams by spamming racist, sexist, and other vile messages.

BTTV – Short for ‘Better Twitch TV’, BTTV is a third-party browser extension which can be downloaded in order to use custom and animated emotes in chat.

Cheering – A term used to describe sending Bits (the internal currency used on Twitter) to streamers. To donate Bits, type ‘Cheer’ in the chat box along with how much you want to donate, for example, ‘Cheer500’.

Emote – See this question in the section above: ‘What are Twitch emotes?’

EZ – A quick way of saying ‘easy’. It’s sometimes used in a derogatory way to insult another player and let others know that the game was won easily.

F – When the letter ‘F’ appears in chat, it means that viewers are paying their respects if there’s a sad event on the stream. It comes from the popular first-person shooter game Call of Duty, where players were asked to press F in memory of virtual soldiers who had died.

FF – This means ‘failed fight’ and is used to brag or be sarcastic about the result of a game.

Gas – Appears in chat when something is great, for example, ‘that’s gas’.

Hate raid – A situation where anonymous users bombard another user’s chat with insults and abuse.

Hype – When something is ‘hype’ on Twitch it means it’s awesome or cool.

Hype train – A hype train is activated by a spike in contributions to a channel (such as a surge in subscriptions/gift subscriptions or sharing details of subscription renewals in chat) from multiple viewers in a 5-minute period.

IRL – An abbreviation for ‘in real life’, which is used across many digital platforms, not just Twitch.

Jebaited – This is a commonly used Twitch emote to show when someone gets baited or tricked.

Kappa – Used in Twitch chat when someone is being sarcastic or ironic. There’s also a kappa emote, which is a picture of former Twitch employee Josh DeSeno.

LUL – This emote is used to express laughter and features the face of video game reviewer John Bain, known as TotalBiscuit. The LUL emote is the Twitch equivalent of the LOL text term or the laughing emoji.

Mod – Twitch slang for ‘moderator’.

Pwned – Used instead of the word ‘owned’ to say when a player has been beaten, for example. ‘[name of player] has been pwned’. It comes from a misspelling by a Warcraft game designer who accidentally put ‘pwned’ rather than ‘owned’ on a map design (‘o’ and ‘p’ are next to each other on a QWERTY keyboard).

Raid – There are positive raids and negative ones on Twitch. A positive raid is when a high-profile streamer urges viewers to go to another streamer’s channel once their stream has ended. A negative raid (known as a ‘hate raid’) is when a steamer encourages their followers to attack another streamer’s channel.

Rerun – Previously called a ‘vodcast’, a rerun is when a stream is rebroadcast on a channel and is not live. Viewers can still use live chat while the rerun is showing.

Stream sniping – An underhand tactic sometimes used in MMO games on Twitch where another player is also watching the live stream to gain a competitive advantage over opponents.

Viewbot – A bad bot designed to artificially inflate a streamer’s live view count to make their stats look better than they actually are to attract advertisers, sponsors, viewers, and followers.

Whisper – This feature allows one user to send a private message to another user that no one else on the platform can see.

YOLO – An abbreviation for ‘you only live once’. It’s often used on Twitch (and other social networks) to urge someone to do something risky or exciting.

Need help?

Are you reading this article because you – or someone you know – can’t stop watching or streaming Twitch? If it’s starting to become problematic, we can help.

At Game Quitters, we’re experts at supporting people who are addicted to Twitch and anyone who is also struggling with gaming disorder.

If you don’t know where to turn, take the first step and learn a new 3-step process that works even if your gamer doesn’t want to stop – get free access now.

Gamer Slang Words and Phrases Decoded

Gamer language can seem overwhelming to those new to gaming. But even veteran players are sometimes baffled by the latest video game terms.

There are several reasons why gaming terminology is constantly evolving – from tech advances and new video game releases, to the latest pop culture references and social media slang.

At Game Quitters, we’re often asked about gaming lingo. Here are some examples of what parents and those new to the gaming scene want to know:

  • What are things gamers say during gameplay?
  • What is the slang for new player in gaming?
  • What is terminology in games that are for multiple players?
  • What is the gaming phrase for good game?
  • What is gamer girl slang?
  • What are some gamer phrases that are also used on social media?
  • What is ‘get good’ gaming slang?

Gaming terms glossary

fluent in video games

So, if you’ve ever asked any of the above questions about gamer phrases, or simply want to familiarize yourself with the latest gaming slang, check out our jargon-busting guide:

AFK – This means ‘away from keyboard’, which is often used in multiplayer games when a player is going to be unavailable for a while.

Aggro – A shortened version of ‘aggression’ or ‘aggravation’, to describe unwanted attention from the enemy during gameplay.

Basic – A derogatory term to describe a player or game that’s mainstream or unoriginal.

Battle Pass – An in-game reward available to purchase that gives players access to extra gaming content, levels, and virtual items. Many video games feature battle passes, such as Fortnite, Call of Duty, and Clash of Clans.

Camping – A tactical move to describe a player staying in one place during a first-person shooter or fighting game to ambush their opponent.

Casual gamer – One of the nine types of gamers, in this case someone who plays recreationally from time to time, without any need or desire to play more often.

Deathmatch – A gameplay mode that’s incorporated into many shooter and real-time strategy games (RTS), where the aim is to kill as many other characters as possible. (Also known as free-for-all.)

DLC – An abbreviation for downloadable content, which is extra content that’s available after a video game is released to enhance its features, usually for a fee.

End game loop – This is the term used to describe content that’s available for players in MMO games who have finished all available gameplay.

Esports – One of fastest growing sports in the world, esports is competitive video games, where gamers play in high-profile tournaments for prize money. (Also known as e-sports, electronic sports, competitive gaming, and professional gaming.)

Free-for-all – see Deathmatch.

F2P – This stands for ‘free to play’, which means the game can be played for free – although it may still contain loot boxes and battle passes as a way for the game developer to make money.

Gamer girl – This one is pretty obvious, it’s the term for a female gamer.

Git gud – Gamer speak for ‘get good’ and refers to getting better at a game or challenge.

GG – A commonly used term that meaning ‘good game’.

GLHF – This abbreviation for ‘good luck, have fun’. It’s a friendly phrase used by players at the start of a game.

Griefing – A way to describe the act of purposely harassing another player or disrupting their gameplay.

HP – The abbreviation for ‘hit points’ which represent the amount of damage a character can take without dying or getting knocked out.

IYKYK – Used widely across social media as well as in the gaming world. It means ‘if you know you know’ and often implies there’s an inside joke.

JRPG – This stands for ‘Japanese role-playing games’, often with an emphasis on storytelling and usually designed in anime style. Popular JRPG titles include Tales of Arise, Chrono Trigger, and Dragon Quest 11.

Kill steal (also known as KS) – Giving the final blow in a kill and receiving the credit for it, when most of the damage was inflicted by another player.

Loot box – A loot box is a virtual item in a game that contains a randomized reward. It’s often compared to gambling.

MMO – This stands for massively multiplayer online, a type of video game that can be played by many people who can interact with each other during gameplay.

Noob – This is one way of saying ‘new player’ – others are n00b and newb.

Prog – Short for ‘progress’ and often used by players in MMOs to refer to their progress in the game.

Ragequit – When a player stops playing mid-game because they’re frustrated or angry about losing.

RPG – The abbreviation for role-playing game, which involves a player taking on the role of a specific character, often in a fantasy or science fiction video game. Well-known RPGs include Starfield, Diablo IV, and Sea of Stars.

RTS – This means ‘real-time strategy’ and is a type of video game that allows multiple gamers to play concurrently in real time.

Sandbox – A type of video game that gives players much freedom and creativity – usually with no specific objective – so they can build, change, or destroy their world/environment.  Popular sandbox titles include Minecraft, Roblox, and SimCity.

Skin – A virtual item that can be purchased to decorate weapons or customize characters in the game. Beware some players may engage in skins gambling.

TBS – Turn-based strategy games involve players taking turns to play.

Throw shade — To criticize, insult, or belittle someone during gameplay – also used in other situations.

Tryhard – A negative term to describe someone who’s so focused on winning – often to the detriment of other players – that the game stops being fun.

UX – This is one of the most common game design terms and means ‘user experience’. It’s about making sure the menu, icons, text, navigation, etc. are intuitive and easy to use so that players have an enjoyable gaming experience.

WOW – An abbreviation of the popular World of Warcraft video game.

WP – This simply means ‘well played’ and is a term used to praise another gamer.

Discover more slang words and acronyms used by teens across the internet and on social platforms like Snapchatand Instagram in our other must-read guides.

Need help understanding gaming?

Is gaming taking over your life? At Game Quitters, we’ve helped thousands of people from all over the world get their gaming under control – and we can help you too.

Book a Gameplan Call to see if our coaching program is right for you – there are limited slots available.

On the call, we’ll discuss your current situation and the steps you need to take for a happier and more productive future.

Please note: we also accept families with gamers in denial.

Failure to Launch Syndrome: Causes And How to Fix It

‘Failure to launch’ is the name of a popular 2006 movie, featuring a 30-something man who still lives with his parents and refuses to take on adult responsibilities. ‘Failure to launch syndrome’ is a term inspired by the movie, which describes a young person’s inability to go through the usual rites of passage associated with adulthood.

In this article, we explore various factors that can prevent someone from becoming independent, including gaming and technology addiction. We also look at whether failure to launch treatment is available, and what parents can do to help a loved one make their own way in the world.

What is failure to launch syndrome?

vector guy pondering question

Failure to launch syndrome (sometimes called Peter Pan syndrome) is usually defined as a young person’s inability to take on the responsibilities and independence associated with adulthood. Typically, they live in the family home and are highly dependent on their parents. They’re unlikely to be in school or employment, contribute anything financially, help with household chores, or be able to form significant relationships.

Failure to launch generally occurs in young adults between 18 and 29 years old. That said, people of any age can lack the maturity needed to cope with the challenges of adult life. This is why we’re sometimes asked about getting help for failure to launch syndrome at 30 and failure to launch syndrome at 40, as well as failure to launch syndrome at 20,

So, is failure to launch a diagnosis? Despite sounding like one, failure to launch syndrome is not a formally recognized condition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). But although it’s not a classified disorder, many people who fail to launch are battling with the following:

  • Low motivation
  • Lack of direction
  • No sense of purpose
  • Inability to focus
  • Feeling ‘stuck’
  • Low self-esteem
  • Procrastination
  • Difficulty coping with stress
  • Fear of responsibility
  • Feelings of isolation, helplessness, and shame
  • Poor social skills and avoidance of social situations.

What is the failure to launch generation?

gaming stats by age

The COVID-19 pandemic meant that millions of young adults had to stall their transition to adulthood and remain at, or return to, the family home. For a while, they were unable to live independently – even if they wanted to – because of the lockdown restrictions imposed in many countries worldwide. It would have been all too easy to stay afterwards and become the failure to launch generation, but many young people have since returned to college; got a new job, if they were laid off during the pandemic; or moved in with a partner or friends. But what about those who haven’t progressed?

Failure to launch statistics

If someone you care about feels ‘stuck’ and unable to progress to an independent life, they’re not alone. According to the Pew Research Center, young adults in the US are reaching key life milestones later than previous generations. So, what is failure to launch for a 20-year-old, for example?

The following statistics compare today’s 21-years-olds with young people from 40 years ago:

  • 39% have a full-time job, compared with 64% in 1980
  • 49% still live with their parents, compared to 38% in 1980
  • 25% are financially independent of their parents, compared with 42% in 1980
  • 6% have been married or had child, compared with 32% and 18% respectively in 1980.

One of the reasons for the above statistics is the increase in college enrollment over the last four decades: 48% of 21-year-olds in the US go to college today, compared to 31% in 1980.

However, by the age of 25 young women today have either caught up with or overtaken their female predecessors: 61% are in full-time employment now (the same as in 1980) and 56% are financially independent (compared with 50% in 1980). However, 25-year-old men today still lag behind their predecessors in achieving these key milestones.

Common signs of failure to launch syndrome

adults sleep deprived

Are you concerned that a friend or family member may be struggling with the transition into adulthood? Take our quiz to see if they have common failure to launch symptoms.

Failure to launch quiz

  1. Have they dropped out of school or college, or has their academic performance nosedived?
  2. Do they have little or no interest in taking on responsibilities and becoming independent?
  3. Have they moved back home after trying and failing to live on their own, or have they never left home?
  4. Do they have no plans or long-term goals?
  5. Do they struggle to hold down a job or are they only minimally employed?
  6. Do they contribute little financially to the household?
  7. Do they abuse substances, particularly illegal drugs, alcohol or prescription medication?
  8. Do they have mental health issues such as depression, anxiety/social anxiety or behavioral disorders such as ADHD?
  9. Have they failed to develop the life skills needed for adulthood e.g., budgeting, time management, cooking, and cleaning etc?
  10. Do they lack the emotional intelligence to thrive, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, decision-making, relationship building, and resilience?

What causes failure to launch syndrome?

why social media is addictive

There is no single cause of failure to launch syndrome, but the following can be contributory factors:

Societal issues

21st century life is a minefield of economic and environmental problems for young people – from the cost-of-living crisis, student debt, and lack of affordable housing to the threat of global conflict and climate change.

It’s no wonder that many young adults feel trapped in a state of negativity and unable to make their own way into a world that seems threatening and frightening.

Overprotective parenting

Parenting style can be a factor in a young person feeling practically and emotionally ill-prepared to fend for themselves. Overprotective parenting (also known as helicopter parenting) can be done with the best interest of the child in mind but can lead to a lack of confidence and self-autonomy.

Often unintentionally, parents choose to make their children’s lives easy, for example, doing all the household chores, or removing any obstacle they may face outside the home. However, age-appropriate challenges at different stages of development are what helps young people develop essential skills like problem-solving, resilience, and decision-making.

Challenging life events

Certain major life events, such as the death of a close family member, serious illness or injury, relationship break up, or other adverse circumstances can make it difficult for a young person to take on adult responsibilities and function independently.

Formative experiences

Experiencing traumatic events in childhood can have a long-lasting effect on a young person’s emotional stability and impact their ability to cope with the challenges of adulthood.

These adverse formative experiences may range from domestic violence, abuse, or neglect to living with a family member who has substance use or mental health issues.

Mental health disorders

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in seven 10-19-year-olds suffer from mental health problems. The most prevalent conditions are depression, anxiety, and behavioral disorders which can all be underlying reasons for a failure to launch. ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a chronic and debilitating behavioral disorder that affects an estimated 8.4% of children and 2.5% of adults.

Narcissism is a personality disorder that can exacerbate failure to launch. Narcissism often presents as someone having an exaggerated sense of entitlement, being self-centered, and showing a lack of empathy for others. In failure to launch, this can manifest as an overreliance on their parents for practical and emotional support.

In many countries globally, mental health resources are stretched or inadequate, so teens are not receiving the specialist support they need. As a result, untreated mental health issues can often persist into adulthood and cause poor self-esteem, and negative thoughts and behaviors. This can affect daily functioning and leave young people unable to cope with the pressures of living independently.

Substance abuse

Abusing substances, particularly alcohol, illegal drugs, or prescribed medication, is a major factor in failure to launch syndrome. This is because young people suffering from an addiction are more likely to experience financial struggles, cognitive impairment, emotional issues and physical health problems.

Trying to satisfy the addiction can take over their lives so that other important aspects such as school or college, work commitments, fitness and health, and social activities take a back seat. This chaotic lifestyle can cause significant challenges when trying to transition to adulthood.

Technology addiction

While technology has many benefits, it can also have negative consequences. Many young people feel they need to be constantly connected to the internet and social media platforms due to FOMO (fear of missing out).

The online world can become their real world as they increasingly withdraw from school, work, family, and friends.

As a result, they can miss out on important milestones on the road to independence such as academic and personal achievements. It can also stunt their social development as they fail to develop meaningful relationships that establish their place in society. Overreliance on technology can rob young people of these real-life experiences and is a constant distraction from making their own way in the world.

Video game addiction

Video game addiction is a particularly destructive type of technology addiction. What starts as a fun hobby can gradually take over a young person’s life until it reaches the point where it’s their main priority. It’s where they spend all their time. It’s where they feel a sense of competence. And it’s where they find all their friendships.

Consequently, playing video games becomes more important than their education, career prospects, relationships, hobbies, health, and hygiene. But their passion for gaming is no longer a passion, it’s something that’s spiraling out of control.

Those suffering from gaming addiction and any associated mental health issues lack the skills, time, and energy to do anything apart from reach the next level or mission in the game. Their entire world is virtual, so it is exceptionally difficult to strike out in the real world on their own.

Is someone you care about showing signs of video game addiction? If so, suggest they take our short video game addiction test.

Brad’s story

At Game Quitters, we often hear from loved ones whose children’s lives are consumed by gaming on our parent support forum. Brad (not his real name) was suffering from failure to launch syndrome because of video game addiction. His mother contacted us in desperation:

“My son is 26 years old. Currently he’s depressed, suffers from low self-esteem, and has suicidal thoughts. He wakes up at 2pm, drinks an energy drink, and smokes a joint. Then he hops on Discord to see which gamer friends are online to play League of Legends. In between games he smokes more weed to maintain a high throughout the whole day.

He plays for 10-15 hours a day and has no motivation for anything else. He has no plans to start working or go back to school to improve his skills. All I want for him is to get a job, becoming self-sufficient and survive in the real world.”

Brad recognized that he needed professional help to regain control, and redirect his focus toward breaking free from addiction and becoming independent. So, he agreed to join the Game Quitters specialist coaching program for people gaming problematically. Since we started working together, he’s playing less games, smoking less weed, has a weekend job, and goes to a boxing gym four times a week. But most of all, he’s starting to see a vision for his life outside the relentless gaming cycle and make plans for the future.

How to help someone to launch

unhappy marriage gaming

If you’re living with a young adult who’s struggling to live independently, you may be wondering how to treat failure to launch syndrome. We sometimes get asked: ‘How do you fix failure to launch syndrome?’ or ‘How do you help an adult with failure to launch?’ In the same way that there’s no single cause of failure to launch syndrome, there’s not one approach for helping young adults overcome it. Instead, there are several things that parents and carers can do (and not do) to help them make their own way in the world.

Do

  • Agree clear boundaries and expectations
  • Provide empathetic and loving support
  • Explain that becoming independent is a gradual process
  • Encourage lifestyle changes such as regular sleep, healthy eating, and physical activity
  • Help them identify their strengths and praise small wins to build self confidence
  • Help them to get professional support for any substance abuse, mental health, or addiction issues
  • Teach them some practical skills such as money management, cooking, and cleaning
  • Set a date when you’re going to start charging for rent, food, utilities, etc.
  • Offer them opportunities to fail and learn from their mistakes
  • Make time for yourself and seek support if you need it.

Don’t

  • Get angry or frustrated – it will just make the situation worse
  • Cut off support with little or no warning
  • Set unrealistic goals
  • Be overprotective by making decisions or taking action on their behalf
  • Let them shirk household chores
  • Try to solve their problems
  • Pay their day-to-day expenses – food, clothing, socializing, etc.
  • Dictate what they should do with their life.

Another way to help is to enroll on a failure to launch program such as the Game Quitters coaching program for families and young adults. Read on to find out more.

Need help?

asking for help is not a weakness

If you’ve tried the above approaches but someone you care about is still failing to launch, and you think it’s because of gaming or technology addiction, we can help. Or maybe you’ve been asking yourself, ‘Why am I failing to launch?’ because you’re finding it difficult to stop gaming and take the necessary steps toward independence.

At Game Quitters, our 12-week coaching program focuses on overcoming obstacles to improve motivation and find a sense of purpose.

For more information, get in touch to book a Gameplan Strategy Call. During this confidential conversation, we’ll see if they’re a good fit for the program – we specialize in helping gamers in denial. Limited spaces are available so that we can provide personalized coaching.

Is 4chan Safe? A Guide For Parents

This guide for parents explains how 4chan works and why it’s an unsafe environment for anyone under the age of 18.

Technology opens many doors, allowing young people to pursue hobbies, enjoy entertainment, access learning opportunities, and much more.

However, social media can expose teens to all kinds of dangers including cyberbullying, self-esteem issues, and addiction. Some platforms are more harmful than others and 4chan is particularly risky for children.

What is 4chan?

what is 4chan

4chan is a website that hosts image boards, where users can share pictures and post comments about diverse topics – from anime and manga (4chan originated in Japan) to gaming, music, sport, food, travel, politics, history, adult content, and more.

Due to the inappropriate nature of some of the boards, 4chan has an 18+ age rating. However, it’s not possible to register on the site, so users post anonymously. This makes it easy for teens to access the platform and get exposed to risky and offensive content.

As a result, 4chan is one of most concerning social media platforms for parents and has also been the subject of several controversies, which are mentioned later in this article. Despite negative publicity, the site has grown in popularity since its inception in 2003 and currently has around 22 million monthly visitors.

How does 4chan work?

how 4chan works

On the 4chan homepage is a list of boards divided into seven categories: Japanese culture, video games, interests, creative, other, misc. and adult. The latter two categories are marked NSFW (Not Safe For Work, which means they contain 18+ material. However, the other categories also have image boards with content that may be inappropriate for young people.

To access the full site, a user simply clicks on a board that interests them. A pop-up screen appears with a short disclaimer stating that the content is for mature users only and may be unsuitable for minors. It also directs users to its rules, which must be accepted as a condition of using the site.

One of the rules is that anyone accessing the platform must stop using it if they’re under the age of 18. But there’s nothing to prevent teens from accepting the disclaimer and continuing onto 4chan, meaning they’re immediately in an unsafe environment. The disclaimer only appears the first time the site is accessed so there’s no reminder on future visits.

Once through to the board that interests them, a user can either post an image and start a new thread, or join an existing discussion. When replying to another conversation thread, no image is required. Interactions on the site are mainly anonymous because the default setting is anonymous, although users can choose to type in a name.

It is possible to hide inappropriate comments and report illegal content on 4chan. To hide a comment, users can click the small triangle to the right-hand side of a post and then choose ‘hide comment’ or ‘hide thread’. To report illegal content, users can click the small triangle to the right-hand side of a post and then choose ‘report post’. But despite these features, many of the boards contain profanities, violence, extremist views, and sexually explicit material.

Common questions about 4chan

4chan faq

Some of the most popular image boards on 4chan are about gaming. There are thousands of threads ranging from retro video games to those dedicated to strategy, role playing and multiplayer games. As experts in video game addiction, we receive many questions from concerned parents about the platform, such as:

  • How old do you have to be to use 4chan?
  • Is it illegal to browse 4chan?
  • Is 4chan a virus?
  • Is 4chan bad?
  • Is it okay to use 4chan?
  • What should you not look up on 4chan?
  • What should I avoid on 4chan?
  • What do people use 4chan for?
  • Is 4chan safe to use?

Let’s explore the last question in more detail and look at why 4chan is unsafe for teens.

Is 4chan safe for kids?

Here are some of the main reasons children should be discouraged from using 4chan:

Inappropriate content

While teens may find it liberating to have somewhere to share their views without worrying how people will react, anonymity is a double-edged sword. This freedom can make other users feel emboldened to post inappropriate content without fear of repercussions. In fact, the ‘random’ board has a no rules policy, which means that violent and pornographic content is allowed.

Extremist views

Exposure to extremist views can have a serious psychological and emotional impact on vulnerable young minds. Hate-filled posts can influence their opinions and behavior, giving them a distorted view of the world.

4chan has been at the centre of several controversies involving hate campaigns and misinformation. This demonstrates how a sense of community, combined with anonymity, can be a toxic mix. Here are some of the most high-profile 4chan controversies:

  • GamerGate – online harassment campaign in 2014 against women, minorities, and progressive voices in the video games industry
  • QAnon – far-right political conspiracy theory movement founded on 4chan in 2017 that’s now spreading misinformation globally
  • Homophobic cyber-attack on LGBT+ Pride Month celebrations in London in 2020

No age verification

Users do not need to create an account to view and create content, and there’s no age verification process. The disclaimer which pops up the first time that 4chan is accessed states that users must be ‘mature’, but some teens may consider themselves mature enough to use the site. It’s not unless they click through to the rules page that there’s any mention of 4chan being for over 18s only. And there are no penalties for ignoring that rule and proceeding onto the image boards.

No parental controls

As 4chan is not designed for under 18s, there are no parental controls. The only way for parents to limit access to the site is through more general parental controls on broadband and mobile networks.

Limited content moderation

While users can report content, a post will not be removed unless it’s illegal or in breach of the site rules. Moderation across the platform is limited because extreme and adult-only content is not only common, but actively encouraged as this is what sets 4chan apart from other social networks.

Get help

4chan safety tips

Although 4chan is not for under 18s, teenage gamers do visit the platform to share their passion for video games with other gaming enthusiasts. But however innocent their intentions for using the site, they risk stumbling across adult-related content.

And, if your child is suffering from video game addiction, scrolling through image boards and threads about gaming is likely to fuel their desire to play.

How to Set Up Xbox Parental Controls

Many parents are frustrated about the amount of time their child spends gaming, to the detriment of schoolwork, hobbies, and relationships with friends and family.

As experts on video game addiction, we’re often asked, “Can you put parental controls on an Xbox?” by those who want to know how to limit their child’s screen time and in-game purchases.

This article has step-by-step instructions on how to set up Xbox parental controls for greater peace of mind.

Your guide to setting up parental controls on Xbox

xbox family settings

It has never been easier to manage your child’s Xbox gaming activities with the Xbox Family Settings app. Here’s how to set it up:

  1. Download the Xbox Family Settings app on the App Store or Google Play.
  2. Sign into your Microsoft account or set one up if you don’t have an existing account.
  3. You can then add your child (or several children) to your family account.

If they already have a Microsoft account

  • Click on the ‘Accounts’ icon on the top-right of the Family screen
  • Choose ‘Add child’ then ‘Add existing account’
  • Enter your child’s email address
  • Select ‘Send invitation’ then ‘Done’
  • Your child must open the email, click on ‘Join now’ and follow the instructions
  • Refresh the list of users on the Family screen to add your child to your family account.

If they don’t have a Microsoft account

  • Click on the ‘Accounts’ icon on the top-right of the Family screen
  • Choose ‘Add child’ then ‘Create new account’
  • Select ‘Get a new email address to create a Microsoft account’
  • Follow the instructions to set up the member’s account
  • Click on ‘Next’ after the app generates a gamerpic and gamertag for your child
  • Follow the onscreen prompts to amend any settings or account information, if required
  • Select ‘All done’
  • Refresh the list of users on the Family screen to add your child to your family account.
  1. Now you’ve added your child to your family group, you can control their Xbox activity via the app.

Parents who have asked us questions like: “How do I change parental controls on Xbox One?” and “Where is Xbox Live parental controls?” have found the app very intuitive and easy to use.

What can you do in the Xbox Family Settings app?

xbox family settings app

The Xbox Family Settings app allows you to control your child’s Xbox activity from your phone or tablet:

Set screen time restrictions

A popular question on our Game Quitters parent support forum is: “How do I set screen time limits on Xbox?”

Using the Xbox Family Settings app, you can create different screen time schedules for different days of the week. You can also pause your child’s screen time at any point and they will receive this message: “Your screen time is up”.

Monitor in-game spending

With the ‘Ask to Buy’ feature, you get notified if your child tries to make an in-game purchase and they don’t have the funds. The app also allows you to view your child’s account balance and see their recent spending history.

Get friend request notifications

You can review and respond to friend requests to reduce the risk of stranger danger. You can also see who you child is following on Xbox Live and decide who they can play with in the Xbox online multiplayer community.

View their gaming habits

You can access daily and weekly activity reports to see how your child is spending their time and which video games they’re playing.

How to remove parental controls on Xbox

To turn off parental controls on Xbox, you can remove your child from the Xbox Family Settings app as follows:

  • Open the app
  • Click on ‘Edit’ at the top of your family members list
  • Select ‘Remove from family’ under the account you want to delete
  • Choose ‘Remove’ to confirm.

Healthy Xbox gaming tips

xbox healthy tips

There are other ways to help your child find a good game-life balance besides setting up parental controls on Xbox. At Game Quitters, we’ve helped hundreds of families to successfully navigate the modern digital world. Here are some tips that encourage healthier gaming habits:

Encourage in-person socializing

Does your child’s social life revolve around gaming? It can be more difficult to get them offline if it’s the only way they interact with their peers. Rather than using Xbox to socialize, encourage them to hang out with friends in person. If your child is younger, you could arrange play dates with other children. For older kids and teens, sport is a great way to meet with others in person – see the next point about taking up a new hobby.

Suggest other interests and activities

Even if you set up Xbox parental controls, your child may start playing another type of video game instead. The best way to ensure they have a good game-life balance is to encourage them to find other interests. Our hobby guide has more than 60 different ideas, or inspire them with screen-free activities tailored to their age group.

Remove Xbox from their bedroom

Does your child play Xbox and other video games in their bedroom? If so, we recommend moving the gaming console into a communal area of the home. That way they’re less likely to game late into the evening (or get up in the night to play), you can monitor their gaming sessions more easily, and they’ll stay more connected to the rest of the family.

Use the Xbox voice reporting feature

If your child is subjected to inappropriate or abusive language on any multiplayer game with in-game voice chat, you can report it using the Xbox voice reporting feature.

Establish gaming ground rules

Even with Xbox parental controls in place, it’s a good idea to establish some basic ground rules. Explain to your child that schoolwork and any other responsibilities are the priority and they must be done before Xbox or other gameplay.

Plan an Xbox detox

Xbox parental controls are a great way to manage your child’s gaming sessions but it’s a good idea for them to have a complete break from time to time. Screen-free time, preferably outside, is important for their physical and mental health. The Xbox detox could last anywhere from a couple of hours to a full day, or even a weekend if you’re planning a trip away.

Delete their Xbox account

This is a radical step if all other options have failed, and you may want to sign up for one of our coaching programs before deleting your child’s Xbox account. However, if you’re determined to remove their Xbox Live account, here are some step-by-step instructions.

If you’ve found these Xbox family safety tips useful, please share them with friends and family.

Need help?

If you’ve set up Xbox parental controls but are still concerned about your child’s gaming habits, try our video game addiction test for parents. In just a couple of minutes, you’ll establish whether they may be addicted to playing Xbox.

At Game Quitters, we can offer you a free Gameplan call to discuss our bespoke coaching programs if their behavior is a cause for concern and you need expert support.

What is OnlyFans and Is It Safe?

While social media offers many benefits and opportunities for young people, it also has a dark side. At Game Quitters, we’re committed to educating parents on the risks of adult-only platforms that are increasingly being accessed by children and teens. In this article we look at the potential dangers of OnlyFans for creators and subscribers, and offer support for anyone who may be using the site compulsively.

What is OnlyFans?

what is onlyfans

OnlyFans is a British-based social media platform established in 2016. Over the last few years it has experienced a surge in popularity, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, when transactions increased seven-fold.

Let’s answer some of the common questions we receive on our parents support group and other forums:

Is OnlyFans a free app?

No, OnlyFans is a subscription-based platform and users must enter their payment details to set up an account and pay to see creator content. See the typical monthly fees below.

How does OnlyFans work?

The platform has more than three million creators worldwide who share images, videos, and messages with subscribers (known as fans) for a monthly fee, which ranges from $4,99 – $49.99. OnlyFans takes a 20% cut of all payments.

What type of content is on OnlyFans?

There is a diverse range of content on OnlyFans – including fitness, travel, food, comedy, and music – but it’s best known for pornographic material posted by sex workers and strippers.

What is the OnlyFans minimum age requirement?

Due to the adult content on the site, creators and subscribers must be 18+ to have an account. However, younger people are finding ways circumvent the rules and provide false identity information.

Is it safe to use a credit card on OnlyFans?

OnlyFans is a legitimate social media site so it’s as safe as any other online platform.

Can I be anonymous on OnlyFans?

Sometimes, parents decide to access OnlyFans to see what their child may have been exposed to (or may be creating and sharing). But before setting up an account, they want to know: “Can you be tracked on OnlyFans?” It is possible to be anonymous on the platform if you create a basic profile with a random username and don’t include any personal information.

Is OnlyFans safe?

onlyfans dangers

If your child has bypassed the 18+ age restriction and regularly uses the site, you’re likely to have some concerns. So, what are the risks of OnlyFans? Certain dangers are specific to creators or subscribers, while other perils affect both types of user.

How safe is OnlyFans for creators?

Some parents are shocked to discover their child is creating content on OnlyFans even if they insist that what they’re sharing is innocent and harmless. Here are some of the main risks:

Online harassment

Creators can sometimes be exposed to online abuse if they don’t comply with a fan’s request or sent unwanted messages or comments for no specific reason. Other forms of harassment include bullying, stalking, and doxxing (when a creator’s private details are published online). This is why it’s important for creators to be as anonymous as possible on the platform. They should always be aware of what personal information could be gleaned from photos, videos, and live streams. Unscrupulous individuals can piece this information together to identify someone and subject them to a wave of online harassment on OnlyFans and other social media sites.

Sextortion

Another reason to stay anonymous on OnlyFans is to minimize the risk of sexual extortion or ‘sextortion’. If they’re identifiable, someone could threaten to expose a creator’s private life and share intimate images and videos with friends, family, and coworkers – and post the content on other more public social media platforms – unless specific demands are met.

Child exploitation

Despite the age verification process, children and young people are still being sexually exploited on OnlyFans. According to the BBC, child exploitation is happening on two fronts:

  1. Under 18s are selling sexually explicit photos and videos of themselves on the platform as a way of making money.
  2. Individuals are encouraging children as young as five years old to make and post indecent images which are shared on the site. This illegal content can then be easily replicated elsewhere online.

What are the risks for subscribers?

Having identified some of the potential risks for creators, how safe is OnlyFans for subscribers? Let’s look at some of the ever-present dangers:

Explicit content

Even if under 18s are only using OnlyFans to follow the lives of fitness trainers, influencers, and celebrities, they can still be exposed to inappropriate adult content. Pornography is rife on the platform and accidentally accessing this type of material – particularly when it’s violent and aggressive – is deeply disturbing for young minds. Viewing explicit images and videos can influence how they behave in early sexual encounters and exacerbate existing body image issues.

Overspending

As OnlyFans is a subscription service, anyone wanting to use it must create an account and add payment details. After the account is approved, the new user can start subscribing to creators’ pages to access their content. Subscription fees range from $4.99 – $49.99 per month, per creator. This can quickly add up if a fan subscribes to multiple creator pages and spending can spiral out of control. What’s more, some young people may subscribe using a parent’s debit or credit card without their knowledge.

Blackmail

It’s not only creators who need to be careful about sharing personal information on OnlyFans. Subscribers also need to be vigilant about not disclosing any details on the platform that could reveal their identity. If this happens, they may be susceptible to blackmail from predatory creators who could threaten to leak private and embarrassing conversations to friends and family unless their financial demands are met.

Common risks for creators and subscribers

While some risks of using OnlyFans are specific to creators or subscribers, there are other potential dangers that affect both types of user:

Phishing scams

Malicious people have been known to lure creators and subscribers away from OnlyFans onto third-party sites, where it’s easier to steal their personal information. These phishing sites are made to look legitimate (with a similar web address and design to other popular platforms) so that unsuspecting users will enter their login details, password and financial information which can then be stolen by hackers.

OnlyFans addiction

At Game Quitters, we’ve seen both content creators and subscribers become addicted to OnlyFans. Creators can get hooked on the attention they receive from fans which cannot be replicated on the same scale in real life. They can also become dependent on the money they make and feel compelled to produce more and more content to further boost their income. For subscribers, OnlyFans can become their drug of choice and they need to view an increasing amount of images and videos to experience the same ‘high’. Some fans also use the platform to escape from negative emotions or situations – it’s a place where reality is suspended for a while.

Need help?

onlyfans safety tips

If your child is accessing OnlyFans as a creator or subscriber, you can use this article to explain why they shouldn’t be engaging with the platform.

Have they tried to stop using the site without success? Is it negatively impacting their life? If so, they may be addicted to OnlyFans.

At Game Quitters, our coaching programs are designed to help young people get their technology use under control and families understand how to support them.

Omegle App Review: A Guide for Parents

With so many social media apps available, it can be difficult for parents to keep track of them all. An increasingly popular online chatroom is Omegle, whose strapline is ‘Talk to strangers’. It’s no wonder that concerned parents are asking questions like:

“Is Omegle safe?”

“What are the risks of going on Omegle?”

“Should a 13 year old use Omegle?”

At Game Quitters, we’re committed to making time spent online a safer and healthier experience. That’s why we’re producing a series of guides for parents to understand the dangers of apps used by kids, tweens, and teens.

In this review we explain what Omegle is used for, the potential risks and how to make your child aware of them.

What is Omegle?

omegle review

Omegle is an online platform—accessible via phone, tablet, or PC—where strangers are paired up for a text or video chat. There’s an optional question to help match users to like-minded people: ‘What do you wanna talk about?’ But whether they answer the question or not, they’re randomly linked with anyone, anywhere.

So, why do kids like Omegle? In theory, it’s an exciting way to meet new people and broaden their horizons, but the reality can be very different as there are some very unscrupulous people ready to exploit the app and those who use it.

Who uses Omegle?

Omegle is becoming increasingly popular globally. In just three months (from November 2022 to January 2023), average monthly visits worldwide grew from 67 million to 70.6 million. Around 66% of users are male and 34% are female.

As Omegle is officially for people aged 18+, age breakdowns do not include details of all users, because it omits information about under 18s. But what we do know is that it’s more popular with younger people: over one third of users are less than 25 years old.

Many users access the app from other social networking sites. This is known as ‘referral traffic’. Some influencers use Omegle and post about it on other platforms. There have been occasions where social media stars have announced that they’ll be live on Omegle at a particular time and there’s the chance that followers may get randomly paired for a video chat. As of January 2023, referral traffic came from the following platforms:

  • YouTube – 40.03%
  • Reddit – 30.56%
  • Others – 10.77%
  • Instagram – 7.09%
  • X (formerly known as Twitter) – 6.37%
  • TikTok – 5.18%.

What are the dangers of Omegle?

dangers of omegle

Recently, we’ve noticed more questions about Omegle on our Game Quitters parent support group, such as ”Can I trust Omegle? What is the controversy with Omegle? Is Omegle safe to use on phones?”

The BBC carried out an investigation into Omegle which had some disturbing findings, including children exposing themselves to strangers on the site. Let’s look at some of the other reasons why Omegle isn’t safe.

Talking to strangers

Many parents are incredulous when they discover the premise of the app: two strangers are randomly paired to chat by text or video. Something you’ve been warning your child about since they were small is potentially happening in your home every day. And it’s as risky as it sounds. There’s also the possibility that children could deliberately or unwittingly reveal their name, age, location, or other details to strangers they meet on Omegle. This could have dangerous repercussions including conversations moving offline and meeting in real life.

Adult themes and sexual predation

Despite the home page of omegle.com saying, “Video is monitored. Keep it clean!” there’s no way that every conversation and video can be checked. Even Omegle recognizes that “moderation is not perfect. You may still encounter people who misbehave”. This means that pornography, grooming, and sexual predation are ever-present risks.

Unmoderated content

Although the main chat and video interface is supposedly monitored, users can also choose ‘unmoderated content’. Omegle’s community guidelines state that “nudity, pornography and sexually explicit conduct and content are prohibited on the moderated sections” of the site, which implies that this type of content is accessible via the ‘unmoderated content’ button. There’s nothing to stop impressionable children accessing shocking and disturbing chatrooms by choosing this option. All they need to do is lie about their age and they’re in.

Hacking

We’ve been asked, “Is Omegle safe from hackers?” and “Can you get tracked on Omegle?” On the surface, it is safe from hackers and trackers because it’s an anonymous platform. But, as we’ve seen above, some users can be persuaded to provide personal information to strangers they meet on Omegle and unscrupulous people could use this data to access a child’s online passwords and accounts, which could be linked to a parent’s credit card.

No age verification

Although the Omegle terms of service agreement states that the app “shall not be accessed or used by persons under the age of 18”, in practice anyone can use it because there’s no age verification and no registration process.

Lack of parental controls

Despite the risks that Omegle presents to underage users, there are no parental controls available to monitor their online activity. This means that parents have no idea who their child is talking to, or what they are sharing or being exposed to on the platform.

No instructions to block or report inappropriate behavior

There are no obvious instructions for reporting or blocking chats that may be inappropriate or offensive. Instead, the Omegle home page includes this wording: “Use Omegle at your own peril. Disconnect if anyone makes you feel uncomfortable.” It does warn: “You may be denied access to Omegle for inappropriate behavior, or for any other reason”. However, anyone who is banned can easily get back onto Omegle by simply changing their IP address and creating a new user profile.

Private chats can be shared

Have you ever wondered “Does Omegle record your video?” or “Does Omegle save chats?” Superficially, it’s a closed conversation between two strangers. But in reality, someone could video or screenshot chats and share them on other widely viewed social media platforms like TikTok or YouTube. This would be devastating for a child or teen, especially if they’ve been encouraged to say or do something inappropriate. It could even be used to blackmail them.

How can I make the Omegle app safer for my child?

Alarm bells are probably ringing if you know or suspect your child may be using the app. To help you navigate your way through the minefield, we’ve put together these useful tips.

1. Establish if your child is using the app

Having read about the risks of Omegle, you may be concerned that your child is using the app. But you should also consider they may not have heard of it. By asking about Omegle, you could pique their interest and inadvertently encourage them to check it out. Perhaps talk generally about the different apps they use and only mention the dangers of Omegle if your child brings it up. However, you may prefer to put them off ever using it by discussing the risks we’ve outlined above.

2. Explore the app yourself

If your child insists that Omegle poses no danger, check it out for yourself. As it’s free to use and there’s no registration process, it’s quick and easy to get paired with a stranger and start exchanging text messages or chatting via video. You can then decide whether it really is a fun and harmless way to meet other people from all over the world, or it’s full of inappropriate content.

3. Have an open conversation with your child

After exploring the Omegle app for yourself, have an open conversation with your child about how and why they use it. Have they ever encountered any disturbing content or been made to feel uncomfortable by someone they’ve chatted with? If you stay calm and non-judgmental, they’re more likely to be honest and feel able to tell you about any issues in future. If you’re uncomfortable with your child continuing to chat to strangers on Omegle, use specific examples to highlight your concerns so they understand your viewpoint.

4. Explain the dangers of sharing personal information

Don’t assume that because your child is aware of stranger danger in real life, they fully understand the risks of sharing personal information with people they meet online. Explain why they shouldn’t share their name, age, or location on Omegle or other social networking sites with people they don’t know.

5. Set up third-party parental controls

Although Omegle doesn’t have its own parental controls, it does highlight the use of third-party protection. The Omegle home page has a link to a ‘Family guide to parental controls’ by a nonprofit called ConnectSafely which explains how to choose filtering or monitoring products, and suggests some family-friendly tools and apps.

6. Look for safer alternatives

After reading this review, you may decide that Omegle poses too much risk to your child and ban them from having the platform on their phone or PC. If they’re used to spending hours on the app, it will be easier for them to accept your decision if you can suggest alternatives that are more age appropriate. There are also plenty of screen-free activities available, whatever their age or interests, to keep them entertained.

Need help with screen addiction?

safe online family

If you’re concerned about the amount of time your child spends online, you’re not alone. It’s a constant battle in many households all over the world. But how do you stop your child from spending so much time on their screens and make sure their screen usage doesn’t negatively impact their life? We’ve put together some handy tips on how to reduce screentime.

Sometimes, despite repeated attempts to reduce their screentime, nothing seems to work. This could be because they’re suffering from screen addiction and if this is the case, we can help.

If you’ve found this Omegle app review helpful, please share it with other parents who may be unaware of the risks. It’s part of a series which includes guides to Discord, Kick and the Wizz app.

Wizz App Review: A Guide for Parents

Many parents are unaware that there’s a dating app for kids. Those who have heard of Wizz app feel concerned about their child’s safety and asked for a wizz app review that includes questions like:

“What are they being exposed to?”

“How can I protect them?”

“Should they be using the app at all?”

At Game Quitters, we’re not only experts in screen addiction, we’re also knowledgeable about other potential online risks. In this review, we look at the potential dangers of the Wizz app and how parents can make it a safer experience for children.

What is the Wizz app?

what is wizz app

Wizz is a social networking app that enables users to connect with people from all over the world, chat live, and share images and videos. They can select friends based on age, gender, location, and interests. The community feature brings together like-minded people who are into the same things: gaming, sport, music, film and much more. The Wizz app can be downloaded on the App store (where it’s described as “a safe space”) and Google Play.

This all sounds fairly innocuous, right? Well, maybe not.

Wizz has a swiping feature similar to adult dating apps and is sometimes called ‘teen Tinder’. Users can look at strangers’ profiles and choose to swipe one way to dismiss them or the other way to start a conversation. This is one aspect of the app that’s potentially risky for impressionable youngsters, especially with apps like OnlyFans out there as well.

But there are other reasons why the Wizz dating app may be an unsafe environment for children and teens. Let’s look at some of the risks…

Dangers of Wizz app

dangers of wizz app

Here are some of the potential dangers of the Wizz app and what parents need to know:

Age verification loopholes

Children as young as 12 can have a profile on Wizz but it varies by country of residence. Anyone who wants to download the app must provide their date of birth and upload a picture (which Wizz scans using AI technology to check they look the age they claim to be). But this system isn’t foolproof. There’s nothing to stop younger kids from asking someone older to take a selfie for them and inputting a fake date of birth.

Stranger danger

As a parent, you probably know most (if not all) of the friends your child hangs out with in real life. But stranger danger – with no guarantee of a robust age verification process – is one of the main risks of using the Wizz app. This means that scamming, stalking, blackmail, phishing, catfishing (luring someone into a relationship by pretending to be someone else), grooming, and sexual predation are all a potential perils.

Explicit content

Anyone using Wizz can be exposed to inappropriate and harmful content. Although it’s advertised as a place to “meet new friends”, most people perceive it as a dating app. This means that some users’ profiles are sexually explicit and live chat can quickly turn into sexting. But it’s not just words that can be damaging. Children and teens can be persuaded to share or swap intimate selfies with people they’ve grown to trust on the platform.

Foul language

If your child regularly uses the Wizz app, you may notice swear words and other profanities creeping into their vocabulary. This isn’t ideal in most situations at any age but it’s particularly inappropriate for younger kids to use this type of language and think it’s acceptable.

Drug-related conversations

Some Wizz profiles feature drug slang emojis which glamorize drug taking and drug dealing. And users can be exposed to seedy conversations about drug use via the app’s live chat feature with strangers from all over the world.

Ineffective blocking system

It’s possible to block another user for inappropriate or offensive behavior by tapping the three dots in the top right-hand corner of the screen. But some users have complained that it’s not 100 per cent effective: “I blocked someone on Wizz but they still requested a chat.”

In-app purchases and subscriptions

Although Wizz is free to download, in-app purchases and weekly or monthly subscriptions are available – and they are heavily advertised on the platform. Users can buy ‘coins’ to add more friends, or pay a subscription to avoid advertisements or be the top profile for a limited time. Vulnerable younger users may feel pressurized to succumb to these temptations.

No parental controls

Many parents are amazed to discover that the Wizz app does not have any parental controls. Read on to find out how you can make it a safer experience for your child in our wizz app review.

How can I make the Wizz app safer for my child?

how to make wizz app safe

At Game Quitters, we’re often contacted by concerned parents on our Facebook support group asking “Is Wizz a dating app for kids?” and “Is Wizz safe for my kid?” So we’ve put together these safety tips:

1. Download and explore the app

Set up a Wizz account so you can see the type of people and content your child is exposed to. It’s also a good way to familiarize yourself with popular acronyms. For example, you may wonder, “What does NFS mean on the Wizz app?” (It means ‘not for sale’ and is mainly used by gamers.)

2. Make privacy a priority

Check the Wizz privacy policy and your child’s privacy settings to see what they’re sharing. Make sure their location is turned off as a minimum.

3. Have an open discussion

Talk to your child about the potential dangers of Wizz (as outlined above) and the risks of sharing personal information with strangers. Encourage them to let you know if they’re concerned about something they’ve viewed or been asked to send.

4. Set screentime rules

If you feel that Wizz is a positive way for your child to be sociable and expand their circle of friends, help them manage their time on the app responsibly with our healthy screentime guidelines.

5. Delete the Wizz app

You may decide, after reading this review, that Wizz has too much harmful and inappropriate content, and decide to delete the app from your child’s phone.

If you’ve found these safety tips helpful, please share them with other parents asking “Is Wizz a dating app and do I need to be concerned?” or parents looking for a wizz app review.

Need help with screen addiction?

Wizz is a popular app with teens. If your child is spending increasing amounts of time on the Wizz app and it’s having a detrimental effect on other aspects of their life, they may need support.

If they’re also suffering from screen addiction, we can help.

Take the first step and apply for a Gameplan strategy call.

On this call, we’ll see if your family is a good fit for our coaching program where we get control over screen time in your child’s life.

How to Uninstall Riot Client from Your PC

If you want to reduce the number of hours you spend playing games like League of Legends or Valorant, you can uninstall Riot Client – the central hub that lets you access all Riot games. This article explains how to remove Riot Client so you can break free from compulsive gaming and start pursuing real life goals.

At Game Quitters, we don’t just help people to stop gaming completely. We also support players who want to get their gaming under control so they can balance screen time with other hobbies and activities.

Uninstalling Riot Client – your questions answered

riot games client

Of course there are other reasons why you may want to uninstall Riot Client apart from managing your gaming time. There could a bug affecting your PC that can only be fixed by uninstalling and reinstalling Riot Client, or perhaps you need to free up space on your hard drive.

If this is the case, you might want to consider deleting other games, apps and platforms too such as FIFA, PS4, PS5, Bluestacks and Discord.

Here are some of the questions we receive from gamers and families about the process of removing Riot Client from a PC:

Should I delete my Riot games before uninstalling Riot Client?

Yes, we recommend deleting all Riot games before uninstalling Riot Client because any games running in the background could disrupt the process. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Click the search bar at the bottom of your PC.
  2. In the search bar, type ‘Apps & features’.
  3. Click on it to open the window.
  4. Search for the video game you want to delete i.e. Valorant.
  5. Click on it and select ‘Uninstall’.
  6. Repeat this process for all the Riot Games you have on your PC.
  7. When you’ve deleted all your games, empty your Recycle Bin.
  8. Then restart your PC.

Do I need to uninstall Riot Vanguard?

vanguard

If you’ve previously installed Valorant, then Riot Vanguard anti-cheating software will also be on your PC. You need to uninstall it to completely remove all traces of Riot Games from your computer. Follow these step-by-step instructions:

  1. Click the search bar at the bottom of your PC.
  2. In the search bar, type ‘Apps & features’.
  3. Click on it to open the window.
  4. Search for ‘Riot Vanguard’.
  5. Click the three dots and select ‘Uninstall’.
  6. Empty your Recycle Bin.
  7. Now restart your PC.

How do I uninstall Riot Client on PC?

Once you’ve deleted your Riot games and Riot Vanguard, you’re ready to uninstall Riot Client. But you may be wondering: ‘Where is the uninstall button for Riot Client?’ There isn’t one specific button, you need to follow the process below:

  1. Click the search bar at the bottom of your PC.
  2. In the search bar, type ‘Riot’.
  3. Select ‘Open file location’.
  4. Navigate back to ‘Programs’ at the top.
  5. Scroll down to the Riot Games folder and right-click on it.
  6. Press the trash icon to delete the Riot Games folder.
  7. Next, type ‘Run’ in the search bar.
  8. Type ‘AppData’ in the pop-up box.
  9. Click ‘Local’.
  10. Scroll down to find ‘Riot Games’.
  11. Right-click on it and press delete.

Why is my Riot Client not uninstalling?

It could be because you still have some Riot games on your PC. Follow our instructions above in the ‘Should I delete my Riot games before uninstalling Riot Client?’ section and make sure you delete your Valorant account as well.

How will I know that all traces of Riot Games have been removed from my PC?

Are you wondering how to completely uninstall League of Legends and Riot Client from your PC? Follow the instructions above to delete a specific video game (such as League of Legends) and Riot Client.

To make sure there’s nothing associated with Riot Games left on your PC, type ‘Riot’ into the search bar. If anything pops up, right-click and delete it.

Need expert help?

ps5 addiction

At Game Quitters, we’re here to support you or a loved one wherever you are on your gaming journey.

If you’re reading this article because you can’t stop playing a particular video game, we’ve produced some handy tips on how to quit playing League of Legends. The same strategies can be applied to other popular titles from Riot Games such as Valorant, Teamfight Tactics and Legends of Runeterra.

If you’re concerned that you or someone you care about may have video game addiction, take our short quiz to find out if you – or they – meet the criteria for problematic use.

Perhaps you’ve reached the stage where you want to live your real life instead of a virtual life. As experts in video game addiction, we can help – even if you’re the parent of a gamer in denial.

Take the first step today and apply for a Gameplan strategy call. During our conversation, we’ll see if you’re a good fit for one of our coaching programs.

What is Kick Streaming? Your Questions Answered

Have you have heard of Kick, the new ‘creator-friendly’ streaming service? It doesn’t yet rival Twitch or YouTube Live in terms of viewers or channels, but it’s already becoming popular with streamers and gamers.

As experts in video game addiction, we’re always looking out for new platforms that people may start to use compulsively. This article explores the appeal of Kick and answer some frequently asked questions about the new streaming service.

Frequently asked questions about Kick

kick streaming logo

As Kick was only launched in 2022, many people in our community forum and parent support group are still unfamiliar with the new streaming service. So, here are some common questions and answers that we want to share with you.

What is Kick?

Kick is a relatively new streaming platform which is similar to Twitch, YouTube Live and Facebook Live. Creators can stream videos in real time. While viewers can subscribe to a creator’s channel, watch live streams and post comments.

What can you stream on Kick?

There are six main categories on Kick to make it easier for viewers to find what they want to watch:

  • Games – The menu shows video games that are currently being streamed, from massively multiplayer online (MMO) games to esports tournaments.
  • IRL – Content about everyday topics. Popular categories include just chatting, cooking, news, and travel and outdoors.
  • Music – DJ sets, acoustic streams, live music, dance and more.
  • Gambling – The most popular streams are slots and casinos. Other gambling content includes poker, sports betting and table games for viewers aged 18+.
  • Creative – Covers a wide range of creative themes including makers and crafting, digital art, video production and graphic design.
  • Alternative – This category has content that doesn’t fit elsewhere such as just sleeping, crypto and trading, sports and politics.

How much does Kick pay streamers?

kick streamer pay

Kick has one of the lowest (if not the lowest) revenue charges among streaming platforms. Creators receive 95 per cent of all subscriber income, while the platform retains just 5 per cent.

Kick plans to generate cash flow through advertising and is working on the basis that giving creators such a lucrative incentive will draw the best creators to Kick, which in turn will attract major advertisers.

How is Kick different than Twitch?

kick vs twitch

The main difference between Kick and Twitch is the 95/5 per cent subscriber revenue split that creators receive on Kick compared to the 50/50 per cent split offered by Twitch. Plus, 100% of all tips made on Kick, known as ‘Kicks’ are paid to streamers. Earnings can be withdrawn the same day so there’s no waiting for a monthly payout. And these earnings are based on hours watched and total viewers rather than a monthly subscriber count.

Kick has also pledged to make its terms of service as transparent as possible with clear rules on what is and is not acceptable. This includes strict guidelines around ethical gambling, a practice that was banned on Twitch in 2022.

How many users are on Kick?

kick streaming viewers

Kick is becoming increasingly popular, but it still has a long way to go to match Twitch statistics. Here’s how the two platforms compared in July 2023:

 

Current viewers
Channels now
Games being streamed
Total streamers
Peak online viewers
Peak online channels

Kick

55,365
2,106
4,675
520,251
573,641 (July 1, 2023)
7,385 (July 1, 2023)

Twitch

1,508,215
49,906
119,828
16,279,664
6,642,217
234,924

Why stream on Kick?

Creators are streaming on Kick for several reasons. Firstly, they can potentially earn more money on Kick than most other streaming platforms due to the 95% creator / 5% Kick revenue split.

Secondly, as Twitch becomes increasingly saturated with channels and streamers, the odds of success are very low for new streamers. Choosing Kick gives them more chance to stand out and attract viewers.

Is Kick safe? Does it allow NSFW?

According to Kick’s community guidelines, the platform aims to be “fun and safe for all”. The guidelines outline what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Live streams, videos and comments that contain nudity, pornography or sexual activity are prohibited. However, this does not mean there is no mature or NSFW content on the streaming platform.

The guidelines state the activities and material that must be tagged as 18+. These include excessive profanities, graphic depictions of violence, 18+ rated video games, game nudity, smoking and drinking alcohol. Kick also bans hate speech, harassment, threats, bullying and racial slurs. However, as with other online platforms, sanctions against anti-social behavior are difficult to enforce.

Is gambling allowed on Kick?

kick gambling

Kick does not allow gambling between users, or sweepstakes or lotteries. But the streaming of gambling games is allowed, depending on the laws and regulations of the country where the viewer is located. Gambling streams are particularly prevalent on Kick because they were banned on Twitch in 2022 after some of its biggest streamers threatened to stop using the platform if it didn’t change its policy.

However, there have been certain Kick controversies and criticism around viewbotted gambling streams (when automated programs or bots are used to inflate the viewer numbers on a live stream). As a result, the platform has made an update in a bid to stop view count manipulation. [5]

Who owns Kick streaming?

Kick was set up by Bijan Tehrani and Ed Craven, who co-founded stake.com (an online crypto casino). Top streamer, Tyler ‘Trainwreckstv’ Niknam is a non-owner advisor. Despite having a huge following on Twitch, Trainwreckstv quit that platform in late 2022 because of the gambling ban.

Why is Kick in beta mode?

Kick has launched in beta mode because although the streaming service is live, it’s still being tested and there may be further tweaks to improve the user experience.

Need help?

If you or a loved one are struggling to limit the time you spend on Kick, Twitch, YouTube Live or other streaming services, expert help is available. You can read our tips about how to stop watching streaming platforms like Twitch and Kick.

Whether you want to stop gaming or watching gaming streams entirely, or bring it to manageable levels, we have a coaching program for you.

Take the first step today and apply for a Gameplan strategy call to see if you’re a good fit for our Respawn gamer programor Reclaim family program.

After the 12-week program, you’ll be free from gaming problems and pursuing your real-life goals – studying, earning money, exercising, getting out of the house, hanging out with friends and having a better attitude.

How to Delete PS5 Games – All You Need to Know

PlayStation 5 (PS5) is the latest and most powerful gaming console Sony has released and is the successor to PlayStation 4 (PS4).

As experts in video game addiction, we’re often asked how players can delete PlayStation games and apps. Some people simply want to free up space for newer titles, while others are looking to reduce their video games backlog so they’re less tempted to play for hours on end.

Read on to find out how to uninstall a game on PS5 and possible problems you may encounter. Or check out our article on how to delete games on PS4.

How to delete games on PS5 home screen

ps5 game library

Follow these steps if you want to delete PS5 games you’ve recently played:

  1. Go to the home screen.
  2. Highlight the game you want to delete.
  3. Press the ‘Options’ button on your controller.
  4. Hit ‘Delete’.

How to delete games on PS5 library

If you can’t find the game you want to delete on your home screen, this is because only the most recent games you’ve played will appear there. However, you can access and delete any PS5 games on your Game Library – here’s how:

  1. Go to your Game Library.
  2. Make sure you’re on the ‘Installed’ tab.
  3. Find the game you want to delete.
  4. Press the ‘Options’ button on your controller.
  5. Hit ‘Delete’.

Top tip: If you’re struggling to find the game you want to delete, scroll to the right and click on the downward arrow icon. Then use on of the following ‘Sort by’ filters to quickly find the game you’re looking for: Most Recent, Name (A – Z), Name (Z – A), Purchased Date (New – Old), Purchased Date (Old – New).

How to delete PS5 add-ons

Another way to free up space on your PS5 is to delete any add-ons you no longer use, while keeping the main game. You can always reinstall them later if you change your mind. So, how do you delete downloads on PS5? It’s a very easy process:

  1. Go to home screen or your Game Library.
  2. Highlight the game with the add-on you want to delete.
  3. Press the ‘Options’ button on your controller.
  4. Select ‘Manage Game Content’.
  5. Hit ‘Delete’ next to the add-on you want to delete.
  6. Press ‘Delete’ on the pop-up to confirm you want to delete the add-on.

Does deleting a game on PS5 delete saves? Do I lose my progress?

A common concern when deleting PS5 games is whether game saves and progress will be deleted too. Rest assured that uninstalling a game on your PS5 does not delete your saved data unless you delete your game files, as described below.

How to delete game files on a PS5

When you delete a PS5 game, the data associated with it is saved in case you want to reinstall the game in future. But, if you definitely don’t want to play the game again, you can delete the game file, and free up some extra space, as follows:

  1. Go to the home screen.
  2. Select ‘Settings’.
  3. Select ‘Saved Data and Game/App Settings’.
  4. Choose ‘Saved Data (PS5)’
  5. Select ‘Console Storage’.
  6. Click on ‘Delete’.
  7. Choose the files you want to delete.
  8. Hit ‘Delete’.
  9. Press ‘OK’ to confirm.

How do I add more space to my PS5 without deleting games?

If you’re running out of space and don’t want to uninstall a game every time you download a new one, there are other solutions. To access all your games all of the time, you can buy extra devices and storage options, such as an internal or external solid-state drive (SSD).

Why can’t I delete a game on my PS5?

Even though it’s usually straightforward to delete PS5 games, you may sometimes encounter issues. Here are some helpful tips to fix the problem:

  1. Check your console is connected to the internet.
  2. Make sure your username and password are correct.
  3. Update your console software – you can experience game deletion issues if you’re not using the latest version.
  4. Restart the console – sometimes a reboot can iron out any system bugs.

If you’re still having problems after following these steps, contact PlayStation support for troubleshooting advice.

Need help?

ps5 addiction

Are you reading this article because you or someone you care about are playing PS5 games compulsively? Maybe you’ve tried deleting games or even deleting your Playstation account but it’s not enough to stop you or a loved one struggling to focus on anything other than gaming.

You’re not alone and we can help. If gaming is affecting your life, it’s possible to change.

At Game Quitters we have lived experience of having and overcoming video game addiction.

Take the first step today and apply for a Gameplan strategy call to see if you or a loved one are a good fit for one of our coaching programs.

There are limited spots available and we accept gamers in denial.

How to Delete PS4 Games – Your Questions Answered

Do you want to delete PlayStation 4 (PS4) games to free up storage space, restrict the number of games you can access or because you’re bored with them? It doesn’t matter what your reasons are for uninstalling games from your PS4, the steps are the same.

In this article, we explain how to do it and answer some frequently asked questions about deleting PS4 games.

How to delete games from your PS4

Discover how to delete games on PS4 with our step-by-step instructions:

How to delete games on PS4 library

ps4 games library

People who want to stop gaming so much sometimes ask us: “How do I delete a game from my PlayStation library?” or “How do you delete downloads on PS4?” It’s a very easy process:

  1. Find the PS4 game you want to delete in your Game Library.
  2. Select the game.
  3. Press the ‘Options’ button on your controller.
  4. Hit ‘Delete’.
  5. Press ‘OK’ and the game will be uninstalled.

How to delete PS4 games on the hard drive

The Game Library is the easiest place to find your games but accessing ‘Settings’ from the home screen shows how much storage space each game is taking up on the hard drive. So, if you’re wondering, “How do I add more space to my PS4?” it’s a good idea to remove older games to free up room for new games. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Go to the home screen.
  2. Select ‘Settings’.
  3. On the ‘Settings’ page, choose ‘Storage’.
  4. Then, either choose ‘System Storage’ to delete games on the internal hard drive or choose ‘Extended Storage’ to delete games from an external drive attached to your PS4.
  5. Select ‘Applications’.
  6. View your game list and how much PS4 storage space each is taking up. Use your controller to choose the game(s) you want to delete.
  7. Press the ‘Options’ button on your controller.
  8. Select ‘Delete’.
  9. Choose the game(s) you want to remove.
  10. Select ‘Delete’.
  11. Press ‘OK’ to confirm your selection.

How to delete apps from PS4

If you want to know, “How do I delete apps on PS4?” read on:

  1. Go to the home screen.
  2. Find the app you want to remove.
  3. Press the ‘Options’ button on your controller.
  4. Hit ‘Delete’ and the app will be uninstalled.

How to delete game files on a PS4

When you delete games from a PS4, your saved game files remain in case you decide to reinstall the games at a later date. But, if you’re certain you don’t want your game files or you’re ok to restart the games from scratch, you can delete them by following these steps:

  1. Go to the home screen.
  2. Select ‘Settings’.
  3. Choose ‘Application Saved Data Management’.
  4. Select ‘Saved Data in System Storage’.
  5. Click on ‘Delete’.
  6. Press the ‘Options’ button on your controller.
  7. Select the game files you want to delete or choose ‘Select All’.
  8. Press the ‘Options’ button on your controller.
  9. Hit ‘Delete’.
  10. Confirm your actions by selecting ‘OK’.

Common questions about PS4 gaming

ps4 controller

We often receive questions on our community forum and parent support group about PS4 games. Players and parents discuss a broad range of topics – from how to delete your Playstation account, to how to uninstall a game on PS4 to what to do if someone is addicted to PS4 games. Here are some of the most common queries we receive:

Does deleting a game on PS4 delete saves? Do I lose my progress?

If you delete a game from your PS4, your game saves and progress will not be removed unless you delete your game files, as described above.

Why does my PS4 not have enough storage?

PlayStation 4 has 500 GB of storage, which can get used up if you install lots of games. So, if your PS4 does not have enough space, it’s likely you have exceeded the 500 GB limit. You can free up space by deleting unused games, apps and game files, as described in the instructions above.

How do I remove games from my PS4 home screen?

You can remove PS4 games via the home screen and ‘Settings’ by following our ‘How to delete PS4 games on the hard drive’ instructions above.

How do I delete games on a PS5?

You can follow our step-by-step instructions on how to delete PS5 games.

What can I do to stop myself playing PS4 so much?

If you’re not ready to delete all your PS4 games, try doing other things to get some balance in your life. Our hobby tool suggests alternative ways to spend your time other than playing video games.

How do I know if I’m addicted to PS4 games?

ps4 addiction

Take our video game addiction test if you think that you or a loved one might be gaming compulsively.

Depending on how you (or they) score, you may want to consider one of our coaching programs – Respawn for gamers or Reclaim for families.

There are also plenty of resources on our website, including articles, videos and podcasts.

Need help?

At Game Quitters, we have lived experience of wasting days, weeks and months playing video games. We are living proof that it’s possible to fill your life with more interesting and fulfilling activities.

If you or a loved one are struggling to control your PS4 use, we can help.

Get in touch to discuss your situation – we are used to dealing with people who are addicted to PS4 games but in denial.

Book a call now – please note that limited slots are available.

MMO Addiction and How to Break It

All video games are potentially addictive, but massively multiplayer online (MMO) games are usually at the top of the scale.

At Game Quitters, we understand MMO addiction because we’ve experienced it first hand and it’s our mission to help and support others.

This article explains the more addictive nature of MMOs compared to other video games, common signs of MMO addiction and how you can protect yourself from the grasp of these types of games.

What are MMO games?

guy against red dragon

MMO stands for massively multiplayer online games. These are often accompanied by games that include role-playing and can extend to MMORPG. Popular MMO games include World of Warcraft, Black Desert Online, Guild Wars 2, RuneScape, EverQuest, Final Fantasy 14, Rift and Ultima Online.

MMOs offer a world of unlimited potential: you can be whatever you want, you can have a loyal group of friends, you can travel wherever you want whenever you want, you can win, succeed and conquer challenges and feel like you’re always doing the right thing.

Sound too good to be true? Well, that’s because it is. Many people struggle to play MMOs casually because if you want to achieve anything rewarding in game, you have to put in more and more time and energy – and that can become addictive. There are other reasons why MMO is so addicting as a genre of video game too.

Why are MMO games so addictive?

It’s possible to become addicted to almost any video game, but when it comes to single-player, story-driven games, you usually play them a few times and move on. However, this doesn’t happen with MMOs. That’s because there are several elements that make an MMO game extremely addictive:

Illusion of improvement

MMOs have the ability to convince you that you’re improving in a meaningful way. This taps into the human tendency to be motivated to do tasks, complete them and improve your skills. As you become attached to your character, and since you are in control, you begin to feel like you are the character. Completing challenges and missions in the game creates an illusion that you’re growing and improving as you become more proficient.

Sunk-cost fallacy

When you start playing World of Warcraft, RuneScape or another MMO, you begin the game with pretty much nothing, and in order to build your character and obtain some items you have to put in the time and grind.

A few hours playing an MMO is like a drop in the ocean, whereas if you spent a few hours in a single-player game, you would have already experienced 25% of the game. It pushes you to play the MMO for longer and makes it much harder to stop playing as you’ve already invested so much time in the game.

This is known as the sunk-cost fallacy – when you think you have to keep doing something because you’ve put a lot of time, effort or money into it, even when it’s making your life worse. The sunk-cost fallacy is a big aspect of what makes MMOs so addictive.

Socialization

Humans are social creatures, and gaming companies create MMOs to satisfy and exploit our social cravings. A big part of MMOs are guilds, where a group of players teams up and takes on the challenges of the MMO world together.

When you join or create a guild, a new dimension of the game unlocks for you – accountability. You can’t just turn off your computer or console whenever you want, you have to schedule time to play with your teammates and you have a responsibility not to leave the game in the middle of a combat or raid. This adds an extra layer of commitment to the game. The amount of time spent on gameplay means that for some people, MMOs are the only place they socialize.

If you’re finding that the more you play MMO games, the more you want (or need) to play MMO games, and MMOs are having a negative effect on your life, it could be an addiction.

What are the signs of MMO addiction?

mom learning to spot the signs of gaming addiction

A recurring question on our community forum and parent support group, is what are the signs of a video game addiction? If you’re concerned that you or a loved one may be gaming problematically, here are some common MMO addiction symptoms:

  • Constantly thinking about past MMO games or anticipating your next session
  • Feeling restless and irritable when unable to play
  • Needing to play more frequently to experience the same rush of excitement
  • Trying to curb the amount of time you spend on MMO games, without success
  • Neglecting other hobbies and interests you used to enjoy
  • Continuing to play despite adverse consequences
  • Concealing the amount of time you spend gaming from friends and family
  • Using MMO games to escape from negative moods or situations
  • Jeopardizing school, work and/or relationships.

So, what is an MMO addiction? If you have experienced five or more of the above signs in the last 12 months, you may be at risk.

Still not sure if you’re addicted to MMOs? Take our video game addiction quiz to find out if you or a loved one may have gaming issues.

My addiction to MMO – Cam’s story

I experienced an MMO addiction first-hand. Playing World of Warcraft was both the best and worst time of my life. I loved escaping into a new world, building my character and playing alongside my friends. But I also became addicted to the game and eventually I quit when my life got to a point where I wrote a suicide note.

If you’re struggling to control your MMO gaming, read on to find out how to start living your own life, instead of a virtual life.

How to break MMO addiction

So, how do you get over an MMO addiction? There are steps you can take to turn things around. Here are four tips to help you regain control of your gaming:

1. Do a gaming detox

Playing video games causes your brain to release dopamine, and this repeated behavior can have a similar effect on your brain as gambling, drugs and alcohol. The more you play your favorite MMO game, the more dopamine you need to feel the same thrill.

Our video explores what gaming does to your brain and includes useful advice on having a 30 to 90-day detox to help your brain reset to normal baseline dopamine levels. Taking a complete break can help you moderate your play afterwards or help you quit gaming for good.

2. Find replacement hobbies

While having a detox, look for new activities to replace gaming. You could learn a language, start a podcast, write a short story, take up photography or try a new sport.

Our hobby tool has dozens of ideas to inspire you to put down your games console and have a new focus. It’s also a great way to make new friends and socialize face to face. You don’t even have to take up a new hobby. It could be something you dropped because gaming took over your life that you want to get into again.

3. Schedule your day

Playing MMO games often occurs on impulse. Creating structure in your day will help minimize the urge to play when you have nothing else to do. Having free time is not a rationale for gaming, it’s a sign that you need to find other ways to fill your day.

You could use Google calendar – or whatever works for you – to schedule replacement hobbies, social activities, school, work, daily chores, moderate gaming and more. When you have specific times designated to gaming, it’s a lot easier to stick to those sessions and avoid the impulsive desire to play.

4. Switch to single-player games

In our experience, MMO games tend to be more addictive than single-player games. This is because single-player games have a pause button where you can save your progress and come back later, whereas MMO games are more focused on achievement and rankings. They continue even if you’re not playing, so you can feel a sense of FOMO when other people are getting further ahead.

If you’re looking to limit or moderate your behavior, try switching to single-player games or story-based offline games which are generally less risky.

Need help?

asking for help is not a weakness

If you’ve tried the steps above but are still struggling to develop healthy gaming habits, you may need professional help.

At Game Quitters, our gamer and family programs provide immediate strategies to stop the spiral and breakthrough denial. You’ll also learn how to improve all areas of your off-screen life, including increased motivation, productivity and social skills.

Take the first step today and book a Gameplan strategy call. Limited slots are available.

During the call, we’ll see if you’re a good fit for one of our coaching programs, where we can help you get your MMO gaming under control for good.

How to Set Up Parental Controls on Roku

There are so many ways for kids to entertain themselves these days that keeping them safe can be a minefield for parents. As experts on gaming and screen time, we often get asked how to set up parental controls on games consoles and other devices to control spending, limit screen time and restrict online communication.

Now, parents are increasingly concerned about what their children and teens are watching on streaming platforms. This article focuses on how to set up parental controls on Roku so you can keep your kids safe, even when you’re not around.

What is Roku?

roku tv

Roku is a popular streaming platform that gives access to over half a million movies and shows on your TV. You can watch a wide range of channels and streaming services including Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Netflix and YouTube. You can also play video games on your TV via Roku 19 19. https://channelstore.roku.com/en-gb/browse/games × .

Roku is very easy to set up and use. Simply connect to the internet, set up a Roku account and start streaming what you want to watch. There are two ways to access the service:

  • Roku streaming player – a set-top box or streaming stick that plugs into your TV
  • Or, Roku TV – a smart TV with built-in Roku functionality.

The service has become increasingly popular since it was first released, in collaboration with Netflix, in 2008. By March 2023, Roku had 71.6 million active accounts worldwide, an increase of nearly 20 million accounts in two years.

Is Roku safe for young viewers?

family watching Roku

Many parents are concerned about whether the streaming service is safe. Roku offers some fantastic entertainment that’s suitable for viewers of all ages. However, with instant access to 4,000+ free and paid channels, there are potential risks of inappropriate content. Without supervision, young people may be able to access movies and shows that feature violence, sexual themes, strong language, and more.

So, can you set parental controls on Roku? Yes, it is possible – read on to find out how.

How to set up Roku parental controls

Are you worried about what your kids are watching on Roku? With Roku parental controls you can restrict access to unsuitable content and block the purchase of apps, shows and movies from the Roku Channel Store. Here’s our guide to help you set up parental controls and protect your children.

Create or update your Roku PIN

One of the questions we get asked on our parent support group is “Can you put a passcode on Roku?” Yes, you can. The first step to keeping your kids safe on the streaming platform is to set up a PIN. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Log into your Roku account.
  2. Under the ‘PIN preference’ heading, select ‘Update’.
  3. You will then be asked to ‘Choose your PIN preferences’. Under the ‘Making purchases and adding content’ heading, there are three options. The ‘Always require a PIN to make purchases and add items from the Channel Store’ option offers the tightest restriction.
  4. Next, create and verify a four-digit PIN – don’t choose something your kids may be able to guess. (If you already have a Roku PIN, you can change it here. Select ‘Change PIN’ and enter a new four-digit PIN.)
  5. Having set up or changed your PIN, you can decide who in the family needs the PIN to access content on Roku. You will see a heading, ‘Under Parental Controls for the Roku Channel’ – select ‘Little kids’, ‘Young kids’ or ‘Teens’ to require the PIN. The Roku Support page has a handy chart that shows the ratings – U, PG, 12A, 12, 15 and 18 – and whether they are in the ‘Little kids’, ‘Young kids’ or ‘Teens’ categories.
  6. Then click the ‘Save Changes’ button.

Once the PIN is set up, you can decide if the content is appropriate the next time your kids want to add a channel or purchase a movie. It is a good idea to reset the PIN from time to time to be extra safe.

How do I hide channels on Roku?

Although the PIN will stop your kids from accessing inappropriate content on Roku, it will not hide movie and TV show titles when they are browsing or searching content on The Roku Channel, and some of the titles are suggestive.

How to remove Roku hidden channels

It is possible to remove certain channels after you have set up your PIN:

  1. Using the Roku remote or Roku app, go to the Roku home screen and choose ‘My Channels’.
  2. Find the channel you want remove.
  3. Click the ‘Options’ button (the * key) on the remote.
  4. Choose ‘Remove Channel’ and then click ‘OK’.
  5. Confirm you want to remove the channel.
  6. Repeat these steps to remove other channels.

How to hide content on the home page

As well as removing channels, you can also hide the Movie Store, TV Store and/or News Feed from the Roku home page. This is a good way to stop your kids from seeing everything that’s available on the streaming platform and removing temptation. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Go to the Roku home page and choose ‘Settings’.
  2. Then select ‘Home Screen’ and click the arrow in the right-hand corner.
  3. On the next page, choose ‘Movie Store’, ‘TV Store’ and/or ‘News Feed’, then select ‘Hide’.

Parental controls in third party channels

We sometimes get asked, “Can you block YouTube on Roku?” The answer is no. The PIN can only be used to restrict access to shows and movies in The Roku Channel, not third-party channels like YouTube, Netflix and Disney+. You need to go to ‘Settings’ in those apps to set up parental controls and help protect your child from harmful content.

Need help?

safe online family

At Game Quitters, we’ve helped hundreds of children, teens and families with unhealthy digital habits. So we know that setting up parental controls, isn’t the only way to keep your child safe on Roku.

Understand their online world

We recommend you familiarize yourself with Roku. By exploring the streaming platform you will better understand the potential risks for your child. It will also help you be part of their online world which is helpful for keeping the lines of communication open. If you show an interest in the type of content they’re watching, they are more likely to come to you with any worries and concerns.

Set up screen time limits and encourage other activities

As well as monitoring the content they are watching, you may want to consider the amount of time your kids are spending on the platform. Our screen time guidelines will help you set screen time limits and encourage healthy digital habits. Another way to make sure Roku doesn’t start to take over your child’s life is to encourage other interests. Our hobby tooland screen-free activities guide are packed with inspiration.

Get in touch

If you’re concerned your child may be addicted to watching Roku, book a call so we can give you expert advice and access to our resources.

Why Are Video Games Not Fun Anymore?

Do you feel anxious and stressed when you sit down to game, rather than happy and excited? If so, you’re not alone. Many other gamers are asking themselves. ‘Why do video games not feel fun anymore?’

On the surface it seems baffling. There have never been so many games to choose from, and the sound quality, graphics and interactive elements are more engaging than ever before. But yet, you find video games to be boring. So in this article we explore what has led you to find video games to not be as much fun as you used to.

Why do video games feel boring now?

To understand why video games are boring nowadays, we need to explore how video games have changed over the years.

The late 90s and early to mid-2000s in the gaming community are regarded as The Golden Age of video games. A lot of all-time classic games were released during this period such as Super Mario 64, Halo, World of Warcraft, Half-life, and many more.

This time period of gaming is the most nostalgic and brings up many positive memories. There were no microtransactions, DLC, or other predatory mechanics that we see in modern games.

You see, back then, video games were designed for the enjoyment of the game. They were an art form and a way to connect a community of gamers together. Modern gaming is different. Today video games are designed to maximize the amount of time a player plays, and also the maximize the amount of money they spend within the game itself.

It’s not about a one-time virtual adventure anymore, it’s about engaging the player enough and making him or her think that they need to keep playing.

Modern video games are designed to hook you into playing and stay playing and video game companies know exactly what to do in order to achieve that.

It’s also why so many games feel like an endless grind. They are no longer innocent simple games to play and complete, because you’d finish the game and move on to another one and the company would lose your business.

Instead, gaming companies force you to grind monotonous quests just to get your battle pass rewards so you don’t feel like you’ve wasted your money. The innocence of playing a game start to finish and completing it is no longer there and instead games feel like a chore and almost like having a second job.

Are games losing their popularity?

gaming stats by age

Game designers certainly don’t think that video games are losing their popularity. The number of games released on Steam has grown massively over the last decade – from 434 in 2012 to 10,963 in 2022, that’s 30 games per day. And this doesn’t include exclusive titles released on other platforms.

Even the most hardcore gamer wouldn’t be able to finish all these games, especially as the most popular ones take 20-30 hours to beat. You can perhaps identify with that feeling of staring at your game library, unable to decide what to play, even if you have hundreds of games in your backlog. It can be overwhelming, and deciding what to play can feel more like a chore than a fun activity.

Why are video games less fun as you get older?

nostalgic gamer

For many of us, we’ve been playing video games since we were young. They are nostalgic and provide us with a lot of good memories. But as we get older, they can start to feel less fun, and more like a chore.

Here are three reasons video games become less fun as you get older:

Gaming burnout

Gaming burnout can involve emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by playing video games. But it can also include being tired and bored of gaming, and lacking the energy and passion you once had. Gaming is an activity you have done for a long time, and often, especially if you are addicted to gaming, it may be the only activity that you have.

Fear of missing out (FOMO)

Whenever you boot up an older game or buy a new one, you may feel anxious because you are thinking of all the other games you should be playing. Or, if you play a certain game, you may worry you won’t be able to finish it before the next game is released. You can also experience FOMO when you’re unable to game because of work, school or other responsibilities. Fear of missing out can be this anxious state of being pulled in several directions, especially if you are being pressured to play by your friends.

Choice overload

Another sign of gaming being less fun as you get older is choice overload. This is when you are unable to play because you have too many options. The average gamer has dozens, if not hundreds, of games. Most of those games are not finished or were finished a long time ago, and whenever you boot up your system to play, you have so much choice and this can put you in a state of paralysis, leading to feeling stressed about gaming.

Wasted-time worry

Some gamers begin to question the amount of time they spend gaming. A nagging voice in their head starts to tell them that gaming is having an adverse effect.

A member of the Game Quitters community recently said: “Eventually the short-term reward from gaming will be outweighed by the long-term regret of missing out on your own life.” Maybe you are beginning to understand there are more important things you could be doing, or more healthier hobbies you could engage in, besides gaming.

How do I find video games fun again?

happy gamer

If you feel like video games aren’t fun anymore, but you want to find a way to enjoy them again, here are some tips:

  1. Take a break or quit – If you don’t have a problem with gaming but it’s making you feel a bit flat, try taking a break for a few days so you come back refreshed and able to enjoy your hobby again. If you’re concerned you may have video game addiction, perhaps you should consider quitting once and for all. If you don’t know which category you belong to, take our video game addiction test.
  2. Establish why you have gaming burnout – Try to work out why you feel burned out from playing video games so you can do something about it: seek support, get more sleep or try a relaxing activity away from screens.
  3. Play different games – Sometimes people ask us, ‘Why are video games less fun as you get older?’ but it’s because they’ve got stuck in a rut playing the same type of game. Perhaps you can reignite your passion for gaming by trying different genres.
  4. Find other hobbies – Maybe games are less fun because you play too much. Instead, find new activities to replace some of the time you play video games, and with a life of more balance you may enjoy games again.
  5. Look after your mental health – If you feel anxious or depressed, that will definitely affect the fun you have gaming.

Need help?

At Game Quitters, our community forum and Discord often have messages from gamers who feel frustrated that they have stopped enjoying their gameplay. And some of them can’t stop playing even when it’s making them stressed, anxious or depressed.

Our specialist coaching programs are designed for gamers and parents struggling with gaming problems:

  • Respawn is for gamers who want to quit gaming and improve their life.
  • Reclaim is to help families manage problematic gaming at home.

Take the first step to a happier life today and book a Gameplan call. Limited places are available.

How to Delete Your Reddit Account in Less Than A Minute

Is Reddit taking over your life – or are you concerned that a loved one may have an unhealthy relationship with the platform? While it’s a great place to find out information about absolutely anything, or discuss your favorite video games with likeminded people, it can be difficult to know when to stop scrolling.

Reddit is the most addictive social media website – at least for me, anyway. I’ve tried everything to stop wasting time on Reddit before, including blocking subreddits and even individual users who would always keep me coming back. It got so pathetic I even tried to enable Reddit parental controls as an adult.

We understand the constant pull back to subreddits because we’ve felt the urge ourselves, and helped many other redditors whose work, education, relationships and health were suffering.

In this article, we explain how to delete a Reddit account and answer some frequently asked questions about the platform. Within less than a minute you’ll have finally deleted your account, and can go back to doing things that actually mean something to you. It’s time to become productive again.

Step-by-step instructions for deleting your Reddit account

Follow these simple steps to discover how to delete a Reddit account:

Step 1: Go to User Settings on Reddit

How to Delete Reddit Account

Log onto Reddit and navigate to the ‘User Settings’ area on the sidebar at the top-right of screen.

Just log on and navigate over to the “User Settings” area on the sidebar at the top-right.

Step 2: Click Deactivate Account

Reddit Account Settings

The only difficulty you might have is finding the link. You have to scroll down the page to see it. Click the button that says ‘Deactivate Account’, and a screen will pop up. (Please note that to delete a Reddit account is exactly the same as to deactivate Reddit account.)

Step 3: Confirm Reddit Account Deletion

Deleting Reddit Confirmation Screen

Finally, click the deactivate button and confirm your decision to delete your Reddit account. That’s it. You’re done.

After you’ve removed Reddit, you can take comfort in the knowledge that you’re no longer going to waste any more time pretending to absorb facts or catch up on the latest memes.

You can take comfort in the knowledge that you’re no longer going to waste any more time pretending to absorb facts or catch up on the latest memes.

Common questions we’re asked about Reddit

We often receive questions about Reddit on our community forum and parent support group. Unsurprisingly, people of all ages are struggling to control their use of the platform. Here are some of the most common questions we receive:

Can I delete my Reddit account on the app?

Yes – here’s how to delete Reddit account on app instructions:

  • Click on your avatar to open your profile menu.
  • Choose ‘Settings’.
  • Under ‘Support’, click ‘Delete account’.

What can I do to stop myself using Reddit so much?

If you’re not ready to quit the platform completely, try to do other things to regain some balance in your life. Spend more time with friends and family, take up a new hobby and find other ways to stop wasting time on Reddit.

How do I know if I’m addicted to Reddit?

Check out the common signs of Reddit addiction to see if you may have a problem and find out how to reduce your dependency on the platform.

How can I stop myself reinstalling Reddit?

If you’re worried that you may get the urge to scroll through Reddit the next time you’re bored, we recommend installing a blocker to prevent you from visiting the platform in future.

Are there parental controls on Reddit?

It is possible to set up Reddit parental controls to help keep your kids safe from online predators, cyberbullying and inappropriate content. You could also introduce screen time restrictions to stop your family spending hours online each day.

Will deactivating my Reddit account delete my posts and comments?

No, deactivating your account via the web browser or app will not remove any posts, comments or private messages. To delete your data before you deactivate your Reddit account, visit the Reddit website for more information.

Need help?

If you or someone you care about are struggling to control your Reddit use, we can help. At Game Quitters we have lived experience of wasting hours and hours on the platform. We know it’s possible to quit and fill your life with more interesting and fulfilling activities.

Get in touch to discuss how we can help you – we’re used to dealing with people who are addicted to Reddit but in denial.

Book a call to talk about your situation. Please note that limited spots are available.

How Cheap Dopamine Is Hijacking Our Brains

Dopamine has been described as the ‘modern devil’. But why is the so-called happy hormone potentially harmful? If you binge-watch TikTok, play video games all night or constantly check Instagram, then you may be addicted to cheap dopamine.

At Game Quitters, we’ve been helping parents and teens with digital and gaming problems for nearly 10 years. In this article, we explain the negative effects of cheap dopamine and share our tips for beating digital dependency.

What is cheap dopamine?

‘Cheap dopamine’ is a new buzz phrase that describes how social media, video games and other on-screen activities are hijacking our brains and controlling our behavior.

Drugs, alcohol and gambling can be highly addictive, but they cost money. Whereas scrolling through Facebook and Snapchat or playing Roblox and Among Us is cheap – you just need a smartphone and internet access. But it’s turning us into dopamine addicts and each like, swipe and share is feeding our habit.

Why can cheap dopamine be addictive?

At Game Quitters, we’ve looked at how dopamine impacts gaming, to understand why some people keep playing even when it’s having a negative effect on their lives. We know that dopamine is not the only cause of addiction – other issues such as peer pressure, genetics and environmental factors can also play a part – but the happy hormone is certainly a contributory factor.

Before we explain how cheap dopamine is linked to addiction, it’s important to understand what dopamine is and how it affects our behavior. Put simply, dopamine is a chemical released in the brain that makes us feel good. It’s often described as the brain’s reward system because it allows us to feel pleasure. We get rewarded with a surge of dopamine when we do certain things in everyday life like eating, exercising, shopping and earning money. This makes us want to do them again, to experience the same feelings of joy. The right amount of dopamine is positive because it makes us happy and motivated. But too much dopamine is linked to poor impulse control which can lead to addiction.

Let’s look at the dopamine theory of addiction to understand why this pleasure chemical can cause so much harm. When our body starts craving more and more of the dopamine ‘reward’, the brain cannot produce enough dopamine naturally and this can leave us feeling low. Only the enjoyable activity – which for many people is online entertainment like gaming or social media – can raise dopamine to the required levels. So, we do more of the activity in a desperate attempt to experience the same rush of pleasure. But our brain shuts down even more of our ability to get dopamine, so the vicious circle of chasing dopamine continues. As addiction expert, Dr Anna Lembke, explains: “We spiral into a joy-seeking abyss.”

As video games and social media apps are cheap and highly accessible, it’s easy for the craving to become compulsive. For these reasons, cheap dopamine, Naval Ravikant says, is the ‘modern devil’. With gambling, drinking or drugs you eventually run out of money, but online entertainment is limitless. You can go down a rabbit hole and resurface hours later because the next video game or Instagram story loads automatically. But each bingeing session makes us less sensitive to the effects of dopamine, and it takes more and more dopamine to feel that same pleasure or excitement. We become increasingly dependent on digital media to keep functioning and can this can lead to video game addiction or social media addiction.

The effects of cheap dopamine

So, what does it feel like to have too much or not enough dopamine? Here are some common symptoms of a dopamine imbalance so you can recognize the signs:

Physical symptoms include:

  • brain fog
  • muscle cramps and stiffness
  • loss of balance or coordination
  • memory problems
  • digestion issues
  • disturbed sleep
  • feeling tired and lethargic
  • moving or speaking more slowly than usual
  • low sex drive.

Emotional symptoms include:

  • lack of motivation
  • poor concentration
  • no pleasure from previously enjoyed activities
  • impulsiveness
  • aggression
  • addiction
  • feeling sad and hopeless
  • lack of self-esteem
  • depression
  • anxiety
  • schizophrenia
  • psychosis
  • mania
  • hallucinations
  • false perceptions.

If you or a loved one have some of these symptoms and find the only way to relieve them is to seek instant gratification through social media apps, video games or other on-screen activities, you may be addicted to cheap dopamine.

What is healthy and natural dopamine?

how to increase dopamine

We’ve only talked about cheap dopamine so far. But on the other side of the coin, there are healthy and natural dopamine sources. These are difficult and less stimulating to engage with initially. For example, would you rather spend two hours reading a book or playing your favorite video game? The answer is probably gaming – an activity that feels good in the moment, but ultimately does not provide anything for the person doing it. Reading a book might not seem as attractive, but it provides tangible benefits, and is a natural dopamine source.

Cheap dopamine sources feel great in the short term, but in the long-term they can make you weak, lazy and unproductive. Whereas natural dopamine sources might not seem very enjoyable or beneficial, but over time will help you relax and learn. Once you adopt this mentality in theory, you then need to approach it practically by doing a dopamine detox.

How to reset your behavior with a dopamine detox

Doing a dopamine detox is key in order to get your life back in control and stop being a slave to cheap dopamine. You might think a dopamine detox means not engaging in highly stimulating, cheap dopamine, but that’s not always the case. It all comes down to you and your lifestyle. If you feel that doing a classic dopamine detox – which is not engaging in any cheap dopamine at all – is right for you, go ahead. If you think you just need to moderate and balance your life, setting time limits or avoiding certain activities can also be effective. The most important thing is to look at your life, see how much engaging in cheap dopamine is affecting you and then regulate your behavior accordingly.

You need to identify which cheap dopamine sources negatively impact you the most. Perhaps you don’t have a problem with binge-watching Netflix, but you do have a problem with gaming. If this is the case, quitting or limiting time on Netflix won’t solve the problem as you’ll spend even more time on video games. But, if you quit or moderate gaming, perhaps you can relax by watching a movie instead. It’s all about having a healthy balance.

Just make sure you don’t substitute bad habits with other bad habits. Finding replacement activities that give you natural dopamine sources is a good way to develop healthy habits.

Remember, engaging in this type of dopamine source might not feel good at the start, but with time will become far more rewarding than cheap dopamine.

Need help?

If you or someone you care about can’t stop scrolling Instagram, bingeing TikTok or indulging in marathon gaming sessions, we can help.

At Game Quitters, we understand it’s not realistic to live your life without technology. That’s why our coaching programs are not about no tech, but mindful tech – harnessing all the digital world has to offer in a positive way.

Instead of living your life addicted to the thrill of cheap dopamine, we can help get your digital habits under control for good and find other off-screen activities to fill your time.

Take your first step today – apply for a Gameplan strategy call so we can see if you (or your family) are a good fit for our coaching program.

We accept families with gamers in denial but, due to high demand, we have limited spots available and cannot accept all applicants.

How to Check Your Valorant Purchase History

Valorant is a free-to-play, first-person shooter game that requires no extra payment to unlock key features. However, Riot Games – the company behind Valorant – makes millions of dollars each year through in-game purchases, known as microtransactions.

This article explains how to check your Valorant purchase history to stay in control of your in-game spending.

Valorant Points explained

valorant points

Players can buy a range of items to progress in the game and enhance their experience using Valorant Points (VP). This in-game currency is purchased using real money. There are plenty of opportunities to spend Valorant Points throughout the game. They can be used to buy:

  • weapon skins
  • collection bundles
  • sprays
  • player cards
  • player titles
  • tier unlocks
  • gunbuddies
  • discounted items in the Night Market
  • upgrades to premium Act battle pass.

There is a secondary currency in Valorant called Radianite Points (RP) and there are two ways for players to acquire Radianite Points. They can either buy them with Valorant Points or earn them by completing the battle pass. Radianite Points are used to purchase premium content and upgrade weapon skins (that have already been bought using Valorant Points) by unlocking the full potential of the skin.

Players can see how much money they have spent on Valorant Points by checking their Valorant purchase history.

Step-by-step guide – how to check your Valorant purchase history

Although in-game purchases are often small amounts, a few dollars per item can quickly add up to a significant sum. For example, buying just 1,000 Valorant Points each month for US$9.99 doesn’t sound much but it’s almost US$120 over a year – and many players spend much more 20 20. https://valorant.fandom.com/wiki/VALORANT_Points × . Once players have Valorant Points, it can be difficult to resist buying multiple weapon skins and other in-game content, making it easy for spending to become impulsive and uncontrolled.

That’s why it’s good to get into the habit of checking your in-game purchase history so you can track every cent you have spent in the Valorant store. If you’re the parent of a Valorant gamer, it is prudent to regularly view their account so you can look out for any problematic behavior or take action if their in-game spending becomes excessive. We are often asked where is purchase history on Riot Games’ website?

Here is a step-by-step guide of how to view your Valorant purchase history:

Step 1: Visit the ‘Checking Your Purchase History’ Valorant page on Riot Games website.

Step 2: Login to your Riot Games account with your username and password.

Step 3: Once logged into your account, click the ‘Get Your Purchase History’ button.

Step 4: Your purchase history will then be displayed. It will show a breakdown of all the purchases you have made by date, amount of Valorant Points and payment method so you can check how much spent on Valorant.

How to control your in-game spending

If you or your child plays Valorant and makes in-game purchases, here are some tips for developing and maintaining healthy spending habits.

Establish a monthly budget

Work out how much you – or your child – is going to spend on in-game content each month and stick to it. Knowing your limit can help you resist the manipulative monetization tactics that are an integral part of the game. Set a reminder to check your Valorant purchase history each week to make sure you (or they) are on track and have not overspent.

Remove your credit card and bank details

Delete all credit card details and any bank information from Valorant to avoid unplanned or unauthorized purchases. It’s possible to link a prepaid gift card rather than a credit card for in-game spending This can give parents of Valorant gamers peace of mind. Visit the Riot Games website to find out more 21 21. Valorant Prepaid Gift Cards × .

Request a Valorant Point refund

If you’ve overspent on Valorant Points and then changed your mind, you can get a refund on unused in-game content and VPs up to 14 days after a transaction. However, certain items are non-refundable and not eligible for a Valorant refund including weapon skins bundles, premium battle passes and Radianite Points. For the full list of exclusions, visit the Riot Games website 22 22. Request a Refund Valorant Player Support × .

For more ways to avoid overspending, read our article: In-game spending: tips to keep your family safe.

Get help for Valorant addiction

valorant addiction

In-game spending is more likely to spiral out of control when individuals play Valorant for hours each day. As they progress through round after round, they are presented with endless opportunities to purchase in-game content. The thrill of buying new weapon skins or upgrading to a premium Act battle pass can become compulsive. If playing Valorant has got out of control, you might want to delete your Valorant account.

If you or a loved one are spending excessively and can’t stop, you may be addicted to in-game purchases and/or video games. At Game Quitters, our 12-week coaching programs are designed to help gamers get their lives back on track and families understand how to support them.

Get in touch to book your Gameplan strategy call and discuss how we can help you. Limited spots are available.

Gaming Fatigue and How to Combat It

Why do some gamers feel exhausted, irritable and emotionally drained after playing video games? They may be suffering from gaming fatigue which can be highly debilitating.

In this article, we look at what causes gaming fatigue and share some tips on how to combat gaming fatigue if you or someone you know are affected.

What is gaming fatigue?

Gaming fatigue – also known as gaming burnout – is more than overwhelming tiredness. It’s a heightened state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion brought on by extreme and unrelenting stress.

So, who suffers from it? Gaming fatigue does not just affect high-profile streamers and professional esports players, it occurs across the gaming industry from amateur gamers to tournament organizers whose lives become consumed by video games.

What causes gaming fatigue?

Several factors can contribute to gaming fatigue – including insufficient sleep, poor diet and low mood – but the main cause is stress.

Many aspiring esports players put themselves under prolonged stress by engaging in marathon gaming sessions to try to make it in the industry. While professional esports athletes spend hours training each day to gain an advantage over their competitors.

Well-known streamers can experience sustained stress by hosting streams lasting for 12+ hours to attract more viewers and subscribers. That is not counting the time they spend posting content on social media channels and editing videos for YouTube.

Sometimes, amateur gamers are surprised that their energy levels are zapped. They ask: ‘Why do I feel sleepy after gaming?’ and ‘Can video games cause fatigue?’ But they are often juggling schoolwork or a demanding job as well as their hobby and this can cause gaming fatigue. The gameplay itself can also be stressful, especially if they are playing highly competitive MMO games.

How to combat gaming fatigue

healthy gaming habits

To combat gaming fatigue follow healthy gaming habits. If you are feeling overwhelming tiredness, the most important thing to do is sleep. However, there are other types of self-care that can help too. Here are seven ways to combat gaming fatigue and restore your energy levels:

1. Sleep well

Many gamers do not get sufficient sleep and suffer the consequences. Irregular sleep patterns can have a negative effect on your mood, energy levels and immune system. Here are some tips for sleeping well:

  • Take time to relax away from screens before bed.
  • Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.
  • Try to sleep for eight uninterrupted hours a night.
  • Do not get up in the night to game.
  • Avoid naps during the day.

2. Get moving

If you are suffering from gaming fatigue, exercise is probably the last thing on your mind. But, getting active releases endorphins that will improve your physical and mental health, and help you sleep better.

Take regular breaks to move around and stretch while gaming, and make daily exercise a priority. Start with a small amount of movement – perhaps a 15-minute walk – then gradually build it up and find a sport or activity you enjoy. If your sedentary gaming lifestyle has made you overweight, exercise will also help you lose weight and feel more energetic.

3. Game less often

If you are suffering from gaming fatigue it might sound obvious to play less often but many gamers try to power on through. With new games launching all the time, don’t pressure yourself to try everything. Just play what interests you and stop when it starts to feel like a chore. Gaming a little less often and taking regular breaks can help alleviate stress and make the gaming sessions you do play more enjoyable.

4. Reduce stress

As gaming fatigue is linked to heightened and prolonged stress levels, introduce some relaxing activities into your daily life. These could include:

  • Spending time outdoors.
  • Doing yoga or tai chi.
  • Taking a bath.
  • Reading a book or magazine.
  • Listening to music or a calming app.
  • Spending time with friends and family.

Stress uses up lots of energy so whatever relaxes you will boost your energy levels.

5. Look after your mental health

Losing interest in activities that used to make you happy – such as playing video games – can be a symptom of anxiety or depression. These emotional issues are not always connected to gaming fatigue, but they can be an underlying cause. If you think your mental health is affecting your relationship with gaming – or impacting other areas of your life – it may be time to seek professional support. Counseling can help to combat fatigue caused by stress, anxiety or depression.

6. Eat healthily and stay hydrated

Many gamers develop unhealthy eating habits because it’s easy to grab some junk food rather than choose a healthy option. Sometimes you may feel tired because you are dehydrated. A good way to keep up your energy levels is to eat regular, healthy meals and avoid junk snacks. Stay hydrated with water and limit the amount of caffeine, alcohol and soda you drink.

7. Find other hobbies

If gaming is having a negative effect on your life, it’s probably time to look for other hobbies and interests. However, you may struggle to think of anything to fill the void. One of the first places to look for inspiration is the activities you enjoyed before your life became consumed by video games. What pursuits used to make you feel happy and fulfilled? You could also check out the Game Quitters hobby tool for ideas.

Get help to limit gaming harm

level up irl

At Game Quitters, we are often approached about gaming fatigue by gamers and concerned parents.

If you or a loved one are showing gaming fatigue symptoms but cannot stop gaming, you may also be suffering from video game addiction.

Take our short video game addiction test to find out if you (or they) are gaming problematically.

We can help you or someone you care about break free from gaming addiction. Check out our specialist programs for gamers and parents:

Respawn is for gamers who want to quit gaming and improve their life.

Reclaim is to help families manage problematic gaming at home.

Take the first step and book a Gameplan call to discuss your situation with someone who understands problem gaming.

How to Recognize and Combat Gaming Burnout

Burnout is a widespread problem across the world but does gaming cause burnout? Yes, gaming burnout is real and many players experience it. In this article, we examine the symptoms of gaming burnout and what you or a loved one can do to overcome it.

What is gaming burnout?

Gaming burnout includes the physical, mental and emotional symptoms of burnout that people experience from everyday life such as exhaustion, stress, depression and feeling overwhelmed or distressed. However, gaming burnout can also include being tired or bored of playing video games – and you’re not alone if you or someone you know are currently struggling with it.

What causes gaming burnout?

gamer tired of playing

Our article, ‘Gaming Fatigue and How to Combat It,’ explains that physical, mental and emotional burnout can be caused by several factors – such as insufficient sleep, poor diet and low mood – but the main cause is extreme and prolonged stress. The article includes six ways to combat gaming fatigue, or burnout, and restore your energy levels.

We’re going to look at the other aspect of gaming burnout – the reasons why some gamers are struggling to play video games. They may have too little time to juggle gaming and other responsibilities, so it feels like a chore. Or, despite having hundreds of games to choose from, they have lost their energy and passion for playing video games.

Most modern video games are designed to hook you into playing, even when you’re feeling drained and bored. They’re usually made for the sole purpose of keeping you online for as long as possible, buying all the DLCs and making the gaming company rich. It’s not about a one-time virtual adventure, it’s about making you feel you need to keep playing which is why so many games now seem dull. Video game companies spend a lot of time and money researching and implementing things that motivate a person to keep playing. So, you’re instantly bombarded with choices when gaming. You either choose to pay this amount of money or do a tedious task in-game until you unlock it for free. You either buy this new DLC or miss out on an ‘amazing experience’.

Video games aren’t designed for you to play and complete, because then you’d move onto another game and that company might lose your business. So instead they force you to grind pointless quests just to get your battle pass rewards, making games feel like a drag and almost like having a second job. This can strain your relationship with gaming and ultimately lead to gaming burnout.

However, dealing with gaming burnout isn’t as easy as simply stopping gaming. Unlike other hobbies, gaming often infiltrates into key areas of life including friendships and relationships. Plus, there’s peer pressure to keep up with all the latest video games, which is exacerbated by social media, so players continue gaming due to FOMO. But there are steps you or a loved one can take to feel happier and more in control. Let’s look at how to avoid video game burnout.

How to stop gaming burnout

how to stop gaming burnout

If you or a loved one are experiencing gaming burnout, here are three steps you can take to help overcome it:

1. Examine why you feel burned out

Step away from the screen and ask yourself why you feel burned out on video games. It could be due to stress, anxiety, depression, sleep deprivation, lack of exercise, boredom or a combination of factors. After you have identified the root cause(s), take action and do something about it. Whether you seek professional counseling, get more sleep, join a gym or practise other forms of self-care, you will feel happier and more energetic.

2. Mix up your gameplay

Perhaps you don’t feel physically or emotionally burned out but just incredibly bored of playing the same types of video games all the time. Try to mix it up a bit. If you always go for first person shooter games, it could become tedious. Check out other genres like indie games, sandbox, action-adventure or role-play games.

3. Take a break – or quit

If you’ve tried the first two steps and you’re still feeling physically or emotionally burned out and/or bored of gaming, try taking a break. Gaming shouldn’t feel like an obligation, so if you’re not enjoying it don’t force it. Take a week or two off and do something else. Watch a movie, read a book, hang out with friends and family, or find other interests and activities to fill your time. Our hobby tool is packed full of ideas to inspire you. If you’re unable to stop gaming for more than a few hours, despite feeling unhappy and unfulfilled by video games, it’s probably time to quit.

Get help for gaming burnout

control gaming

If you or someone you care about are showing signs of gaming burnout but can’t stop gaming, video game addiction may be an issue. At Game Quitters, we have the tools to help you.

Take our video game addiction quiz

On our website, there are two video game addiction quiz – one for gamers and another for concerned parents – so you can find out if you (or they) are gaming problematically.

Book a specialist program to get gaming under control

We have specialist 12-week programs for gamers and parents. Respawn is for gamers who want to quit gaming and improve their life, and Reclaim is to help families get their gamer back, even if they are in denial.

Join our support community forum

Join the largest online support community for those who are struggling with video game addiction and connect with like-minded people. For concerned families, join our Parent Support Group on Facebook.

Use our expert resources

Access a wide range of video game addiction support. Resources include articles, podcasts, webinars, real-life stories and videos.

If you need help, take the first step today. Book a Gameplan call to discuss your concerns in confidence and see if our coaching programs are a good fit for you.

Popular Anime Terms Explained

The online world can sometimes feel alien to parents of teens with its unique words and acronyms. But anime – TV shows and movies inspired by Japanese animation – adds an extra layer of confusion as most anime slang terms are in a different language. In this article, we explain the most popular anime words used in plots and storylines.

At Game Quitters, members of our parent support group often ask questions about the terminology tweens and teens use online. That’s why we’re compiling a series of articles to decode the popular words, phrases, acronyms and hashtags that appear on social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, and video games such as Roblox.

A-Z of anime terms

kawaii

This A-Z list of common anime phrases is designed to help parents with kids who are fans of Japanese animation:

Anime – An abbreviation of animation. Used to describe hand-drawn or computer-generated cartoons from Japan that are popular worldwide. Genres include action-adventure, comedy, drama, horror, romance, science fiction and more.

Baka – Derogatory term meaning idiot or fool.

Bishoujo/bishounen (bishie for short) – Beautiful girl or handsome boy.

Chibi – Describes something (usually a person or animal) that is small and cute.

Cosplay – It means ‘costume play’ and involves dressing up as a character from an anime movie or TV show.

Doujinshi – Manga (Japanese comics and graphic novels) created by fans for fans.

Ecchi – Content that is slightly erotic and suggestive without being too explicit.

Fan service – Adding something with no direct relevance to the story to please fans.

Gakuran – School uniform worn by middle and high school students.

Harem – A story where a character is surrounded and loved by a multitude of men or women.

Hentai – Pornographic anime with explicit and graphic images. Some accounts on OnlyFans contain this content.

Itai – Used to express pain – it means ouch, sore, hurt or painful.

J-pop – Japanese pop music which is sometimes used in anime.

Kawaii – Tiny, cute or loveable.

Kowai – Frightening or dangerous.

Kuudere – A character who keeps control of their emotions and stays calm in stressful situations.

Lolita – Japanese fashion style of Victorian-inspired outfits that are elegant and modest.

Mahoshoujo – Magical girl – an anime genre based on young girls with magical abilities. Sailor Moon is a popular anime TV series of this type.

Manga – Japanese comics and graphic novels.

Nani – It means ‘What?’ and is used in the same context as in English.

Otaku – Someone who is obsessed with (and potentially addicted to) anime, manga and Japanese culture.

Pocky – A chocolate-coated cookie stick

Q-version – ‘Q’ means cute so ‘Q-version’ means the cute version of a person or thing.

Ramune – A type of Japanese soda. The mouth is sealed with a marble, rather than a screw top.

Shonen – A genre of anime popular with tween and teenage boys. It often features a young male hero and action-adventure storylines.

Shoujo (or shojo) – A genre of anime aimed at tween and teenage girls due to the mainly romantic storylines.

Sugoi — It can mean terrible or awful, or amazing or great, depending on the context.

Tsundere – A character (usually female) who changes over time from being cold and disinterested in a love interest to being warm and friendly.

Ureshiii — Happy, glad, pleased or relieved.

Urusai – It has several meanings including noisy and obnoxious. When said on its own with emphasis, it can also mean ‘Stop it!’ or ‘Shut up!’.

Visual kei (or VKEI)– It translates as ‘visual style’ and describes a fashion movement among Japanese musicians that’s a bit like glam rock. Artists have elaborate and flamboyant outfits, hair styles and makeup.

Weeaboo – A derogatory slang term for a Western person who is so infatuated with Japanese culture (not just anime) that it takes over their life.

Yandere – A character (usually female) who becomes so obsessed with someone they will do anything to be together – and this obsession can sometimes become dangerous.

Yaoi (also known as BL or boys love) – Anime storylines which feature romantic relationships between male characters.

Yuri – A genre of anime that focuses on romantic relationships between female characters.

Zettai – Absolutely, definitely or no matter what.

Get help for anime addiction

Are you concerned that your child may have an unhealthy obsession with anime? Are they neglecting friends, family, other hobbies and schoolwork to watch Japanese TV shows and movies? At Game Quitters, people who are addicted to anime and manga come to us for support.

Our coaching programs provide strategies to help your loved one make positive changes, stop the compulsive behavior and live their best life.

Book a gameplan strategy call to see if your loved one is a good fit for our coaching program. We have limited spots available and are unable to accept all applicants.

Snapchat Slang Explained – from AMOS to WYLL

New Snapchat slang words and acronyms are appearing all the time. Working out what they mean can feel like a minefield for parents trying to keep their kids safe online. And some Snapchat slang spills into video game chat such as Roblox.

As experts in gaming and technology, we’ve put together a helpful list of the most popular terms including PU, SB, MK and ISTG.

20 popular Snapchat terms and acronyms

a list of common snapchat terms and acronyms

So, what are some slangs on Snapchat? This guide to Snapchat slang is not exhaustive. We have based it on the top 20 questions we’re most asked by parents trying to decipher what their kids are saying on the app. Some of the terms are unique to Snapchat, while others are used across multiple social media sites such as TikTok and Instagram. We’ve listed them alphabetically to help you find what you need quickly and easily.

What does AMOS mean on Snapchat?

Add Me On Snapchat. Used to ask other people to add you to their contacts.

What does ASL mean on Snapchat?

Age Sex Location. Used to ask for someone’s personal details. We strongly advise against providing this information.

What does ESB mean on Snapchat?

Everyone Snap Back. It’s a request to everyone who sees it to send a snap to the user to maintain Snapstreaks – the number of days two people have snapped each other. Snapstreaks are commonly linked to Snapchat addiction.

What does FFF mean on Snapchat?

Follow For Follow. Another user will follow you if you follow them back.

What does HMU mean on Snapchat?

Hit Me Up. This is an invitation for someone to get in touch. For example, ‘HMU tomorrow’.

What does HRU mean on Snapchat?

How Are You? Widely used on other social platforms as well as Snapchat.

What does ION mean on Snapchat?

In Other News. Used to change the topic of conversation when messaging.

What does ISTG mean on Snapchat?

I Swear To God. Often used at the start or end of a sentence to emphasize a point.

What does LMS mean on Snapchat?

Like My Status. It is commonly used to encourage engagement from other users. Alternative meanings are Last Man Standing and Let Me See.

What does MK mean on Snapchat?

Mmm Ok. When said quickly it sounds like ‘Mmm Kay’ hence MK. Generally used to agree with a comment but sometimes can express an element of doubt.

What does NRS mean on Snapchat?

No Replies. Used to let others know that someone will be offline and unable to send snaps for a while. It is sometimes abbreviated to NR.

What does PU mean on Snapchat?

Pop Up. Used to ask someone to send a message or start a chat.

What does SB mean on Snapchat?

Snap Back. Another user is asking you to reply to their snap.

What does SB for Streak mean on Snapchat?

Snap Back for Streak. Another user is asking for a picture to maintain a Snapstreak.

What does SCM mean on Snapchat?

Snapchat Me. Used to keep a conversation going or to move onto Snapchat from another social media site.

What does SMO mean on Snapchat?

Serious Mode On. Used when someone is posting something in a non-jokey way. Another meaning is Shout Me Out which is used to request a shout out on Snapchat.

What is a snap score on Snapchat?

A snap score shows how much someone has been using the app. The higher the score, the more snaps they have sent.

What does SNR mean on Snapchat?

Streaks and Recents. The list of people a user has most recently chatted with on Snapchat.

What does WTM mean on Snapchat?

What’s The Move? Used to ask what others are planning or doing. For example, ‘WTM tonight?’

What does WYLL mean on Snapchat?

What You Look Like? This question should be a red flag because if someone doesn’t know what another user looks like, it means they don’t know them in real life. Sharing personal photos or videos with strangers on Snapchat is potentially risky.

Other online slang guides for parents

We’ve compiled a series of guides to slang terms, acronyms, hashtags and emojis used by teens on other social media platforms:

Need help for your child?

If you’re concerned about your child’s social media or gaming habits, expert support is available. At Game Quitters we have coaching programs, resources and forums to help your child regain balance in their life, and feel more motivated, inspired and productive.

Limited spots are available on our 12-week coaching programs. Book a call to apply.

Instagram Slang, Acronyms and Hashtags 2023

Instagram has become increasingly popular over the last few years. It’s now the third most used social media app by US teens after YouTube and TikTok.

However, there has been an associated rise in Instagram slang which some parents are struggling to decipher, including terms like Instagram addiction. So, we have compiled a list of commonly used words, phrases, acronyms and hashtags.

Why do teens use slang on Instagram?

teens social media

There are several reasons why slang is so popular on Instagram:

  • It gives teens a sense of identity and belonging by using a shared language that not everyone understands.
  • Slang, hashtags and acronyms are a great way to get more likes and followers on Instagram.
  • Gen Z have busy lives and want to save time by using shortcuts when communicating.

A-Z of popular Instagram slang

Are you baffled by all the latest slang? Do you feel excluded from your teen’s online world? This handy guide is not exhaustive because new acronyms and hashtags are emerging all the time. But it will help you decode the slang frequently used in Instagram posts and comments.

AFAIK – As far as I know

AMA – Ask me anything. Used to start up a conversation

BF – Boyfriend

Caught in 4K – Caught red handed, such as using an inappropriate app like OnlyFans

CSL – Can’t stop laughing

Deets – Details

DM – Direct message

DYK – Do you know

ELI5 – Explain like I’m 5. Used to request a simple explanation for something

FBF – Flashback Friday. Used to share photos from the past on Fridays

F4F – Follow for follow. Someone will follow you if you follow them

FF – Follow Friday. Hashtag used to recommend other accounts to your followers on Fridays

Foodporn – Hashtag used when sharing food pictures or to describe food that looks delicious

FWIW – For what it’s worth

Ghosting – Not responding to someone

GOAT – Greatest of all time

GOTD – Gram of the day. Used to highlight best photos of the day

Hundo P – One hundred percent

ICYMI – In case you missed it

IDC – I don’t care

IDK – I don’t know

IG – Abbreviation of Instagram

Igers – Instagrammers, people who use Instagram

IMO – In my opinion

Instamood – Hashtag used when the photo posted reflects your mood

Lit – Exciting or excellent

L4L – Like for like. Someone will like your photo if you like theirs

MCM – Man crush Monday

MFW – My face when. Posted with an image which shows how the user feels

MIRL – Meet in real life

NoFilter – Hashtag used when posting photos without an Instagram filter

OOTD – Outfit of the day

Petstagram – Hashtag used when posting photos of a pet

POTD – Photo of the day

Regram – Used when resharing something on Instagram

Repost – Used when posting someone else’s content

SelfieSunday – Popular hashtag used to share selfies on Sunday

SMH – Shaking my head

S4S – Shoutout for shoutout. When two people promote each other’s accounts

TBT – Throwback Thursday. Used to share photos from the past on Thursdays

TMW – That moment when. Used to describe an experience

WCW – Woman crush Wednesday

YOLO – You only live once

For greater insights into the slang and emojis used by teens on social media, understand the slang of unique platforms such as Snapchat, TikTok and Roblox. Slang used by Gen-Z can also extend to the way they use emojis, including for drug use.

Need help?

If you’re concerned about your child’s social media or gaming habits, we can support you. Our coaching programs are designed to help teens and parents set healthy boundaries:

Get in touch to book a Gameplan call and discuss your situation. Limited spots are available.

The 8 Dangerous Apps for Kids

With 1.96 million apps available on the App Store, knowing which are safe and which are potentially dangerous and toxic can be an ongoing challenge for parents. Even if you are aware of what is currently popular, new apps are going viral every month.

To help you navigate the minefield, this guide looks at the most dangerous apps for kids, tweens and teens.

Common questions asked by parents

concerned mom about online safety

Some apps are harmless and pose no threat to your child’s wellbeing if used in an appropriate way, while others are a breeding ground for inappropriate content, online predators and cyberbullying.

How can you keep track of which apps are suitable for your child, and which are not? Parents have so many questions about the dangers of mobile apps. Here are some of the most common ones which may resonate with you:

  • What are unsafe apps for kids?
  • What apps do child predators use the most?
  • What are the most dangerous social media apps?
  • What are dangerous YouTube apps for kids?
  • What is the most toxic app?
  • What apps can be dangerous?
  • Which app is harmful in my phone?
  • Are there dangerous apps?
  • What apps should you avoid?

What are the 8 dangerous apps for kids?

warning about kids apps

Keeping up with all the latest apps your child wants to download can be daunting. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the different types of apps that could pose a danger – from popular social media apps to lesser known secret storage apps. So, what are the 8 dangerous apps that parents should be aware of?

Chat apps

Chat apps – also known as social talking apps and messaging apps– have transformed the way we communicate. WhatsApp is the most popular chat app worldwide and is a great way to keep in touch with friends and family. Messages, photos and videos shared through WhatsApp are relatively safe thanks to end-to-end encryption. However, strangers might still find a way to chat with your child on WhatsApp, so it would be wise to monitor your child’s activity.

Other chat apps pose more of a risk. These include Discord – where kids hang out and talk about gaming – which can expose them to a range of inappropriate content from radical views to pornography. Another dangerous messaging app is Kik due to its sexual content and opportunities to meet strangers in chat rooms.

Social media apps

Here are some features of the most popular social media apps among tweens and teens that parents are likely to find concerning:

  • YouTube – it’s not just the videos that can be unsuitable for children, the comments underneath can contain inappropriate content too.
  • Snapchat – although content disappears after 24 hours (which might encourage some kids to share inappropriate pictures), people can take a screenshot before an image vanishes.
  • TikTok – accounts are set to public by default so strangers could make contact with your child.
  • Instagram – the direct messaging feature can be risky because even if your child’s profile is private, strangers can still contact them.
  • Twitter – an easy place to access porn and kids don’t even need the app to view it.
  • OnlyFans – This app is not meant for kids, but many unfortunately use it. Sex workers, celebrities and influencers share videos, photos and live streams with subscribers.

Video editing apps

It’s not just social media apps that can be dangerous for tweens and teens but the tools they use to produce content for TikTok, Instagram etc. On the surface, the video creator and editor app Zoomerang is a harmless way to make videos, apply filters and add special effects. However, it has a dangerous location-tracking feature which means that online predators can pinpoint where your child is when they are using the app.

Secret storage apps

The very nature of this type of app means that many parents don’t know it exists – and that itself should be a red flag.

A secret storage app allows kids to hide photos, videos and other files in a password-protected place. They might use it to conceal inappropriate content sent to or by an online predator.

So, how can you check if your child has a secret storage app? You can start by checking your child’s phone for any suspicious apps. The app icon is likely to look harmless and inconspicuous, like a fake calculator. You can also search in the App Store or Play Store for popular secret storage apps such as Vault, Best Secret Folder, Hide It Pro, Secret Photo Vault, AppLock and Calculator Photo Vault. If there is a ‘Get’ or ‘Install’ sign next to them there is no cause for concern. However, if any have ‘Open’ next to them, it means the app is installed on your child’s phone.

Anonymous apps

Anonymous apps are as risky as they sound and have a huge potential for cyberbullying, sexual content and spreading malicious rumors. Apps like Tellonym and Yik Yak are popular with teenagers who can anonymously ask questions and share information with strangers without having to set up an account. Omegle, an anonymous video chatting app, is potentially more dangerous as kids can be exposed to graphic sexual content. Predators can use the app to groom children and share photos and videos afterwards.

Live streaming apps

Live streaming apps are highly risky for impressionable tween and teens. The videos are live, unmonitored and uncensored, so there is nothing to protect kids from inappropriate content. Certain live streaming apps have features which are particularly concerning:

  • Live.Me shares the broadcaster’s location and allows users to pay others for photos.
  • Twitch allows private messages called ‘whispers’. These can be sent to anyone if you know their username.
  • Bigo Live has no age verification and users must provide personal info such as their age and location.
  • Houseparty allows users to send links via chat and take screenshots.

Dating apps

So, how dangerous are dating apps for kids? Many teens use dating apps- such as Yubo, Spotafriend, Mylol and Hot or Not – out of curiosity with no intention of meeting up with anyone in person. However, they pose worrying online dangers for teenagers.

Dating apps can be a magnet for sexual predators who can pretend to be someone much younger by entering a false birthday when registering on the site. Plus, dating profiles can include intimate photos and explicit videos. If you discover your child has a dating app on their phone, encourage them to delete it and use the opportunity to talk to them about online safety.

Video game apps

Although there are many benefits of playing video games, some mobile apps can be risky for young players.

Many popular multiplayer games, including Among Us and Fortnite, have an in-game chat feature which can attract online predators. Some video game apps feature adult content like weed-dealing in Drug Grand Mafia, and violence and murder in Grand Theft Auto IV.

So, what can you do to keep your gamer safe online? There isn’t a dangerous apps list we can share because there are new mobile games being launched every month. But you can regularly ask your child what they are playing to check its age appropriate and get involved in their gameplay. You can also follow this list of healthy gaming habits by age.

How to protect your child from dangerous apps

safe online family

So, how can you keep your child safe online without denying them access to all the latest apps? We recommend using this guide to complement your own research into online safety, having an open conversation about the potential risks and regularly monitoring which apps they are using.

Sometimes, young gamers become addicted to certain apps – like Discord or Twitch – which can be linked to video game addiction. If your child is gaming problematically, we can help.

At Game Quitters, our Respawn program is designed to get their gaming under control and our Reclaim program is for families affected by gaming.

To find out more, get in touch to book your free Gameplan call.

Roblox Slang Words – What Your Kids Are Really Saying

BTC, CNP, LMAD… Does it feel like your kids are speaking another language when they play Roblox? Every generation has its own words and phrases – it’s a way of establishing identity and feeling a sense of belonging.

But when the slang involves gaming, it’s useful to understand what they’re saying so you know they’re playing safely and responsibly. In this article we give parents a lowdown on the latest Roblox slang.

What is Roblox slang?

roblox terms

Having a good connection with your child is important as a preventative measure for mental health problems and video game addiction. But it’s difficult to feel part of their world if you don’t understand what they’re saying.

At Game Quitters, we have coaching programs and support groups for families experiencing gaming problems. We’re often asked to translate what kids are saying to help break down communication barriers, especially when it comes to the question of whether or not Roblox is safe for kids

Here are some examples of what baffled parents want to know about Roblox slang:

  • Does BTC mean the B word in Roblox?
  • What does ABC for a girl mean in Roblox?
  • What does BBG mean on Roblox?
  • What does F4 mean in Roblox?
  • What is CNP Roblox slang?

To help decipher these abbreviations, acronyms and more, we’ve put together a glossary of Roblox slang.

Glossary of Roblox words and acronyms for parents

Here’s our round-up of the latest Roblox slang. Some of these words and acronyms are used on other video games and social media platforms too.

ABC – This doesn’t stand for anything. ABC means asking another player (or telling another player you’re ready) to make an offer, trade or perform a task in Roblox, such as roleplaying in a game.

AFK – Away from keyboard. Players say this when taking a break from the game for a while.

Banned Forever – A Roblox account has been banned.

BBG – Baby girl. Usually meant as an insult.

Beamed/beaming – Stealing limited edition items from another player.

Bloxxed – Defeated or killed.

Boomer – Term players use to describe their parents, often in a derogatory way when they are using Roblox parental controls.

BRB – Be right back. Used when a player needs to leave the game for a short time.

BTC – This has two meanings on Roblox – either Bitcoin or ‘Because they can’.

Bypass – To get round Roblox’s chat filter – successfully sending a message that should have been filtered.

CNP – Copy and paste. A derogatory term used to describe a player with a boring avatar.

Comped – Compromised. A way of saying that a Roblox account has been hacked.

CordDiscord, a popular app used by gamers for voice, video and text messaging. However, Discord can be addictive and it’s easy for strangers to infiltrate. If your child mentions Cord or Discord, use it as an opportunity to discuss online safety.

DM – Direct message. To ask a player to message privately on the Roblox chat feature.

Dog water – Used to criticise another player’s performance.

Fat legs – Derogatory term to describe an avatar where a female torso and default legs are used which many feel is ugly.

F4 – To quit or end the game.

FFA – Free for all. A game with no teams where it’s every player for themselves.

GG – Good game. Usually said at the end of a Roblox session.

G2G/GTG – Got to go. Used to let other players know someone needs to go offline.

Go commit – Go kill yourself. Used by malicious players. A red flag for parents.

IG – In game. Things that happen within the game, including in-game purchases and features. Can also be short for Instagram.

ISTG – I swear to God. This has different meanings depending on the context – from expressing frustration to emphasizing something.

LMAD – Let’s make a deal. This indicates a player wants to trade.

Logged Out – Means the game has logged the user out of their account which can occur for a variety of reasons or bugs.

Lua – A coding language used to create games in Roblox.

Noob – Someone who’s a beginner at Roblox and hasn’t learnt all the rules yet. Can be used in a derogatory way.

Obby/Obbie – Obstacle course. A popular type of game to make or play in Roblox.

PTS – Permission to speak. Used on certain servers to request permission before speaking.

PS – Private server – also known as VIP server. Can be set up to play Roblox exclusively with friends but there’s usually a monthly cost.

Pwn/Pwned – To dominate or defeat someone in a game.

Reeee (with any numbers of Es). Used to mimic a scream / as a way of expressing anger or frustration.

Robloxian – Someone who plays Roblox.

SMH – Shaking my head. To show disappointment – often in a jokey way. It can also mean ‘so much hate’ which is often used in a self-depreciating way.

SOZ – Sorry. Used generally online.

TT – Til tomorrow. A way of signing off from a game. Can also mean TikTok.

Voice – Often used to signal to a player to speak on voice chat.

XD – Used to mimic a laughing face emoji in online chat.

Need help for gaming problems?

If you’re still struggling to connect with your child, despite reading our glossary of Roblox terms, and you’re worried about a possible Roblox addiction or their gaming habits in general, it’s a good idea to seek professional help.

Our tutorials can also help you delete your Roblox account or other game accounts.

You can also book a Gameplan call to discuss your situation. Limited spots are available.

How to Stop Snapchat Addiction

Snapchat is a fun and harmless way to message friends and send photos and videos, known as snaps, when used responsibly. However, some users can’t stop snapping, and it’s affecting their mental health and well-being, including developing into a Snapchat addiction.

In this article, we explain the potential dangers of Snapchat and why the messaging app can be so addictive.

Who uses Snapchat?

snapchat statistics

Snapchat is hugely popular with teenagers. According to a Pew Research Group study 23 23. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/08/10/teens-social-media-and-technology-2022/ × , 62% of US teens aged 13 to 17 used the app in 2022, making it the fourth most visited social media platform after YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. The study also found that 15% of US teens are using Snapchat ‘almost constantly’.

Kate, a 15-year-old British teen, recently started using the app after feeling peer pressure to download it: “It’s an expectation to have Snapchat. I would feel really left out if I didn’t have it now – everyone I know uses it.”

Statistics are not readily available for younger users because the minimum age is officially 13. However, tweens are still likely to be using Snapchat – date of birth information is required to access the app but Snapchat doesn’t appear to verify the information.

More Snapchat statistics and demographics from Omnicore 24 24. https://www.omnicoreagency.com/snapchat-statistics/ × :

  • Around 51% of Snapchat users are female and 49% are male.
  • Snapchat has 375 million daily active users – 88.5 million of whom are in the US.
  • Over 4 billion snaps (photos and videos) are created every day.
  • Snapchatters open the app 30+ times a day on average.
  • Daily active users spend at least 30 minutes on Snapchat.
  • The top reasons why people use Snapchat are to stay in touch with friends, share photos, and use filters and lenses.

Although there are no Snapchat addiction statistics available, a recent report suggested that over 12% of tweens and 34% of teens in the US could be addicted to social media.

What are the pros and cons of Snapchat?

Some people believe that Snapchat is dangerous and toxic, while others argue there are benefits of using the app. Let’s look at the pros and cons of Snapchat:

Positive effects of Snapchat

  • In a report commissioned by Snapchat, 95% of users said the app makes them feel happier because they can be themselves, connect with friends and share their daily lives. 25 25. https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/snapchat-releases-new-report-on-how-and-why-people-use-different-social-app/545552/ ×
  • Teens have a place to socialize and connect with friends that’s easy to access 24/7.
  • Users can send photos and videos that (in theory) are automatically erased so anything that’s embarrassing will not be around forever.
  • The app is hugely appealing to teens thanks to the fun filters that can be added to photos and videos, plus it has games, quizzes, celebrity videos and entertainment channels.
  • There’s less risk of stranger danger because a person’s phone number and username are needed in order to engage with them.

Negative effects of Snapchat

  • As messages, photos and videos automatically disappear, users can be lulled into a false sense of security and share more sensitive content than they would on other apps. However, the receiver can screenshot the content while it’s live and share it with others, so it’s not really gone.
  • Cyberbullying is a common occurrence with bullies taking advantage of the fact that messages are time limited.
  • Parents are unable to monitoring their child’s activity on Snapchat because information sent and received is automatically deleted.
  • The unrealistic images presented by selfie filters has led people to question how is Snapchat affecting mental health and well-being. The platform can cause self-esteem issues, eating disorders, anxiety, depression and more.
  • Snap Map is a feature that allows users to share their physical location with people on their friends list. This can be risky if teens have contacts who are not real friends.
  • Snapstreak is another feature that can have a negative impact on users, and lead to compulsive and problematic behavior – see below.

What makes Snapchat so addictive?

The main reason why Snapchat can be so addictive is the Snapstreak feature. On Instagram, a user’s popularity is measured by likes, whereas status on Snapchat is all about maintaining a streak. It’s common when an app is dangerous to include predatory design features.

A Snapstreak is the number of days two people have snapped each other. To keep the streak going, they must send at least one snap every 24 hours. Some teens manage multiple streaks at once and the pressure of keeping them all going can become an obsession, which can lead to Snapchat addiction.

Teens and young adults are particularly vulnerable to Snapchat addiction because their prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain that controls impulsive and compulsive behavior) does not fully develop until their mid-twenties.

Signs of Snapchat addiction

If you think you may be addicted to Snapchat, or you have a teenage son or daughter addicted to Snapchat, here are some warning signs:

  • Feeling an uncontrollable urge to use Snapchat – it’s the first thing you check each morning and the last thing you check each night.
  • Going to any lengths to maintain your snapstreak – even giving your login details to friends so they can maintain your streak if you’re unable to yourself.
  • Looking for potential Snapchat story material everywhere you go.
  • Posting Snapchat stories that are more than two minutes long rather than a quick ‘snap’.
  • Needing to spend more and more time on Snapchat to experience the same ‘high’.
  • Attempting to control, cut down or stop using Snapchat without success.
  • Feeling irritable, restless or anxious when not using Snapchat.
  • Using Snapchat to escape from negative emotions and real-life problems.
  • Spending so much time on Snapchat that you neglect friends, family, school or work commitments.
  • Losing interest in all other hobbies and activities you used to enjoy.

How to stop Snapchat addiction

So, how do you break a Snapchat addiction? Here are some tips to help you or your teen develop a healthier relationship with the app:

Disable notifications

Turning off notifications is one of the easiest ways to stop yourself being controlled by Snapchat. Simply tap the profile icon in the top left of the screen, tap the gear icon in the top right corner, tap ‘Notifications’, then untick ‘Enable Notifications’ to disable all Snapchat alerts. You can also put your phone in ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode or turn off the sound so you are not tempted to take a peek every time you hear it vibrate.

Delete your conversations

Clear all your Snapchat conversations on a weekly basis so you feel less compelled to engage in mindless chat. In ‘Settings’, go to ‘Account Actions’, tap ‘Clear Conversations’ and then tap the ‘X’ next to a name to clear the conversation. You may prefer to archive your conversations rather than deleting them completely. To do this, tap the clock icon near the top of the chat window.

Fill your time with other activities

Find other ways to spend your time so that Snapchat isn’t your only interest. Our hobby tool has over 70 ideas for new and mainly off-screen activities.

Talk to your teen

If you think your teen might be addicted to Snapchat, have an open conversation about it. Find out why they have become so reliant on the app to get to the root cause of their addiction. In our experience, many teens use social media to escape from reality or to seek attention and approval from peers. Learn techniques to speak with your son or daughter about their technology-use in our free Parent Support Group on Facebook.

Take a break

Spend some time away from Snapchat, even if this means breaking your snapstreaks, but find other ways to socialize to avoid FOMO. Suggest meeting up with friends in person and sharing real-life experiences instead of chatting with them on the app.

Remove the Snapchat app

If you or your teen find it impossible to take a break from Snapchat, you could consider deleting the app to remove the temptation to constantly check it.

If you’ve tried our tips above and they haven’t worked, you may be wondering, ‘Why am I so addicted to Snapchat and why can’t I stop using the app’? You may need professional help.

How to get help for Snapchat addiction

If you or someone you care about are showing signs of Snapchat addiction, you don’t need to struggle alone. At Game Quitters, our coaching programs are designed to give individuals and families the tools and motivation to regain control of technology.

For more information about how we help with Snapchat addiction, get in touch to book your Gameplan Strategy Call. Limited spots are available.

How to Stop OnlyFans Addiction

OnlyFans is a social media platform available by subscription. Content creators – including sex workers, celebrities and influencers – share videos, photos and live streams with subscribers, known as fans.

In this article, we highlight the common signs of OnlyFans addiction and explain what to do if you or a loved one are struggling to control your usage.

Is OnlyFans harmful?

harms of onlyfans

OnlyFans may seem like harmless fun, but it has a dark side and is a dangerous app. As well as easy access to pornography, users have been exposed to harassment, stalking and even identity theft and sex trafficking. However, there are no reliable OnlyFans statistics available to show how many users have been negatively affected by these issues.

If you are a concerned loved one, you may have some questions such as:

  • Is OnlyFans bad for my relationship?
  • My husband has an OnlyFans account – is OnlyFans cheating?
  • My partner doesn’t understand why OnlyFans is wrong – what can I do?

We suggest you have an open conversation with your partner about why and how they use the site. Some couples find that OnlyFans puts a strain on their relationship, while for others it can inject some excitement into their lives. In our experience, one of the most common risks of OnlyFans is addiction.

Why is OnlyFans so addictive?

onlyfans logo and money

OnlyFans can become addictive for both fans and content creators.

When fans spend on the platform, dopamine is released and their brain identifies it as a rewarding activity which they should repeat. As a result, some individuals feel compelled to consume more content to recreate the same feeling – like the high experienced when gambling or taking drugs. They can also become addicted to the thrill of engaging in something taboo or risky, especially when viewing sexually explicit content. This can lead to compulsive spending, with some users racking up thousands of dollars on credit cards to fund their habit 26 26. My boyfriend blew $10K on his OnlyFans addiction — while I was nursing newborn × .

Creators can become dependent on the attention and validation they receive from their audience. They can also become reliant on the platform for the money they can make from sharing content. Once they have become used to this income stream, it can be difficult to give it up.

Both fans and creators may compulsively check and post on the platform to escape from negative emotions or difficult situations, or to relieve boredom or loneliness.

10 signs of OnlyFans addiction

signs of onlyfans addiction

You may be wondering whether you’re addicted to the platform; how much OnlyFans is too much? Everyone experiences addiction differently but here are some common signs that you need to curb your usage:

  1. You’re unable to cut down or control the time you spend OnlyFans, despite repeated attempts.
  2. You’re constantly preoccupied with the content you have viewed or created.
  3. You experience withdrawal symptoms – such as irritability, anxiety or stress – when you’re unable to access the platform.
  4. You need to spend increasing amounts of time watching or creating content to experience the same high.
  5. You have lost your enthusiasm for other activities – OnlyFans is your only interest.
  6. You continue to log onto the site despite negative consequences.
  7. You lie to loved ones about the extent to which you use the platform and are evasive if they ask how to see OnlyFans purchase history.
  8. You use the platform as escapism to avoid negative aspects of your life.
  9. You have neglected work, school, relationships and other important responsibilities to spend more time on OnlyFans.
  10. You feel compelled to constantly refresh your feed to check for notifications and messages.

5 ways to break your OnlyFans addiction

If OnlyFans is having a negative impact on your life, there are steps you can take to change your unhealthy patterns of behavior. But first you need to recognize you have a problem and want to overcome it. Here are some tips to help break your reliance on OnlyFans. This information is also useful to help others who are showing signs of OnlyFans addiction.

1. Limit your time on OnlyFans

Be more intentional with your OnlyFans usage and set some strict boundaries. Work out how much time you want to spend on the platform. Then try to reduce it by a few minutes each day by using an alarm or screen time limit app. When your allotted time is up, commit to exiting the site and focussing on something else.

2. Speak to your bank

If you’re unable to restrain your spending on OnlyFans, speak to your bank. They may be able to support you by blocking any OnlyFans payments you attempt to make. If this is not an option, cut up your credit cards and replace them with a debit card so you can only spend money you actually have in your bank account.

3. Widen your social circle

Loneliness and addiction go hand in hand for some OnlyFans users. And finding a way out of loneliness is addictive as it can drive them to social media for a sense of belonging. Try to spend more time with people IRL. You’re unlikely to widen your social circle or find a soulmate overnight, but you can increase your chances of meeting people by being proactive – perhaps take up a new activity or register on a dating site.

4. Talk to someone

Confide in someone else – you don’t need to struggle alone. They will be able to give you encouragement and support as you work through your addiction. This could be a friend or family member, therapist or counsellor, or you could join an online forum or community and connect with other people who are addicted to OnlyFans or other social media platforms.

5. Delete your OnlyFans account

If you’ve tried to curb your OnlyFans usage, without success, the only way to truly break free may be to delete your account. Depending on the extent of your addiction, you could need some assistance.

Need help for OnlyFans addiction?

OnlyFans addiction is a serious issue that can have harmful consequences when left untreated. If you or a loved one have tried to reduce your reliance on the platform without success, we can help.

At Game Quitters, our 12-week coaching programs are designed to help individuals establish a healthier relationship with technology and families understand how to support them.

Get in touch to book a call to discuss how to quit OnlyFans addiction and regain control of your life.

Can Playing Video Games Kill You?

From time to time, there are media reports about people who have died playing video games. But what is the scale of the problem and what are the reasons behind these tragic deaths?

In this article, we look at recent research into gamer death and whether video game addiction has a part to play.

How many people have died from gaming addiction?

New research into ‘Sudden gamer death: non-violent death cases linked to playing video games’ 27 27. Sudden gamer death: non-violent death cases linked to playing video games × has found 24 gaming-related deaths worldwide between 1982 and 2021, with 23 of the deaths taking place between 2002 and 2021. So, can you die from playing video games? Or, more specifically, can excessive gaming cause death? The research concludes that most of the victims are likely to have suffered from video game addiction.

However, it’s unlikely that this represents all deaths linked to playing video games. The research recognized that cases are more likely to get media attention if they happen in a public place or there are unusual circumstances. It’s probable that other deaths have not been reported to respect the privacy of the victims’ families. Also, the researchers were only able to identify deaths that received international media attention and were covered on English language websites. Any deaths caused by video game addictions reported by local news sources would have gone below their radar.

The research only includes players whose deaths appear to be directly connected to playing video games. It does not take into account deaths that could be linked to video games for other reasons such as video game suicides, violence from gaming, accidents or homicides driven by impulse, anger, revenge or negligence rather than the act of gaming itself.

Are there any common factors of the gaming-related deaths?

Brian Vigneault live streamer who died

So, the true number of victims is probably unknown but let’s look at the 24 people whose deaths have been linked to playing video games:

  • 23 of the victims were male and only one was female.
  • 14 of the deceased came from south-east Asia – China, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand – and most (12) of those cases happened in internet cafés.
  • The age of the victims ranged from 11 to 40 years old.
  • 18 of the victims took part in marathon gaming sessions before they died with very little, if any, rest. This is a good indicator of a gaming addiction death.
  • Most were playing MMO games which are competitive, fast-paced and need high levels of concentration. It’s easy to lose track of time, play for hours on end, and forget to eat, drink, exercise and sleep.
  • No one is reported to have died playing sandbox games (which require creativity rather than action) or more slow-paced adventure games.

It’s interesting – but perhaps unsurprising – that half of the cases are linked to internet cafés. Many such venues are open 24/7 so gamers can play for hours on end without parental supervision. They are cheap to use, food and drink is readily available, and some cafés even offer overnight accommodation.

What were the causes of video game addiction deaths?

causes of video game death

There is no need to look at the top 10 deaths caused by video games as there are three main reasons among the 24 victims, although the cause of death is unknown in some cases:

Heart problems

The most common cause of death appears to be heart-related problems: heart attack, heart failure, sudden arrhythmia death syndrome and cardiac arrest. Most of the victims had been gaming for multiple hours prior to their death.

One victim of heart failure, a 28-year-old male from South Korea, had been playing for 50 hours before he lost consciousness and died. During his lengthy gaming session he had paused only for restroom breaks and to eat and drink a little, and had not slept for two days. These unhealthy gaming habits are likely to have cost him his life. Spending hours every day in a sedentary position playing video games can have severe implications for your physical health, as explained in our article on the negative effects of video games.

Pulmonary embolism

A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot gets stuck in the lung and blocks the blood flow. Blood clots often start in the legs and travel through the heart and into the lungs. This is known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Common risk factors for DVT include lack of movement, dehydration, obesity and smoking.

Often, gamers who play for hours without a break are so focused on the action they can forget to move around, eat or drink. When they do stop, they may grab some junk food rather than choose a healthy option. One of the video game addiction deaths was a 24-year-old male from South Korea who suffered a pulmonary embolism. He had been gaming for 86 hours before he died, only stopping to buy cigarettes and use the bathroom.

Cerebral hemorrhage

One of the deceased is reported to have experienced a cerebral hemorrhage – commonly known as a bleed on the brain – while another had a stroke. The type of stroke was not specified but it is likely to have been a hemorrhage stroke or subarachnoid hemorrhage. Raised blood pressure during long gaming sessions may have been behind the cerebral hemorrhage.

Pre-existing medical conditions

It’s interesting to note that 10 of the deceased had pre-existing medical conditions including asthma, obesity, heart problems, high blood pressure and liver disease/gallstones.

Is this the first esports-related death?

One of the deaths did not occur due to uncontrolled gaming but after two months of intensive training for an esports competition. Could this be the first esports-related death?

The 21-year-old male from Sweden did not die when training or during the competition itself but when he was sleeping afterwards. The researchers wonder whether this change in balance was the trigger, or whether other factors were involved such as a post-competition celebration.

How can you stay safe when gaming?

So, should gamers and parents be worried? Can video games kill you? It appears they can, but the risk appears to be extremely low – one death per 30 million gamers each year. This is much lower than the risk of sport-related death.

However, there are other problems that can affect gamers which, though less serious, are still a cause for concern. When you, or your child, spend hours sitting in front of a screen immersed in games, it’s easy to forget to eat and drink regularly, exercise, sleep, spend time with friends and family IRL, enjoy other activities, and focus on school or work. When the balance swings in favor of gaming, it can have a knock-on effect on your relationships, grades or career, other hobbies, and physical and mental health.

If you or a loved one have an unhealthy relationship with gaming and feel that it’s taking over your life, you may have video game addiction. Take our short quiz to find out.

At Game Quitters, we help gamers and families get control over gaming and develop safer gaming habits. In just 12 weeks, you or someone you care about will be free of gaming problems. We accept both individuals and families onto our program, including gamers currently in denial.

Take the first step today and apply for a Gameplan strategy call to see if you’re a good fit. Limited spots are available.

How to Set Up Reddit Parental Controls

Keeping your child safe online can seem like a minefield, especially if you’re not familiar with all the latest social media platforms. That’s why we’re writing a series of informative articles about Reddit.

Read on to discover what young people can find on Reddit and how to set up Reddit parental controls.

What is Reddit?

how to stop wasting time on reddit

Reddit is a popular social platform where people can share and create content about whatever they’re interested in. Each topic is known as a subreddit, and posts about the topic can be ‘upvoted’ or ‘downvoted’ by users, depending on whether they like it. If a post gets upvotes it moves up the Reddit rankings and more people can see it. If it receives downvotes it gets relegated and eventually disappears.

Is Reddit safe?

is reddit safe

For many young people, Reddit is a positive experience. It’s somewhere they can find communities of likeminded teens to discuss their passions and interests. It’s also a space to seek support and advice in subreddits such as r/lgbtqteens for young people who are parts of the LGBTQ+ community or r/Anxiety for those experiencing emotional problems.

However, as with all social media platforms, some posts on Reddit are only suitable for people aged 18+. Adult content is marked on Reddit as NSFW. This abbreviation is internet slang for ‘Not Safe For Work’ and is often used to describe posts associated with sex, nudity and pornography. The potential risks of Reddit NSFW make some parents wonder whether the platform is safe and what they can do to protect their child.

How to set up Reddit parental controls: step-by-step instructions

reddit parental controls

Here are 10 steps you can take to help protect your child on Reddit:

  1. Go to reddit.com – your child will need to log into their account.
  2. Click on your child’s username in the top-right corner of the screen.
  3. Choose ‘User Settings’ on the dropdown menu.
  4. Click on ‘Profile’. Then scroll down to the ‘Advanced’ section and disable the toggles next to ‘Content visibility’ and ‘Active in communities visibility’. Click ‘Save’ at the bottom of the screen. This will help keep your child more anonymous on the platform.
  5. Scroll back up and click on ‘Privacy & Security’.
  6. In the top section called ‘User Privacy’, disable the toggle next to ‘Search engine indexing’. This keeps your child’s profile out of search engine results.
  7. Scroll down to the ‘Messaging Privacy’ section. Click on the dropdown next to ‘Who can message you’ and change it from ‘Everyone’ to ‘Whitelisted’.
  8. Now you can add users who can message your child’s Reddit account. Please note that moderators and administrators of subreddits your child follows will still be able to send them private messages. This is why it’s important to decide which subreddits your child can follow. and which you should disallow. See our How to block subreddits on Reddit article for more information. Then, click ‘Save’ at the bottom of the screen.
  9. Scroll back up and click on ‘Feed settings’.
  10. At the top of the list is ‘Content preferences’. Check that ‘Adult content’ is disabled – it should be by default if your child is under 18. Below the ‘Adult content’ setting is ‘Autoplay media’ which, when disabled, will stop videos and gifs from playing automatically. Click ‘Save’ at the bottom of the screen.

You should check these Reddit parental controls are in place on a regular basis. You can also block specific users on Reddit from following or interacting with your child.

Other ways to help your child stay safe on Reddit

As well as setting up Reddit parental controls, there are other things you can do to keep your child safe on the platform:

Explore Reddit on your own

Set up a Reddit account and spend time exploring the platform to understand the potential risks for your child. Familiarizing yourself with Reddit will better inform conversations and discussions with your teen – see the next point.

Keep lines of communication open

Talk to your child about the communities they visit on Reddit. Have regular conversations about what type of content they post and what is happening in their communities. If you show interest in their online world and keep the lines of communication open, they are more likely to come to you with any worries and concerns.

Encourage other hobbies and interests

To help your child balance their Reddit usage with other hobbies and activities, find out why they are drawn to the platform. If you understand what needs your child is trying to fulfill – relaxation, escapism, socializing, learning about new topics – it will be easier to help them find other interests to meet those needs. See our hobby tool.

Set and monitor screen time limits

Our screen time guidelines will help you manage screen time use in your family. To encourage healthy digital habits, it’s important to set and monitor screen time limits so that Reddit and other social media platforms don’t start to take over your child’s life.

Introduce other parental controls

Look at other ways of keeping your child safe online. As well as setting up Reddit parental controls, broadband, browsers, and app stores also have parental controls to help protect your child from cyberbullying, harmful content and online predators.

Does your child have an unhealthy relationship with Reddit?

You may have other concerns about your child’s Reddit usage beyond their potential exposure to inappropriate content and cyberbullying. Some young people become obsessed with the platform to the point that it starts to take over their lives. School work, relationships and their physical and mental health can suffer as a result and Reddit can even become an addiction.

Sometimes, this happens to young gamers who become increasingly reliant on Reddit. The platform forms part of their gaming experience as they share and comment on video game subreddits with other gamers and increasingly waste their time on Reddit.

If your child has an unhealthy relationship with gaming and Reddit, we have support and resources available at Game Quitters. You can also delete your Reddit account to create a strong boundary for your child.

You can also book a free Gameplan call with us to discuss their situation – limited spaces are available.

How to Block Someone on Reddit

Reddit is one of the world’s most popular social media platforms with 50 million daily active users globally 28 28. https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2022-october-global-statshot × . While most interactions are positive, some people are subject to abusive comments, posts and messages from other users. In these instances, it is important to know how to block someone on Reddit.

Step-by-step instructions on how to block people on Reddit

Over recent years, Reddit has improved its blocking functionality to make it more robust. Previously, there were loopholes if you tried to block annoying individuals. Although you could no longer see their posts, they could still see and react to your content. However, after upgrades to the platform, it is now possible to have no communication from them at all.

The only exception is group chats. If you block someone on Reddit, they will still be in any group chats you both belong to. You also will be able to receive invitations for group chats containing blocked users, although Reddit will warn you of their inclusion.

So, if you want to find out how to block someone from following you on Reddit and/or how to block someone from messaging on Reddit, follow our step-by-step instructions below:

How to block someone from their profile

Step 1 – Visit reddit.com and log into your account.

Step 2 – Go to the profile of the person you want to block.

Step 3 – Under their avatar, click ‘More Options’

block username on reddit

Step 4 – Select ‘Block User’.

block someone on reddit

On the Reddit app, click the top-right corner of their profile and select ‘Block User’.

block someone on reddit app

How to block people on Reddit from your user settings

block someone reddit user settings

Step 1 – Visit reddit.com and log into your account.

Step 2 – Go to ‘Safety & Privacy’ in your user settings.

Step 3 – Enter their username.

Step 4 – Add them to your Blocked Users list.

(On the Reddit app, go to your User Settings and click on your username. Under Blocking and Permissions, select ‘Manage Blocked Accounts’. Search for the username of the person you want to exclude, then click ‘Block’.)

Reporting bullying, harassment and threats of violence

Reddit’s Content Policy 29 29. https://www.redditinc.com/policies/content-policy × asks users to respect the privacy and security of other redditors, and refrain from bullying, harassment and threats of violence. It outlines eight community rules that everyone using the platform must follow and explains what happens when these rules are violated. As well as blocking someone who is contravening these rules, Reddit asks that you also report them so that other users are protected.

Has Reddit affected your emotional wellbeing?

toxic reddit users

Have you already blocked someone on Reddit or are you researching how to do it? Whatever your current situation, if you’ve experienced negativity on the platform, you may be feeling anxious and vulnerable.

Coping with online attacks can be challenging – especially if the abuse has been going on for some time. If it has affected your mental health and wellbeing, and you need help, Reddit has partnered with Crisis Text Line. If you live in the US, text CHAT to 741741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor. If you live outside the US, Reddit has provided advice on who to contact. 30 30. https://reddithelp.com/hc/en-us/articles/360058756471 ×

Are you concerned about your Reddit use?

Although Reddit is primarily a place for community and belonging, there are people who set out to deliberately cause disruption and offense. These users are in the minority but the more time you spend on the platform, the more likely you are to encounter them. Specific communities on reddit can also be problematic and you may want to block subreddits entirely.

Are you worried about the number of hours you are spending on Reddit? With so many opportunities to post, comment, discuss, learn and connect with likeminded people who share your interests and views, it is easy to become dependent on the platform and waste a lot of time on Reddit.

Our How to Stop Reddit Addiction article explains the warning signs that you may have an unhealthy relationship with the platform.

If Reddit is having a detrimental impact on your life, you may want to consider deleting your Reddit account entirely.

You can also book a free Gameplan call to talk about your issues, especially if you’re also struggling with digital or gaming addiction.

How to Uninstall Bluestacks

If you’re looking to uninstall Bluestacks step-by-step, then you are in the right place.

Bluestacks is a platform that allows you to play popular games and apps such as Clash of Clans, Candy Crush Saga, Pokemon Go, Subway Surfers, Fortnite, PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile, Garena Free Fire, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Roblox.

The platform is available both on Windows and macOS.

In this tutorial we will share how you can uninstall Bluestacks on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Uninstall Bluestacks on Windows 10

Step 1: Right click on the Windows Icon and choose “Settings”.

blue stacks screenshot

Step 2: On the settings page click on “Apps”.

blue stacks uninstall windows 10

Step 3: Click on “BlueStacks 5” then on Uninstall.

blue stacks screenshot

Step 4: On the UAC Prompt click on “Yes”.

blue stacks screenshot

Step 5: On the next window click “Uninstall” and “Uninstall” again.

blue stacks screenshot

blue stacks screenshot

Step 6: After that click on “Completed”.

blue stacks screenshot

Step 7: Back to the Apps window, search for BlueStacks X and click on Uninstall.

blue stacks screenshot

Step 8: On the new popup window click on “Uninstall”.

Make sure you checked “Delete BlueStacks user data”.

blue stacks screenshot

Step 9: You have successfully uninstalled BlueStacks on Windows 10.

blue stacks screenshot

Step 10: To be 100% sure, restart your computer.

Uninstall Bluestacks on Windows 11

Step 1: Right click on the Windows Icon and choose “Settings”.

blue stacks screenshot

Step 2: In the Settings click on “Apps” then on “Installed Apps”.

blue stacks screenshot

Step 3: Now search for BlueStacks 5, click on the 3-dots then “Uninstall”.

blue stacks screenshot

Step 4: Make sure to click Uninstall again:

blue stacks screenshot

Step 5: On the UAC Prompt make sure you click on “yes”.

blue stacks screenshot

Step 6: On the next window click “Uninstall” and “Uninstall” again.

blue stacks screenshot

blue stacks screenshot

Step 7: After that click on “Completed”.

blue stacks screenshot

Step 8: Back at the Installed Apps window, search for BlueStacks X, click on the 3-dots and click on uninstall.

blue stacks screenshot

Step 9: Make sure to click Uninstall again.

blue stacks screenshot

Step 10. On the new popup window click on “Uninstall”.

Make sure you checked “Delete BlueStacks user data”

blue stacks screenshot

Step 11: You have successfully uninstalled BlueStacks on Windows 11.

uninstall blue stacks windows 11

Step 12: To be 100% sure, restart your computer.

Now that you have successfully uninstalled Bluestacks, you can explore new hobbies to replace gaming and learn how to overcome your social media addiction if you struggle more with mobile apps.

How to Block Subreddits on Reddit

Are you fed up with the type of content appearing in your r/all list? Or perhaps you are worried about your reliance on Reddit and want to reduce your usage.

One way to stop wasting time on the platform is find out how to block subreddits – whether you are using the old or latest version of the site.

How to block a subreddit from the latest version of Reddit

When Reddit rolled out the new version of the platform in 2018, the ‘filter subreddit’ search box was no longer available on the r/all page. So, how can you block a subreddit from the latest iteration of the site?

Use the old version of Reddit

One option is to revert to the old version of the platform which is available at old.reddit.com 31 31. https://old.reddit.com/ × . Even if you have started using Reddit since 2018, it is possible to access the old site.

You will notice that the old version still has the ‘filter subreddit’ search box on the r/all page which will easily block a subreddit from your feed.

remove subreddits old reddit

However, any subreddits you unsubscribe from on the old site will not vanish from the new version of Reddit – as soon as you log back on, they will be displayed in your r/all list. This applies whether you access the site on a mobile or desktop.

Spam vote the subreddit

It is possible to remove subreddits from your r/all feed on the latest version of Reddit if you spam vote it. However, this is not a particularly effective solution as thousands of other spam votes would be needed for the subreddit to get blocked.

Use a third-party tool

There are various third-party tools that will enable you to block subreddits from your r/all feed, including the Reddit Enhancement Suite (RES) 32 32. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/reddit-enhancement-suite/kbmfpngjjgdllneeigpgjifpgocmfgmb × which is not officially endorsed by Reddit. This app is available for Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Opera. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to block a subreddit using RES:

res reddit filtereddit

  1. Go to reddit.com
  2. Click on the RES extension button and a drop-down menu will appear.
  3. Choose ‘options’ and the RES page will open.
  4. Click on the ‘filteReddit’ tab in the menu on the left-hand side under the subreddits category.
  5. Switch the ‘filteReddit’ toggle on.
  6. Customize your blocked subreddit settings.
  7. Tick the ‘+add filter’ button in the lower-left-hand corner of the box called ‘subreddits’.
  8. Enter the subreddit you want to block.
  9. Click the ‘save options’ button.

Upgrade your account to Reddit Premium

reddit premium

If you are not keen on using a third-party tool, then the best way to remove any unwanted subreddits is upgrade to Reddit Premium 33 33. https://www.reddit.com/premium × . For a monthly or annual subscription, you can easily block inappropriate or uninteresting subreddits from your r/all feed. Plus, the premium version of Reddit gives access to additional features and benefits.

Delete your Reddit account

Instead of just blocking subreddits, you can also just delete your Reddit account and either start fresh or stop using Reddit for good. You can also set up Reddit parental controls for additional options to reduce your usage.

How to block a subreddit from the old version of Reddit

If you have the old version of Reddit – which was available to users before the platform’s makeover in 2018 – the process of how to block time-wasting subreddits is very straightforward. Simply follow the two steps below to filter out any subreddits you don’t want to appear on your feed.

old reddit block subreddits

1. On the r/all page, enter the name of the subreddit you want to block in the ‘filter subreddit’ search box.
2. Click the + icon and the subreddit will disappear from your feed.

How to block subreddits on mobile

Unfortunately at the moment you can’t block subreddits through the mobile Reddit app. Instead follow the instructions listed above either using Old Reddit or the latest version of the site. In doing so, the subreddits will be blocked on your mobile as well.

You can, however, block someone specifically on Reddit if they are causing you issues on a personal level.

Are you addicted to Reddit?

Are you or a loved one struggling to control the amount of time you spend on Reddit? With so much information available, it’s easy to waste hours on the platform and this can cause problems in other areas of your life.

If the reason you want to know how to block subreddits from your r/all feed is because you are addicted to Reddit, we have coaching and support available at Game Quitters. You can also learn how to stop wasting time on Reddit.

You can also book a Gameplan call to discuss your situation, especially if you are also experiencing digital or gaming addiction.

Why Does Roblox Keep Logging Me Out? Here’s How to Fix It.

If you or your child regularly play Roblox, you’ve probably experienced the frustration of getting randomly logged out – typically at a crucial point in the game. Read on to find out more about Roblox login problems and what you can do to stop them happening in future.

Common Roblox login issues

roblox login issues

“Why does Roblox keep logging me out?” If this is a common refrain in your home, our handy guide to Roblox login issues should help minimize interruptions, and make gaming sessions less stressful and more enjoyable.

Here are the main reasons why you may get logged out of Roblox and then struggle to login again:

1. Server issue

One of the most common reasons for players getting logged out is Roblox server issues or maintenance. If the platform’s servers go down while you’re in the middle of a game, it’s highly likely that you will get logged out. And, if the server problems continue, you may not be able to log back in again. Confusingly, it may come up as a password or username problem, even if that isn’t the case.

There are several ways to identify a potential server issue. Firstly, check the Roblox online status page for any issues or outages 34 34. https://status.roblox.com/pages/history/59db90dbcdeb2f04dadcf16d × . If the message says, ‘All systems are operational’, and you are still struggling to connect, visit the Roblox help page which explains the possible reasons for connection problems: firewalls, slow internet connections, empty experiences and bad scripts.

It recommends taking the following steps and if one solution doesn’t work, moving onto the next on the list:

  • make sure you’re using a supported browser
  • check your browser’s security settings
  • check your wireless connection
  • remove or disable ad-blocking browser add-ons
  • ensure the right ports are open
  • configure your firewall and router
  • reinstall Roblox
  • delete your Roblox account and create a new one

2. Password problem

If you can’t detect any server issues, then changing your password on the Roblox mobile app or browser may resolve your login problems. Simply sign out of all sessions then reset the Roblox password using your previously registered email address or phone number 35 35. https://www.roblox.com/login/forgot-password-or-username × .

Once your password has been updated, try logging in again. This quick solution has worked for many other players experiencing Roblox login problems.

3. Violation of Roblox standards

Breaching the Roblox Community Standards 36 36. https://en.help.roblox.com/hc/en-us/articles/203313410-Roblox-Community-Standards × is another reason why some players get logged out.

Roblox admins do not tolerate threats of violence, cyberbullying, harassment, discrimination, stalking, trolling, intimidation, sexual content, depictions of extreme violence, promotion of terrorism or extremist organizations, glorification of suicide or self-harm, and other anti-social, hateful and violent content.

Minor breaches of the community standards can result in a warning or temporary ban. More serious violations will lead to permanent exclusion from the platform.

Roblox troubleshooting tips

roblox troubleshooting tips

If you’ve checked for server and maintenance issues, password problems and potential breaches of Roblox Community Standards and you still can’t log onto Roblox, here are some other troubleshooting tips to try:

Check parental controls

Roblox includes parental controls for parents to use to make Roblox safer for their children. So if you are having trouble logging in to your Roblox account, it may be because parental controls have been set and need to be adjusted.

Check the time and date

Your login problems could be down to something as simple as the time and date on your device being different to your location. If the time and date are incorrect, reset them. You should then log out and log back in again.

Clear your cache and cookies

Try clearing your cache and cookies, then log back into Roblox. Google has step-by-step instructions on how to do it 37 37. https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/32050?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop × . Be aware that this will remove all personal information from your browser such as usernames, passwords, search history, settings and preferences.

Check your browser and or/app is up to date

If you’re having problems logging in to Roblox because your browser or the app keeps crashing, make sure your browser and or/app is up to date. Sometimes, simply installing a Roblox update will iron out any login issues.

Close apps running in the background

If you play Roblox on a tablet or mobile, make sure you don’t have too many apps running in the background, as this keeps the device’s memory busy and consumes lots of resources. Try closing background apps but don’t shut down system apps because this will cause malfunctioning on your device.

More help with Roblox

At Game Quitters, we specialize in helping gamers and families play in a safe and balanced way to maintain your health and well-being.

If you’re struggling with playing Roblox too much – or any other video game addiction then check out our coaching programs.

Addicted to Overwatch or Overwatch 2?

Overwatch is a competitive first-person shooter game by Blizzard. The original version was launched in 2016 and its sequel, Overwatch 2, released in late 2022. The video game has a popular global esports league with teams in cities around the world. Most people play with no negative consequences, but a small percentage of gamers are addicted to Overwatch or Overwatch 2.

Hector is one of these gamers who has a problem with Overwatch. Here’s what he shared:

Billion dollar companies, getting players addicted to their game and predatory monetization techniques. Yeah, Overwatch 2 is no different.

George is Addicted to Overwatch

George is awake, it’s 3am. He’s just finished another six-hour session on Overwatch. He bought the game at 14 years old after months of saving for it. He quickly fell in love with the competitive team-based style and strategies.

Compared to Call of Duty, which never required much brain power, Overwatch was a hurdle to climb. The Skill Rating (SR) system was a totally new idea to George and gave him a metric to see how good he was compared to other players.

It began as a simple contest to see if he could beat his friend’s SR score. He started in Bronze at 1300 as a PS4 Tracer main, fighting to get better and better in order to rank up. He climbed into Plat, switched to Support, watched XQC, a popular Twitch streamer, day after day, and continued to strive and prove to himself that he really was good at Overwatch.

And that was the root of George’s problem. He stopped playing to enjoy the game, but instead to prove something. He hated it. For years he just played to get better and raise his SR, but the fun had gone a long time ago. He was addicted to Overwatch. Not the game, but the system.

The constant need to prove to himself and others through a meaningless point system that he was good at some video game had taken too much of his life. His free time was dedicated to the game. Time which he could have spent spending getting fit, studying, hanging out with friends in person, or working and earning money.

Overwatch became a constant losing fight against himself. The toxic players, the throwers and the smurfs. George finally had enough and gave up. He uninstalled the game and got on with his life.

George was able to quit because he recognized his behavior was becoming a problem. He had started moving along the gaming continuum – a spectrum from healthy at one end to harmful at the other. To see where you are on the gaming continuum and whether your gameplay is a cause for concern, take our video game addiction quiz.

The Overwatch battle pass monetization model

overwatch 2 battle pass

Although the original version of Overwatch has rewards and features that are designed to hook players like George, Overwatch 2 is potentially more addictive. Let’s look at why people play Overwatch and Overwatch 2, and how it can become compulsive.

For the 60 million people who enjoyed its predecessor, Overwatch 2 is a free upgrade to a sensational game that promises steadier updates and new content, but this free upgrade comes at a cost. Blizzard has released a battle pass monetization model for Overwatch 2, similar to games like Fortnite, Valorant and Apex Legends.

Battle passes, loot boxes and other micro-transactions are controversial, but despite complaints from the public, they are still here. Why? Because they work. Every time a new season of FortniteOverwatch, or another game that uses these types of transactions is released, the game experiences a massive number of players flocking to play. And who benefits? The company’s bottom line.

Video games are not created to be bought, played and enjoyed anymore, but to make gamers keep playing, keep coming back and keep spending money. Because of this it’s important to maintain safe in-game spending habits. This can be demonstrated by the Overwatch 2 beta version of the game.

Overwatch 2 beta controversy

overwatch 2 controversy

After the initial reveal of Overwatch 2 in 2019, some gamers experienced the beta version of the game in 2022 and the majority of players had the same response: it was disappointing. Not much fresh content was added apart from a few new characters, one new game mode and some new maps. Overwatch 2 beta felt like Overwatch 1 with a fresh coat of paint, but no actual depth beyond its surface.

It might seem picky to analyze a beta version of the game. However, the actual game was supposed to be released a few months later and usually, a beta version is a unique and somewhat polished representation of the actual game. Overwatch 2 beta seemed more like Overwatch 1.1.

This appears to be a go-to strategy for many game companies nowadays. Make a few changes, add a new look, market the game as revolutionary, a must-buy pre-order and then release a disappointing title full of microtransactions.

Although many gamers are starting to notice this ploy, the majority of players are still hooked to the addictive nature of today’s games and gaming companies know this. Their aim is to study what keeps players gaming for long periods of time and what keeps players coming back. This knowledge allows them to spend as little time and effort on the actual creation of the game and to fully focus on making an addictive design that’s as profitable as possible.

Need help for Overwatch or Overwatch 2 addiction?

help for gaming issues

Are you worried about playing Overwatch too much or do you know someone who can’t stop playing Overwatch or Overwatch 2?

At Game Quitters, our video game addiction programs, articles and support groups are designed to help gamers and their families turn their lives around.

To find out how we can help, get in touch today to book your free 30-minute Gameplan call.

Addicted to Among Us

Among Us is an online multiplayer murder mystery game that can be played with friends, family or strangers. Since launching in 2018, it has become one of the most popular video games in the world. Most people play with no adverse effects, but a small percentage of gamers are addicted to Among Us.

One gamer for example shared that he decided to uninstall Bluestacks from his computer – which is how you access Among Us – after he became addicted to the game:

“During COVID I reached out to one of my long-time buddies. He told that he would like to play Among Us. I started playing and hanging out with him but the game was so addictive. It started with 30 minutes and then increased to 60 min and then to 90 min and finally reached the three and half hours mark. Hopefully my mistakes help others to avoid the same path.”

What makes Among Us addictive?

Like other video games, Among Us activates the reward center of the brain and the release of feel-good hormones like dopamine. This makes players want to come back again and again to experience the same rush of pleasure and excitement. This is one way that gaming affects the brain of players and can lead to issues such as addiction.

It’s also important to look at the psychology of Among Us. Video games are deliberately designed to be addictive. Every second of color, light, sound, purpose, task, instruction and gameplay is carefully crafted. Game designers know the hooks to use to keep players gaming for as long as possible.

Among Us is fun, sociable, accessible, simple and great to watch as well as play. These hooks are harmless until Among Us becomes addictive. This is when players start to game compulsively, despite the problems it may cause in their lives.

So, how can you find out whether you are playing Among Us problematically? Gaming occurs on a continuum, from healthy to harmful. Read our article about the 9 Types of Gamers to find out where you are on the spectrum and whether there is cause for concern.

You can also take our short test to see if you or a loved one meet the criteria for video game addiction. We have two versions – a video game addiction test for gamers and a test for parents.

Why is Among Us so popular?

among us popularity

There are several reasons why people play Among Us. It surged in popularity during the Covid-19 pandemic and is still attracting new players worldwide:

Premise is simple to understand

Players are on a space mission aboard a spaceship, or base, or stranded on a plane. A number of players are crewmates and their job is to complete a series of tasks and the other players are imposters who want to kill the crewmates. The imposters win if they kill everyone and the crewmates win if they do all of their tasks or guess who the imposters are and vote them out.

Highly accessible and easy to play

Unlike video games that require skill or talent, such as Fortnite, Overwatch and Call of Duty, the learning curve for Among Us is very low. However, despite being highly accessible and easy to play, the game does provide opportunities for people who are more skilled to get their fix too. Players enjoy using critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration and resilience under pressure.

Social aspect of the game

Among Us can be played with 4 to 10 people. You can either host games or join in games with others while communicating through the chat function. It’s designed to be sociable which can make it feel less like playing a video game and more like hanging out with friends and family. Often gamers are playing Among Us with friends while hanging out on Discord.

Heightened emotional experience

Another reason why Among Us is so appealing is the heightened emotional experience it offers. There’s suspense, anticipation, deception, and the thrill of getting away with murder or being accused of being the imposter when you’re a crewmate. All these aspects make the game fun, exciting and engaging. When you’re wrapped up in your emotions, it’s easy to forget how much time you’ve been playing which we will talk about later in the article.

Murder mystery is a popular genre

Games, books, movies and TV shows with a murder mystery theme have been popular for decades. Bringing that genre into a video game and making it a social experience is a winning combination. Trying to identify who are imposters and who are crewmates with friends, family and others makes Among Us a game that everyone is keen to repeat again and again.

The game is random

Before each game, no one knows who will be the imposters and who will be the crewmates, and this randomness makes it easy to justify one more game to play a different character or for another chance to win. Also, a typical game only takes about 15 minutes so it’s easy to play multiple times until it’s four, five, six, seven, eight hours later and you’ve been playing game after game.

It never gets boring

Among Us is endlessly playable and never gets boring. If you have friends coming and going, new lobbies being created and you’re changing maps, it can completely change the dynamic of the game. Also, the games are short so they don’t take as much energy as playing a match in CS:GO, for example.

It’s a great viewer experience

Among Us is a great viewer experience which is what caused it to become so successful in the first place. When streamers like xQc and Sodapoppin started to play the game, it began to take off because fans enjoyed watching their favorite streamers on Twitch and trying to work out who was lying and who could deceive the other person to ultimately win the game. It became popular not just as a live experience but also on YouTube afterwards.

The game is constantly evolving

In 2022, a virtual reality version of the game was launched – Among Us VR 38 38. https://www.innersloth.com/games/among-us-vr/ × . It offers players the same core components of the original game combined with an immersive, 3D experience. Virtual Reality provides a more immersive experience that can be a risk factor for players to become addicted to Among Us.

Need help for Among Us addiction?

help for gaming issues

If you are or someone you care about are playing Among Us, or any other video game, too much and you want to take a step back and start rebalancing your life, we can help.

At Game Quitters, we have developed two video game addiction programs for gamers and families. Our Respawn program helps gamers stop gaming and live a happier and more fulfilled life, and our Reclaim program is for families impacted by the problematic gaming behavior of loved ones.

To find out how we can help, get in touch today to book your free 30-minute Gameplan call.

How to Stop Reddit Addiction

Reddit is a social sharing platform which allows users – known as Redditors – to submit links, photos, videos and comments on millions of different topics, called subreddits, that everyone can vote on.

Are you or a loved one spending too much time browsing Reddit? This article highlights the common signs of an addiction to Reddit and explains how to quit or reduce your dependency on it.

What makes Reddit so addictive?

reddit karma points

Reddit can become addictive for the same primary reason as other social media networks such as Snapchatdopamine. Every time a Redditor browses the platform or engages in discussions, the feel-good neurotransmitter is released in their brain. Sometimes described as ‘digital heroin’, dopamine can be hugely addictive as it entices users to keep returning to the platform for more highs. What may start as a quick check of the main news stories can easily turn into hours of clicking, browsing and commenting making it a dangerous app.

One unique aspect of Reddit is karma which reflects how much a user’s contribution means to the community. Karma is measured in points – the total amount of upvotes versus downvotes earned for posts, comments and giving awards. With every new upvote, the brain creates more dopamine-driven feedback loops – rewarding behavior and encouraging further interaction.

Reddit has an endless amount of information to consume. You can participate in discussions or just lurk and browse for yourself. The platform is incredibly diverse which allows you to find any type of community you can imagine. The endless flow of new content allows an individual to receive a lot of variety, so anytime you open the Reddit app and refresh your home feed you will find new content to peak your interests. Thus, leading you to spending more time on the platform than you would like, or is healthy for you. This is similar to binge-watching Netflix or YouTube, but instead it’s binge-reading content on Reddit.

Real-life stories of users addicted to Reddit

reddit icons and hourglass

Although there are no statistics available for Reddit addiction, it is estimated that around 5-10% of Americans have social media addiction. Here is an insight into how some Reddit users are struggling to control their habits and how another has successfully stopped using the platform.

How do I quit Reddit?

“I am a person who constantly wastes time browsing Reddit. Like now for example, it is 3am in the morning and I am still browsing Reddit. How do I stop browsing Reddit so I can have more time for productivity?”

“I’ve learned a lot since joining this site, but I find my life being consumed by it. Every time I sit down at the computer, even if I don’t want to visit Reddit, I repeatedly am sucked in. It’s killing my social skills and my productivity. What is a good way to quit?”

Why I stopped using Reddit

“I feel like Reddit almost shaped the person I was from ages 18-20. It’s like I wouldn’t commit to a view unless the majority of Reddit agreed. I almost based my opinions on the most upvoted comments. About two years ago I started using this site less and less and devoted my time to my hobbies, my girlfriend, and enjoying my life outside of the internet. Now I really like myself and have never felt more content with who I am.”

What defines an addiction to Reddit?

signs of reddit addiction

As Reddit addiction is not a recognized disorder, there is no official definition. However, if you or someone you care about are experiencing some of the symptoms below, you may be addicted to Reddit:

  • Spending hours at a time browsing or commenting on Reddit.
  • Feeling an uncontrollable urge to use Reddit when away from the platform.
  • Needing to spend more and more time on Reddit to get the same high.
  • Trying to control, cut down or stop using Reddit, without success.
  • Having withdrawal symptoms – such as feeling irritable, restless or anxious – when away from the platform.
  • Scrolling through endless subreddits to escape from personal problems.
  • Continuing to use Reddit even when it negatively affects other areas of life.
  • Hiding lengthy Reddit sessions from others.
  • Sacrificing sleep to consume more and more Reddit.
  • Unable to stop browsing Reddit during meals and other activities.
  • Neglecting work, school, family and friends to devote time to Reddit.
  • Losing interest in other hobbies and pastimes previously enjoyed.

10 ways to control your Reddit usage

steps to control reddit usage

Are you wondering how to quit Reddit? Even if you are not addicted to Reddit, it might still be causing problems in your life. If you want to stop wasting time scrolling through subreddits and checking your karma, here are 10 steps you can take:

1. Set a daily Reddit limit

Be mindful about when and why you are scrolling through Reddit. Set a daily limit and stop using the platform when you reach that threshold. Our Recommended Screen Time Guidelines will help you decide on an appropriate amount of time to spend on Reddit each day.

The easiest way to set a daily limit on Reddit is to enable parental controls.

2. Delete the Reddit app

Try deleting the Reddit app from your smartphone and switching to the web browser instead. Restricting access in this way will help you be more intentional about when you engage with the platform. You can also consider deleting your Reddit account itself.

3. Block Reddit from one or more devices

If you often get distracted by the platform at work, you can delete it from your work phone or computer then we recommend to block Reddit on your device itself.

4. Switch to anonymous browsing mode

Use Reddit in anonymous browsing mode (also known as incognito mode) so you have to login every time you check the website. It also means you can’t post, vote or comment which should help you spend less time on the app.

5. Disable Reddit notifications

Blocking notifications from Reddit will make you less tempted to go onto the app. Here’s how to do it:

  1. Log onto Reddit
  2. Click on Profile and select User Settings
  3. Go to Notifications
  4. Switch off the Reddit notifications you want to disable

6. Unsubscribe from subreddits

Try unsubscribing from some or all of your subreddits so you are less tempted to keep checking them for new links, discussions and images. You can also block users on Reddit that keep distracting you.

7. Do a Reddit detox

If you are constantly drawn to Reddit, try removing it from your life for a certain amount of time: 24 hours, a weekend or longer. The aim is not to quit Reddit indefinitely but to start using it again in a more balanced way. Find out more in our Ultimate Guide to a Digital Detox.

8. Find other activities

Rather than making Reddit your default activity, find other ways to fill your time. Perhaps listen to a podcast, read a book or take up new hobbies and interests. Get inspired by our 50 Best Screen-Free Activities by Age.

9. Cut out triggers

If you spend hours on Reddit before bed and it’s the first thing you check on waking, leave your phone outside the bedroom. If you scroll through Reddit when you take the bus to school or work, try walking or cycling instead. Small changes can help you avoid the things that trigger your Reddit usage.

10. Visualize yourself succeeding

Imagine yourself not needing to constantly scroll through Reddit, regaining control of your life and feeling proud that you have overcome your dependency on it.

Although these tips are not guaranteed to stop Reddit addiction, they may help you manage your cravings and reduce your risk of developing unhealthy habits.

Get help for digital or gaming addiction

help for gaming issues

If you are struggling to control your Reddit use, despite following our suggestions, you may need professional support. As Reddit addiction is not officially recognized as a disorder, there is no formal treatment. However, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) – also known as talking therapy – can be effective at changing unhealthy patterns of behavior.

Sometimes, people who are addicted to Reddit also struggle with digital or gaming disorder. If you or someone you care about are compulsively gaming or using tech, and experiencing negative consequences, contact us to book your Gameplan call.

Addicted to Discord? Here’s How to Stop Spending Time On It.

Discord is a popular app used by gamers for voice, video and text messaging. However, as with video games, some users can become addicted to Discord and use it problematically.

This article explains what makes Discord so addictive, how to recognize if you have a problem and 10 ways to stop spending time on the app.

Why do people spend so much time on Discord?

discord graphic

Millions of people across the world use Discord without any problems but a small percentage of users engage with it in a compulsive and uncontrolled way.

Discord addiction occurs because the app causes the brain to release dopamine – the feel-good neurotransmitter – which results in the individual experiencing pleasure. This reinforces the behavior and makes them want to repeat it.

As well as flooding the brain with dopamine, there are several other reasons why Discord has the potential to be addictive:

  • It provides a sense of community and for some people it may be the only place where they feel like they belong.
  • For those with low self-esteem, the app can provide attention and validation.
  • Users can remain anonymous which gives people the freedom to express themselves, but this can also lead to toxicity and abuse.
  • It can be somewhere to escape from reality which is particularly attractive for people suffering from stress, anxiety or depression.
  • There is a never-ending supply of entertainment, which can be difficult to resist.

How to know if you are addicted to Discord

discord addiction signs

If you can’t stop spending time on Discord, you may have Discord addiction. Although, the condition is not officially recognized, here are some common signs that you or a loved one may be affected:

  • You devote more time to Discord than anything else in your life.
  • You struggle to go for a few hours without using the app.
  • You have repeatedly tried to reduce or stop using Discord without success.
  • You need to spend more and more time on the app to satisfy your urge.
  • You have a Discord server for almost everything that is important to you.
  • You spend more time hanging out with people on Discord than you do with friends and family in person.
  • You experience withdrawal symptoms (anxiety, irritability, sadness) when you are away from Discord.
  • You continue to use the app despite any problems it causes.
  • You lie about the amount of time you spend on it
  • You are unable to play video games without using Discord.

How to stop spending time on Discord

stop discord

If Discord is starting to have a negative impact on your life and becoming a dangerous app, here are 10 ways to reduce your reliance on it:

1. Hang out with friends in person

Are the people you chat to on Discord your real friends? Are they positive and supportive or do they make you feel negative and miserable? Rather than using Discord to socialize, hang out with friends in person who make you feel inspired and happy.

If you must stay on Discord, you may consider joining the Game Quitters Discord server to be around more positive like-minded peers.

2. Disable Discord notifications

There are several ways to disable notifications on Discord whether you want to mute alerts from a specific person, single channel, multiple channels, entire server or switch off all notifications from the app.

3. Remove the mobile app

Try removing the Discord mobile app from your smartphone so it is not so instantly available. Restricting your access to the web app or desktop version should help reduce the number of times you reach for it each day.

4. Set a daily limit

Set yourself a daily limit and stop using Discord when you reach that threshold. Reduce the limit by a few minutes each day. Check out our recommended screen time guidelines to decide on a reasonable amount of time to spend on the app and make that your goal.

5. Try a Discord detox

If you have an unhealthy relationship with the app, try a Discord detox for anywhere from 24 hours to a week. During that time, distract yourself with screen-free activities. The goal is not to break up with Discord for good but to use it in a more balanced way. Read our digital detox guide.

6. Delete your Discord account

If you have tried to cut down the amount of time you spend on Discord without success, it may be time to delete your account. This is also recommended for anyone who is struggling with gaming addiction. Follow our step-by-step instructions to delete your Discord account.

7. Recognize your triggers

Identify any triggers that could make you start using Discord again. Then, work out what you will do when faced with your triggers. For example, if you use Discord when you are feeling lonely, look for other ways to socialize face to face.

8. Do other things

Rather than spending hours gaming and chatting on Discord, find alternative ways to fill your time. Here are some ideas for hobbies and activities that will make you feel excited and energized rather than emotionally drained.

9. Confide in someone

If you are worried about the amount of time you are spending on Discord, confide in a trusted friend or family member. They can provide advice and support as you try to cut down or stop using the app.

10. Get specialist support

If you have tried to control your Discord usage without success and it is affecting your day-to-day life and relationships, you may need specialist help. At Game Quitters, we have support, guidance and resources for digital and gaming addiction – see below.

Need help?

help for gaming issues

Sometimes, people who are addicted to Discord also suffer from gaming disorder, or using Discord can make problematic gaming worse:

“When I see my friends playing online every time I hop on Discord it makes me want to play games.” – Game Quitters

If you or someone you care about are struggling but don’t know what to do, we can help. Our Respawn program will help you get gaming under control and live a happier and healthier life and our Reclaim program is for families affected by gaming.

To find out how we can help you, get in touch to book your free 30-minute Gameplan call.

Addicted to Twitch? Here’s How to Stop Watching.

Are you or someone you know addicted to Twitch? Do you find yourself spending too much time watching streams?

Well in this article we will explain how to know if you are in fact addicted to Twitch and also suggests ways to cut down or stop watching if that is what you want to do.

First, let’s address the basics. What is Twitch? Twitch is a live streaming platform for video game content and other entertainment. Viewers can watch their favorite gamers while communicating with them on the community chat. But Twitch is also about much more than just gaming content and Just Chatting content is also very popular.

What makes Twitch so addictive?

addicted to twitch abstract vector

While watching Twitch can seem harmless, it actually has a significant effect on the brain. Whenever you watch live streams on the platform, dopamine signals in your brain increase. These neurotransmitters are associated with pleasure and when you get a hit of dopamine after watching Twitch, your brain identifies it as a rewarding activity you should repeat. This can lead Twitch to become a dangerous app for kids.

However, these positive feelings are only temporary and when the feel-good dopamine wears off, you can feel compelled to go back in search of more content. As Twitch is so accessible and the content never runs out, it is easy to spend hours and hours watching live streams and interacting on the chat. In extreme cases dopamine used in this way can lead to addiction.

So, is Twitch toxic? For people who watch Twitch from time to time but still have other hobbies and interests, it generally poses no risk. However, for others whose lives become consumed by watching live streams, it is unhealthy and potentially addictive.

How to know if you are addicted to Twitch

ex gamer quote about twitch addiction

As Twitch addiction is not officially recognized, there is no criteria to establish whether an individual is affected. However, like similar social media addictions, if you or a loved one have an uncontrollable urge to watch Twitch streams and devote so much time to the platform that it has a negative impact on your life, these are signs that your usage has become addictive and problematic.

If you are struggling to stop binge-watching Twitch, these real-life stories from members of the Game Quitters community are likely to resonate with you:

I quit League of Legends, but I realized that I’m addicted to Twitch. I could literally sit on my computer from morning to night watching Twitch streams. The bad part is that I want to quit Twitch completely but there are two streamers that I’ve been following for over a year and it’s like you feel like you’ve developed a bond with the streamers. This makes it wayyy harder to quit.”

“YouTube and Twitch are just as bad as gaming. Watching games gives you the same thrill and dopamine rush as playing. Don’t see these as better than gaming because they really aren’t. Don’t say you quit gaming but are still watching Twitch daily. Trust me, I tried this.”

“My mental health reached an all-time low as I spent 12 hours in front of a screen every day constantly keeping up a facade. I felt like I had a standard to uphold to my viewers, and it was draining.”

How to stop watching Twitch

steps to stop watching twitch

If you want to break your Twitch addiction and get your life back, here are some steps you can take to reduce or stop watching live streams.

Understand why you watch Twitch

Work out why you compulsively watch Twitch. Are you drawn to the platform to escape from negative feelings? Do you feel lonely and Twitch gives you social connection? Then try to address whatever underlying issue(s) you are attempting to resolve with watching live streams. This is also important if you spend time watching YouTube too much as well.

Remove recommendations you are not interested in

If you don’t want to break up with Twitch altogether but just want to spend less time on the platform, you can remove content recommendations that you are not interested in. Find out how to remove the categories and streamers you don’t want to watch from the front page.

Switch off Twitch notifications

twitch notification settings

Twitch has a range of notifications which you can manage. To access them, click on your profile picture in the top-right corner and choose ‘Settings’. You can then disable notifications you receive on Twitch, email and mobile when a channel you follow goes live.

Remove the mobile app

Try removing the Twitch app from your smartphone which is more instantly accessible than watching live streams via your web browser, gaming console or TV. This simple action is likely to help reduce the number of hours you spend on the platform each day.

Find other ways to spend your time

Rather than spending hours in a Twitch rabbit hole, find other ways to spend your time. Here are some ideas for replacement activities that will entice you away from the platform – whether you are looking for social, active, creative or mentally engaging hobbies.

Delete your Twitch account

The most effective way to remove Twitch from your life is to delete your Twitch account. You may decide to do this for a day, a weekend or forever. It’s an easy process and we have created a step-by-step guide to help you.

Take steps to avoid triggers

Identify any triggers that could make you start watching Twitch streams again. Then, work out what your default actions will be when you encounter your triggers. For example, if you turn to Twitch when you are feeling low, play some uplifting music or go to the gym instead.

Need help to break your Twitch addiction?

help for gaming issues

Are you worried that you can’t stop watching Twitch? Is it starting to cause problems in your life? If you have tried to cut down or stop using the platform without success, you may need professional support.

Sometimes, people who feel addicted to Twitch also struggle with gaming disorder. If you or a loved one are gaming problematically and don’t know where to turn, we can help. Our coaching program is designed to help individuals and families change unhealthy patterns of behavior.

Get in touch now to book your free 30-minute Gameplan call.

The Psychology of TikTok Brain

Today’s kids are more distracted than ever and ‘TikTok brain’ is partly to blame. The endless stream of short, fast-paced videos that offer instant – and constant – gratification is leading to shorter attention spans and other negative issues.

This article looks at whether TikTok brain is real and explores how the platform can affect the mental health of young users.

What is ‘TikTok brain’?

a man with smartphone

The term ‘TikTok brain’ is used to describe some of negative aspects associated with the platform including lower attention spans and increased anxiety and depression. Too much time spent on TikTok can become problematic and lead to addiction.

The social media app has made short-form videos increasingly popular with the optimal video length just 21 to 34 seconds. 39 39. https://sociality.io/blog/tiktok-video-length/#1-average-tiktok-video-length × As a result, kids are struggling to focus on a wide range of activities from reading a book or completing a homework assignment to watching a full-length movie.

So, how does ‘TikTok brain’ develop? It is linked to the psychology behind TikTok and its algorithm.

Is TikTok bad for your brain?

brains on tiktok before and after

The TikTok algorithm is interest based, so it shows content that reflects what viewers have previously watched – whether they engaged with it or not. Within a short space of time, the algorithm can detect their hobbies and interests, sense of humor, fashion style, music tastes, sexual orientation, political views and much more. This personalized viewing experience sounds harmless but it can push users down a rabbit hole that can reinforce negative thoughts and behaviors, and bombard them with content that is not always healthy.

Every time users watch a video on TikTok, dopamine is released in their brains in a way that mimics the effects of drugs and there is not much that can compete with this type of stimulation. Young people are more predisposed to addiction because their brain development is not complete until they reach 25 to 30 years old.

So, is TikTok bad for your brain? A study investigating Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok found that personalized videos suggested by the algorithm stimulated the brain’s reward centers more than random videos watched by new users. It also found that brain scans of Chinese college students who watched personalized videos had highly activated areas involved in addiction and some users struggled to control their viewing habits.

How TikTok affects mental health

effects of too much tiktok

For many teens, TikTok is a fun way to stay entertained, informed and connected. However, for others sharing and watching videos for hours on end can be harmful to their emotional well-being. Here are some of the ways that TikTok can affect young people’s mental health:

Increased stress, anxiety and depression

A study of high school students in China who regularly use TikTok found that those with addictive tendencies towards TikTok had higher rates of anxiety, stress and depression 40 40. https://www.psypost.org/2022/01/teens-who-are-addicted-to-tiktok-experience-worse-depression-and-anxiety-and-in-turn-reduced-working-memory-capacity-62416 × than those who use the app less frequently.

Can encourage eating disorders

Some impressionable TikTok users are watching and being influenced by content that normalizes eating disorders like anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, Videos such as “What I eat in a day – under 1,200 calories” encourage an unhealthy relationship with food and portray eating disorders as a lifestyle choice, rather than dangerous mental illnesses.

Higher risk of suicide

Research has found that 13-year-old teenage girls who used social media for at least two to three hours daily at the start of a 10-year study, and then greatly increased their usage over time, were at a higher risk of suicide as adults. 41 41. https://www.newswise.com/articles/10-year-study-shows-elevated-suicide-risk-from-excess-social-media-time-for-teen-girls × Whereas, for boys, social media use had no obvious effect on their suicidality risk.

Problematic use and addiction

The impact of TikTok dopamine on the brain can lead to the problematic use and, in extreme cases, TikTok addiction. This can have a range of negative impacts including disrupted sleep, neglected hygiene, poor school performance, family conflict and social isolation.

How TikTok is supporting mental health

people using tiktok mental health resources

As an organization, TikTok is taking steps to promote the importance of positive mental health and balance to users.

Well-being Guide for users

TikTok has produced a Well-being Guide 42 42. https://www.tiktok.com/safety/en/well-being-guide/ × where users are encouraged to share their mental health stories, tips and recovery journeys. It includes a reminder of the platform’s safety and privacy controls which can help minimize negative in-app experiences:

  • Account settings – Your child can restrict who can follow and engage with them by setting their account to private. For users under 16, the account is set to private by default.
  • Comments – This feature allows users to decide who can comment on their videos – no one, friends or everyone (the latter option is for users aged 16+ only). It is also possible to switch off comments completely.
  • Not interested – If you don’t want your child to see certain types of video on the For You page, simply press on the video and select “Not interested”.
  • Report – It is possible to report any concerning content to TikTok.

It can also be helpful for parents to understand more of the slang on TikTok that users may use.

Weekly digital well-being prompts

TikTok has also announced the introduction of weekly digital well-being prompts 43 43. https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/investing-in-our-communitys-digital-well-being × for younger users. If anyone aged 13-17 uses the app for more than 100 minutes a day, they will receive a screen time limit tool reminder next time they open the app.

How to reset TikTok brain

character resetting their tiktok brain

If your child is constantly scrolling through TikTok and other sources of cheap dopamine and it is becoming a problem, you may want to help them reduce their reliance on it. Even though they will probably be reluctant to cut down initially, having regular breaks will strengthen the connections in their brain and make it easier to stop again next time.

Here are five ways to manage their screen time and reset their brain:

1. Customize the TikTok app

You can help your child control their TikTok use by setting up Family Pairing – a tool that allows parents and teens to customize the app for a healthier experience. You can use it to:

  • Set a daily screen time limits based on guidelines of what is appropriate.
  • Use restricted mode to limit your child’s access to inappropriate content.
  • Decide who can send direct messages to your child or turn off direct messaging altogether.

2. Use the screen time dashboard

TikTok has a screen time dashboard to help your child manage and reduce their video consumption. It shows how much time they have spent on TikTok – with a breakdown of daytime and night-time usage – and the number of times they have opened the app each day.

3. Restrict access to desktop or laptop only

If your child is still unable to control their TikTok use despite the above measures, you may need to go one step further. Rather than depriving your child of TikTok altogether, you could consider deleting the TikTok app on their smartphone. If they can only access it in a on a desktop or laptop, they will be more mindful of the time they spend scrolling.

4. Have TikTok-free zones

Agree on places around the home where TikTok is not allowed such as at the dinner table and in your child’s bedroom at night. Good sleep is essential for the brain to work optimally and is important for focus and attention.

5. Suggest screen-free activities

Engaging in other hobbies, interests and activities – playing sport, going to the park, meeting friends, being creative – can help reset your child’s brain. Here is a list of the 50 best screen-free activities by age for inspiration.

Need help for social media problems?

If your child is struggling to control their TikTok use and it’s having a negative impact on their mental health and well-being, we can help.

Our coaching program is designed to help young people and their families have a healthier relationship with technology and overcome social media addiction.

Contact us now to book your gameplan strategy call.

Is Gaming a Hobby?

Most people play video games for fun and it’s a harmless hobby. However, for others, gaming can become an unhealthy habit with negative repercussions. So, are video games a hobby that should be encouraged or discouraged?

In this article, we look at what a gaming hobby is compared to what an addiction is, and share alternative hobby ideas for kids, teens and adults.

Are video games a hobby or a waste of time?

Playing video games is the most popular leisure pursuit in the world with over three billion gamers globally.

The majority of people see gaming as a hobby that is entertaining, sociable and a way to wind down. It is one of several interests and activities in their life alongside spending time with friends and family, going to school or work, and their daily responsibilities. But, is playing video games a hobby that is worthwhile or a waste of time?

Gaming can offer many more benefits than other hobbies and pastimes. It is a safe space to fail, build resilience, overcome challenges and explore alternative identities through characters and in-game worlds.

Video games are also a good way to build skills for future careers such as multi-tasking, problem solving, communication and decision making. For young people who play video games as a hobby, there are a myriad of exciting career opportunities in the gaming industry.

However, gaming occurs on a scale, from healthy to harmful – or from hobby to addiction. Where you, or a loved one, are on that scale is all about balance.

Gaming hobby vs addiction

argument about hobby vs addiction

While some people can play with no adverse consequences, others can become drawn into the darker side of gaming. Video games are deliberately designed to be addictive and that is when harm can occur – including gaming effects on the brain.

Gaming can turn from a fun hobby to a destructive addiction if the balance tips and gaming starts to consume your every waking hour.

When you prioritize video games over everything else, your life can start to spiral out of control. It can negatively impact your relationships, education or career, and other interests and activities you once enjoyed. It can also cause physical health problems if you miss sleep, skip meals, forgo exercise and neglect your personal hygiene to keep playing. Many people suffering from video game addiction have co-occurring mental health issues including stress, anxiety and depression.

When gaming turns from a hobby into an addiction it has social implications too. Gamers who once enjoyed playing with friends and family, increasingly try to hide the extent of their compulsive behavior. They often withdraw from social situations and can become lonely and isolated. They start to lose confidence and find it difficult to mix with people face to face.

It is important to recognize when playing video games has moved from a casual hobby to an all-consuming compulsion. Discover the common signs of video game addiction in the What is unhealthy gaming section of this article.

Additionally, understanding how habits (and what evolves from habits, addictions) develop may help you in understanding what causes addictive behaviors due to gaming. One of the key points to take from this is that usually, killing a habit is a Sisyphean task. Habits (and addictions) are a three step process:

  1. The Trigger
  2. The Action
  3. The Reward

The trigger is what makes a person do an action. This may be sitting down on the couch after a long day at school, or seeing a gaming app on your home screen as soon as you unlock your phone.
The action is the task or activity that leads to an eventual reward.
The reward is self explanatory, but it’s important to note that rewards take many forms. This may be from reaching a new level in a video game to the tingling sensation of clean gums after brushing your teeth.

To tackle these addictions, it’s essential to leave the trigger and the reward intact, but replacing the action that is done to obtain the reward. While this may be difficult, some things have been proven to help, such as removing tempations with CBD 44 44. While CBD is still controversial and being studied, it already has promising, peer-reviewed studies backing it up thanks to its Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory properties that aid in removing urges such as video game addiction. × or going for a run. 

Hobbies to replace gaming

hobbies ideas to replace gaming

Do you, or a loved one, want to quit gaming but don’t know what to do with your time instead? You may be worried that nothing else will be as fun and exciting as reaching the next level, climbing up the leader board or opening a new loot box. But there is so much more to life than gaming.

If gaming is starting to take over, it’s time to get out of your comfort zone and try something new. Check out our replacement hobby ideas and choose from over 70 alternative activities. Whether you take up a sport or learn a new skill, a fresh challenge will help you stay mentally engaged, feel a sense of achievement and make new friends. Plus, many of the hobby ideas will get you fit and active, and/or boost your self-confidence and emotional well-being.

We have also put together a list of the best screen-free activities by age. There are suggestions for toddlers, younger children, teens and adults. From role-playing and arts and crafts through to DJing and joining a book club, there is no excuse for being bored or having nothing to do.

For parents of gamers, we have created a list of 60 best summer hobby ideas to keep kids entertained during the holidays. It lists hobbies for relaxation, hobbies for getting active, hobbies that are adventurous, hobbies that teach a skill, hobbies that are creative and hobbies for being sociable. Despite the summer holiday title, many of the activities could be done throughout the year.

Get help to quit gaming

help for gaming issues

If you, or a loved one, are gaming excessively, you may have tried other hobbies to replace gaming but keep getting pulled back to video games. It can be difficult to know where to turn.

At Game Quitters, we have helped thousands of others who were struggling to control their gaming and we can help you too.

It is possible to solve your gaming issues for good and enjoy healthier hobbies and interests.

Get started today. Book a Gameplan call to discuss your situation. Limited spots are available.

9 Types of Gamers: Which One Are You?

Gaming is a global phenomenon with 3.4 billion active players worldwide. With players from different countries and backgrounds, the question is are they all the same or are there different types of gamers?

We have identified nine different types of gamers and in this article we will help you understand what your gamer type is, and also what you need to know about it.

As the popularity of video games has risen, so have the number of people with unhealthy gaming habits. In 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially recognized gaming disorder as a mental health condition. So let’s start by looking at the four different types of gaming behavior.

The four types of player behavior

different types of gaming behavior

Video gaming is an activity that occurs on a continuum, from healthy to harmful. There are four types of gaming on this spectrum: recreational, at risk, problematic and disordered.

Recreational gaming

When gaming is a positive habit, it is a regular part of life – people make time to play video games but still manage to prioritize school, work and other responsibilities.

At-risk gaming

This is when gaming habits start to cause some day-to-day issues that, if continued over time, may result in problems and ultimately escalate into disordered gaming.

Problematic gaming

Gaming becomes problematic if it begins to replace other daily commitments and activities. It can negatively affect the player’s mental and physical health, family dynamics and relationships.

Disordered gaming

Also known as video game addiction, disordered gaming is when a player is unable to control their gaming habits. It is defined as ‘gaming disorder’ in the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11).

All gaming activity can be described using these four types of gaming. Therefore, each of the different types of gamers outlined below fits somewhere along the gaming continuum.

What are the different types of gamers?

Let’s look at the different gamer types to understand what are casual gamers and what is a heavy gamer? In 2015, Joël Billieux and his team conducted a study to identify the traits associated with different types of gamers. 45 45. Billieux, J., Thorens, G., Khazaal, Y., Zullino, D., Achab, S., & Van der Linden, M. (2015). Problematic involvement in online games: A cluster analytic approach. Computers in Human Behavior, 43, 242–250. × They wanted to understand more about the differences between problematic gamers and those who played without any negative consequences.

So, what are the types of gamers they found? They split them into non-problematic gamers – recreational and social – and problematic gamers: the achiever, the escaper and the hardcore gamer.

Casual gamer

casual gamer type

A recreational (casual) gamer has low impulsivity and high self-esteem. Playing video games is usually a hobby they enjoy alongside other interests and activities. Gaming doesn’t satisfy their basic needs and they don’t feel compelled to game in order to escape or feel a sense of achievement.

Social gamer

social player type

This type of gamer has low impulsivity, so they aren’t driven to play compulsively. But, unlike recreational gamers, they have relatively low levels of self-esteem. They play video games for the social experience and enjoy creating virtual characters and the role-playing opportunities this brings. However, in most cases, they are not trying to replace their real-life identity.

“Two of my best friends I know from outside gaming also play with me. My social circle and my gaming is so interlinked.” – Gamer

Mobile gamer

mobile gamer type

A mobile gamer is someone who prefers to game on a smartphone rather than a console or PC. Often they will play games such as Candy Crush or PUBG. Having access to video games 24/7, gives this type of gamer the opportunity to play anytime, anywhere. This could lead to problematic play if they’re unable to control their gaming habits, especially if they play these addictive mobile games.

However, many gamers enjoy the accessibility and convenience of gaming on the go without any adverse consequences. It is therefore likely that mobile gamers fall into each type of gamer category outlined on this blog.

The achiever

the achiever

Achievers are highly impulsive with high self-esteem. They want to excel in the game and are less interested in role-playing, socializing or escaping from real-life problems. As they are highly impulsive, they lack self-control and have trouble resisting the immediate gratification provided by gaming. Their high self-esteem means they don’t play to boost their self-worth, they play because they want to master the game.

“It’s a crave for achievement and recognition and reward. That exact same feeling needs be applied in real life work. That competitive mode. I only played PVP in everything. Except assassins.” – Gamer

Achievers often play competitive ranking type games such as Call of Duty, Valorant, Counter-Strike or League of Legends.

The escaper

the escaper

Escapers engage in immersive gameplay as a coping strategy to relieve negative moods. They play more to escape from real-life difficulties and their low self-esteem than to succeed in the game. It is likely that their gaming behavior is due to an underlying mental health condition or a traumatic life event.

“Gaming has devoured precious time I should have used for studying and was one of the main reasons I dropped out of university. It creates a desire to withdraw into my own world rather than spend time with people who care about me.” – Gamer

The hardcore gamer

hardcore gamer type

The hardcore gamer is a combination of the escaper and the achiever. This type of gamer is mainly motivated by achievement and escapism, but role-playing is also an important part of their gameplay. They have high self-esteem and high impulsiveness which affects their decision making and control. They define themselves through their gaming life and reputation; their sense of self is boosted by their virtual world achievements and status.

Personally, I’m an example of a hardcore gamer. I liked to achieve and see if I could be the best player I could be, but I was also dealing with a lot of real-life challenges and stress and needing to escape and just play for hours and hours and hours and not have to think about what was going on in my real life. The problem was that no matter how much gaming I did, it didn’t fix any of the problems that I was experiencing so things just tended to get worse and worse. Although the achievements I got in the game made me feel like things weren’t so bad. That’s a big reason why I was addicted to playing World of Warcraft and many other hardcore players are too.

At Game Quitters, we have also come across four other types of players: at-risk gamer, problematic gamer, disordered gamer and mobile gamer.

Heavy gamer (at-risk gamer)

A heavy gamer (also known as an at-risk gamer) spends a significant portion of their leisure time gaming without experiencing negative consequences. They are still able to manage their responsibilities – like school assignments, work demands and family commitments – spend time with family and friends, and usually have other hobbies and interests.

They may want to play more but being irritable or moody when they can’t play is uncommon. They sometimes feel like they’re not reaching their full potential, but as long as they keep their gaming under control, it is not problematic.

Some behaviors that may increase the risk of excessive gaming include having few activities besides gaming, spending large sums of money on gaming, heavy weekday gaming sessions, and pursuing esports or streaming as a career.

Problematic gamer

what is a problematic gamer

The main difference between the heavy gamer and the problematic gamer is that they are a type of gamer experiencing negative consequences associated with their gaming habits. Problematic gaming is therefore more severe than at-risk gaming. What differentiates the problematic gamer from the disordered gamer is that their negative consequences have occurred for less than 12 months.

“Both my mental and physical health began steadily declining. I feel irritable and depressed all the time and nothing about life seems fun or exciting anymore, even video games.” –Gamer

Disordered gamer

what is a disordered gamer

At this point, the gamer is addicted. They experience negative consequences from playing video games but feel compelled to continue. This impaired control over their gaming results in functional impairment. A disordered gamer is a type of gamer assessed by a qualified professional and may include formal screenings for WHO’s gaming disorder classification criteria.

Curious about your type of player? Take our video game addiction test for gamers.

Need help?

Do you have a gaming problem? Do you need help to get your gaming under control or are you worried about a loved one’s gaming habits? If so, we can help.

Our Respawn program helps gamers to quit or moderate their gaming habits.

The Reclaim program helps families reduce conflict and manage problematic gaming at home, even if the gamer is currently in denial.

You can also book a Gameplan call to discuss your situation. Limited spots are available.

How Gaming Affects the Brain

There is an ongoing debate about the effects of video games on the brain. Some studies suggest that video games help learning and build skills, while others have found they can make players more violent or aggressive. It is evident that the impact of video games on the brain is not clear-cut; they can have both beneficial and harmful effects.

This article examines how video games can change your brain and looks at the positive and negative consequences of gaming. We also share tips on what to do if video games are starting to cause problems.

The psychology of gaming

psychology of gaming

Video games are deliberately designed to be addictive. The gaming industry employs cognitive psychologists, reward psychologists, and computer science and human behavioral scientists as user experience (UX) designers. They apply their knowledge of attention, perception, memory, emotion, reward and learning principles, and psychological vulnerabilities in game design. Every second of color, light, sound, purpose, task, instruction and experience within video games is carefully crafted to keep players (brains) gaming for as long as possible and spending money on in-game purchases.

Professor David Hodgins of the University of Calgary, an addictive behaviors and clinical psychology researcher says “we know that young people are overly involved in gaming and gambling. One common game design feature is intermittent reinforcement, which means there are a lot of rewards but the rewards are unpredictable, so people pursue the rewards in a constant fashion. This is a concept we’ve known since the 1950s.”

What gaming does to the brain

Parents of gamers are sometimes concerned about video games and brain development. They ask us questions like:

  • “Does too much gaming rot your brain?”
  • “Is there a difference between gamer brain vs normal brain?”

Video games can impact the brain in several ways and certain changes are more obvious than others. Here are some of the most common effects gaming can have on the cognition, brain structure and function:

Gaming activates dopamine – the brain’s reward system

gaming and dopamine levels

Dopamine is a feel-good neurotransmitter that’s part of the brain’s reward system. Whenever the brain is expecting a reward from a certain activity, it starts producing dopamine which makes us feel good. This motivates us to repeat the behavior to experience the same rush of pleasure. So, do video games release dopamine?

If gaming is balanced with other hobbies and interests, the brain will receive small doses of dopamine and players will feel happy and motivated. This is a simple effect of video games on the brain. But long and frequent gaming sessions can release such huge doses of dopamine over and over, that the brain will try to stay in balance by shutting down its ability to get dopamine. In response, players often start to play more to try to experience the same thrill, but the brain will compensate by shutting down even more of its ability to get dopamine. Eventually, this cycle will mean the brain doesn’t produce enough dopamine and it will become dopamine deficient.

What are the symptoms of dopamine deficiency? Those who game excessively may start to wonder: “Do video games cause brain fog?” or “Do video games rot your brain?” It is common for sufferers to feel tired, irritable and anxious, and many people struggle to concentrate. Things that used to be interesting seem pointless but it’s gaming that is changing their brains so that nothing feels fun or exciting. They start to game more, not always because they want to play, but to relieve the uncomfortable feelings from having low dopamine. And the vicious circle continues.

It’s related to a biological process called tolerance and sugar is a good example of how this works. A little bit of sugar once in a while is ok, but the more you have the more you want. You end up developing a tolerance to sugar, needing increasing amounts to experience the same effects. This is the same for gaming. The more people play, the more their brains become less sensitive to the effects of dopamine, and it takes more and more dopamine to feel that same pleasure and excitement.

Gaming can cause a fight-or-flight response

Our natural fight-or-flight response is designed to protect us when we sense danger. The body releases hormones that increase our heart and breathing rates and gets our muscles ready to respond. In some situations, it can be a lifesaver by helping us stay focused, alert and able to react quickly.

However, there is a point at which the fight-or-flight response stops being beneficial and starts causing problems. This can happen when playing violent video games. Over time, the brain may think the threats and attacks are real and the game is actually a battle. This can cause the player to react angrily and aggressively. So, if you have ever wondered how violent video games affect the brain differently, it is the fight-or-flight amygdala that has taken over so the player cannot access the logical part of their brain.

Gaming lowers activity in the prefrontal cortex of the developing brain

PREFRONTAL CORTEX ACTIVITY

The prefrontal cortex of the brain – which is responsible for decision-making, judgement and self-control – does not fully develop until the age of 25. This can make young gamers less able to weigh up the pros and cons of immediate rewards, like another few hours spent gaming, against longer-term goals such as revising for their math test next week. This may also explain why some young gamers neglect their basic needs such as food, sleep, exercise and personal hygiene in order to continue playing video games.

Researchers have found that violent games, in particular, can lower activity in developing brains. One study reported that young male gamers who spent many hours playing a violent video game for two weeks had lower activity in important brain areas when trying to control their behavior, compared to adolescents who played no video games over that period. Another study of youth gamers found that playing violent video games for just 30 minutes, immediately lowered activity in the prefrontal cortex compared to the brains of those who played non-violent video games.

Gaming can trigger the release of adrenaline and cortisol

adrenaline or cortisol

Many video games are action packed and intense, and this excitement triggers the production of adrenalin. It’s a natural reaction to help us react faster to situations of perceived danger – such as the risk of dying in a shooting game such as Valorant, Counter-Strike or Call of Duty. When excess adrenaline is released into the bloodstream, it makes the heart pump harder than usual. This increases our blood pressure, heart rate and breathing rate. After a while, the blood shifts to the limbic system, the part of the brain involved in our emotional and behavioral responses, which can cause brain fog, sometimes called becoming a game zombie.

Gaming can also increase the release of cortisol (known as the stress hormone) in response to perceived threats. If the stress hormone is constantly active due to excessive gaming, it may cause the brain’s neurotransmitters – like serotonin – to stop functioning correctly. This can affect our mood, potentially causing depression; blood sugar, which can lead to the over-consumption of junk food, and sleep quality because it becomes more difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. This is why there is a debate about whether or not gaming reduces stress.

Does gaming rot the brain?

Gaming does not rot the brain. When video games are played for fun as part of a healthy range of activities, there is generally no cause for concern. Most of the negative effects of video games are due to excessive use or underlying issues:

  • Physical health risks including repetitive strain injury, headaches, back and neck problems, obesity and heart-related issues
  • Poor personal hygiene, laziness
  • Insomnia and other sleep-related problems
  • Mental health conditions including anxiety, stress and depression
  • Mood swings such as irritability, anger, aggression and violence
  • Family conflict and relationship issues
  • Lack of motivation, concentration and energy
  • Cognitive biases that affect decision-making skills and problem-solving abilities
  • Loneliness and social disconnection
  • Exposure to online toxicity and harassment
  • Poor academic performance and missed career opportunities
  • Loss of interest in other activities.

For a small percentage of players, the negative effects of gaming can include addiction. Take our video game addiction test to see if your gaming habits are potentially problematic.

Positive effects of gaming on brain development

benefits of gaming in moderation

When played in moderation, video games can have multiple benefits on the brain:

Video games can enhance attention

Research has found that areas of the brain involved in attention are more efficient in people who play video games who are able keep their attention focused on demanding tasks. 46 46. Frontiers. "Video games can change your brain: Studies investigating how playing video games can affect the brain have shown that they can cause changes in many brain regions." ×

Video games can increase intelligence

Researchers at the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam found that US children who spent an above-average amount of time playing video games increased their intelligence by approximately 2.5 IQ points more than the average. However, watching TV and engaging with social media had no significant impact on their cognitive abilities. 47 47. Video games can help boost children’s intelligence</a< ×

Video games can improve memory

Gaming can have long-lasting benefits for memory. A study by the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya in Barcelona using Nintendo’s Super Mario 64 found that playing video games as a child can improve a person’s working memory years afterwards. 48 48. Video gaming as a child related to improvements in memory ×

Video games can boost learning

Playing action video games has been found to improve learning capabilities. Research by the University of Rochester reported that our brains are constantly building ‘templates’ of the world to make better predictions and playing action video games enables gamers to produce better templates than non-gamers. 49 49. Playing action video games can boost learning ×

Video games can enhance problem-solving skills

Gaming teaches players to keep trying to reach the next level, complete the next quest or get to the top of the leader board. It is a safe space to fail and if they don’t initially succeed, they can try different strategies to achieve their goal. A 2013 study found the more that adolescents playing strategic video games, the better their problem-solving skills and academic grades were the following year. 50 50. More Than Just Fun and Games: The Longitudinal Relationships Between Strategic Video Games, Self-Reported Problem Solving Skills, and Academic Grades ×

Video games can encourage creativity

Sandbox games, like Minecraft, Roblox, Stardew Valley and SimCity, give players the creative freedom to build and explore different worlds. This link between video games and creativity is backed by research from Iowa State University. It found that playing Minecraft without instruction improved participants’ creativity more than watching TV or playing a race car video game. 51 51. Want to boost creativity? Try playing Minecraft Date: ×

Best games for your brain

games for the brain

There are various puzzles and games for the brain designed to sharpen the memory. These games may also be better alternatives than immersive multiplayer video games.

Sudoku

This logic-based number puzzle improves memory and concentration. There are different levels of difficulty so you can find the right level of challenge.

Wordle

Wordle provides a small hit of dopamine (only one puzzle is released each day), uses problem-solving skills and can provide social interaction if you share your result on social media.

Jigsaws

Jigsaw puzzles use both the left and right-hand side of your brain. As well improving problem-solving skills and visual-spatial reasoning, they are a great stress reliever.

Chess

Playing chess on a board rather than online is a good way to have a screen break. It is proven to be an excellent cognitive exercise that boosts logical reasoning and memory.

Crossword puzzles

Regularly completing crosswords can help improve focus and attention. A study in the Journal of the International Neuropsychology Society found that crosswords may delay the onset of memory loss in people with dementia. 52 52. Association of Crossword Puzzle Participation with Memory Decline in Persons Who Develop Dementia ×

By choosing the right games to play you can gain benefits from gaming on your brain instead of negative ones.

How to reset the gamer brain

help for gaming issues

When you find yourself or someone you love struggling with excessive gaming or social media use, you may wonder how to reset their brain back to normal. The key may be simpler than you think.

As described above, the dopamine theory of addiction states that addictions increase dopamine to an extent that once the stimulus is removed, our body may be unable to replicate the same amount of dopamine naturally. Therefore, the key towards overcoming an addiction is to restore the ability of the body to create dopamine through natural means, without the stimulus someone is addicted to.

For example, for someone who has what is now described as TikTok brain, they may benefit from a dopamine detox.

A dopamine detox involves abstaining from all addictive activities that raise your levels of dopamine higher than natural. A digital detox includes abstaining from activities such as social media, video games, smartphones and gambling. You’ll abstain from instant hits of dopamine and replace them with healthier activities that produce dopamine such as exercise, time in nature and face-to-face interactions.

For a dopamine detox to be most effective, a recommended time of 90 days works best, however benefits can be found in shorter detox periods as well. For more information, read our guide on how to do a dopamine detox.

If you are concerned about your gaming habits, or you think a loved one may have gaming problems, we can help.

  • Our Reclaim program is specifically designed to help families reduce conflict, manage problematic gaming and learn how to control gaming and screen time.
  • Our Respawn program helps gamers detox from gaming and get their live back on track.
  • Book a Gameplan call to discuss your situation. Limited spots are available.

Do Video Games Make You Lazy? Science Explained.

There is still a commonly held perception that gaming is a waste of time. Many non-gamers – especially parents, teachers and the media – have a one-dimensional view of video games and only consider the negative aspects of gaming. So, do video games make you lazy and are video games unproductive?

For many gamers the opposite is true. The drive and focus learned from playing video games can be channeled into other areas of their lives. It can give young people valuable tools and skills to succeed in their studies and pursue exciting career goals.

This article looks at both sides of the debate to help gamers and parents understand how to maximize the benefits of gaming and minimize the risks of gaming.

How video games can make you lazy

Playing video games for fun does not make you lazy. However, gaming to the detriment of all other hobbies, activities and interests can be problematic. It can lead to a lack of motivation and general apathy in other areas of life. But this isn’t just limited to video games. Anything that consumes your every waking hour – such as working, exercising, gambling or drinking – will have the same negative impact.

Gaming is a great recreational activity when played in moderation, but excessive gaming can make you neglect school, work and other responsibilities. Do you sometimes ask yourself: “Why do I feel lazy after playing video games?”

Gaming warps your perception of effort and reward

Video games are a structured way of engaging in an activity. When you put effort into a video game, you are quickly rewarded – by reaching the next level, getting a new weapon or moving up the leader board – and it’s easy to feel a sense of instant gratification.

But outside of gaming, the world doesn’t work in the same way. You may have to put in a lot of effort to receive anything back which can feel disheartening. Ariel, a member of the Game Quitters community was working hard to get a job, but turned to games as a crutch to escape feelings of rejection:

“I was getting really frustrated with submitting resumes and applications to companies and never hearing anything back, so the resentment grew and grew, and I would heal that resentment by playing video games.”

Gaming is highly accessible and convenient

We have 24/7 access to video games now that many of us have a smartphone in our pocket. Whereas other things outside the gaming world often take more time and are less fun. Convenience and accessibility are big factors in making us lazy when faced with other responsibilities and activities.

Gaming is a safe place to fail

If you fail at a video game, you can restart and try again. However, in real life, failure can be permanent and irreversible. For example, if you fail an exam, you may be unable to retake it. Plus, your actions come with a lot more risk.

In the virtual world, if you annoy another player, you can change your name or character. Whereas, if you upset someone in everyday life, it can damage your reputation or future prospects. Gaming comes with less risk which is another reason why some people are unmotivated to reduce their screen time.

Another Game Quitters member shares that “there was a safety in computer games that I could not replicate with anything else: the safety of the new game or reload button, where if things didn’t go exactly how I wanted them to go I could just redo it, and nothing of the previous failures would remain.”

Gamers can develop avatar attachment

Sometimes gamers with depression or low self-esteem relate more to their avatar than their real-life identity. The more validation they get for their gaming activities, the less time they want to spend as themselves. They retreat more and more into gaming which can be perceived as lazy by others who don’t understand their motivation.

Gaming is a sedentary activity

The more hours spent hunched over a screen, the more you are likely to continue that behavior as it will become a habit. Over time your body will become used to it and you’ll feel less motivated to do anything besides gaming.

How video games affect your motivation

list of benefits of gaming

Although video games can make a minority of people lazy and unmotivated, the opposite is true for the majority of players. In fact, gamers are some of the most highly motivated, hardworking and dedicated people around. Anyone spending the same number of hours each day studying or playing traditional sport, would be applauded and encouraged, whereas esports players are not perceived the same way. Gamers are incredibly committed to their craft, and they deserve respect and recognition too.

The positive effects of gaming include improved problem-solving and logic, hand-to-eye coordination, multi-tasking, cognitive abilities and teamwork. These skills can be channeled as a force for good to help gamers achieve their goals in life. Whatever they want to accomplish – starting a business, learning a language, traveling around the world or anything else – the energy, focus and drive developed through gaming will stand them in good stead.

A video game scholar and game designer, Jane McGonigal, believes that “games provide a sense of waking in the morning with one goal: I’m trying to improve this skill. There is a routine and daily progress that does a good job at replacing traditional work.” 53 53. NYT: Why Some Men Don't Work ×

How to stop gaming excessively

If video games are making you feel unmotivated and lethargic, you may continue gaming to cope. However, it’s important to remember that you are not lazy or weak. Video games are designed to be addictive and they release huge doses of the feel-good neurotransmitter dopamine. In fact, a study found that the amount of dopamine released while playing video games is like an injection of amphetamine. 54 54. Nature: Evidence for striatal dopamine release during a video game ×

Here are three practical steps to help you, or someone you care about, get more motivated:

  1. Prioritize movement and exercise – you will feel happier and more energized, and it will give you a break from the screen.
  2. Be intentional about when you play and when you don’t. Decide on your limits and stick to them. Setting a timer or alarm can help monitor your gameplay.
  3. Focus on your goals outside of gaming – use the skills games have taught you like strategic thinking and problem-solving to pursue your real-life dreams.

If you, or a loved one, are still struggling to do anything other than play video games all day, we can help.

  • Our Reclaim program is specifically designed to help families reduce conflict, manage problematic gaming, and learn how to control gaming and screen time.
  • Our Respawn program helps gamers detox from gaming and get their lives back on track.
  • Book a Gameplan call to discuss your situation. Limited spots are available.

67 TikTok Slang Meanings Every Parent Should Know

TikTok has soared in popularity over recent years and for Gen-Z it’s an increasingly important part of their cultural landscape. As its popularity has grown, so have the number of TikTok sayings used on the platform. Some of these expressions are unique to TikTok, while other slang is spilling onto other social media sites. Inevitably, a number of TikTok phrases are also starting to infiltrate everyday life, leaving many parents flummoxed.

It is not just words and phrases that are baffling parents, there are also TikTok abbreviations, acronyms and emojis to decipher. If you’re the parent of teens and often wonder “What does it mean?” when they are using TikTok slang, we can help. Our A-Z guide explains the most common slang terms used on the platform and includes a comprehensive TikTok abbreviations list.

TikTok slang meanings

abow meaning tiktok

Here are some of the most common phrases on TikTok decoded:

Abow – Similar to wow, damn, or OMG and is used to express shock or disbelief

Accountant – Sex worker or stripper

ALR – All right. The #ALR hashtag is used on videos to get more views

AS – Adult swim. #AdultSwim or #AS hashtags are used when creating short clips known as ‘bumpers’ in the style of the US Cartoon Network late-night programming block, Adult Swim

ASL – Age, sex, location. Not a new phrase, but it is used on TikTok to mean ‘as hell’

ATP – This abbreviation has a couple of meanings on TikTok: ‘at this point’ and ‘answer the phone’

Baka – Means ‘stupid’, ‘idiot’ or ‘fool’ in Japanese. Mainly used by Anime and Manga fans

Banger – Awesome, great – often used when talking about music

Bones Day or No Bones Day – Jonathan Graziano films his dog Noodle waking up each day and posts it on TikTok. If Noodle stands up, it’s a Bones Day, if he flops back down, it’s a No Bones Day. In short, Bones Days are good days. No Bones Days are bad

Brain emoji 🧠 – Oral sex

BBL – Brazilian butt lift. Used when TikTok users share before and after pictures of cosmetic surgery

BMS – Broke my scale (attractiveness scale). Used when commenting on videos about someone’s physical appearance

Bussin – To describe something really good or delicious in Gen-Z slang

Caught In 4k – To capture someone’s reaction to a situation

CEO – To be called a CEO of something means you do that thing a lot or are good at it

Chair emoji 🪑 – Used instead of a laughing face emoji to show something is funny

Cheugy – Uncool and untrendy

Crop – When someone comments ‘crop’ on a video, they are asking the user to reload the video so it’s not obscured by anything such as a like or share button

DC – Dance credits. Used in TikTok captions alongside the name of the person who came up with a dance to give them credit for it

Devious lick – A trend that involves posting pictures of stolen goods or drugs

DNI – Do not interact. To show that content is not meant for anyone under the age of 18. Also used when someone doesn’t want to interact with people who support or post certain things

DTB – Don’t trust boys or don’t trust bitches

Face card – Used on different social media platforms to mean that someone is and always will be very attractive. Users post selfies with captions such as “face card always valid” or “face card never expired”

Finna – Getting ready to do something

Fingers touching emoji 👉👈 – Shy or nervous

Fire (or lit) – Crazy or cool

FR – for real. If someone asks if you’re ‘for real’ they are wondering if you’re being serious or truthful

Fruity – Someone who belongs to the LGBTQ+ community

FYP – For you page. An individual landing page displaying videos that TikTok thinks you might like based on your personal algorithm

Glow up – A physical or mental transformation

GYATT or GYAT – Short for ‘goddam’ and used when a guy sees a girl he finds attractive. Often mentioned on Twitch streams

Heather – From the Conan Gray’s song, Heather. The singer “wishes they were Heather”, who is desirable and everyone wants to be her. In TikTok lingo, to say, “You’re such a Heather” is a compliment

Hogging – Competition between guys to hook up with the fattest girl at a party

Hot girl summer – Living your best life: having fun, looking good, feeling confident and not caring what others think

IB – In a TikTok caption, this acronym means the video has been ‘inspired by’ another video

Karen – A demanding or aggressive woman

KLM – Calm, meaning fine or ok

Live rent-free in my mind – A person or a thing (often a catchy song or video) stuck in your head

Looted – Good style or fashion sense

Mid – Average or mediocre

Mutuals/Moots – People you follow on social media who follow you back

No cap – Means you’re not lying

NSFR – Not safe for Ramadan. Used as a hashtag on certain videos during the month of Ramadan

OOMF – One of my followers

Pick me girl – A popular girl who craves attention, especially from the opposite sex

PFP – Profile picture

POV – Point of view. Used in captions when a video shows the viewer’s perspective of a certain situation

Pushing P – Means something is positive

Ratio – When a comment has more replies than likes, which is usually not a good thing

RT – Retweet. Someone agrees with something so much, they would retweet it on Twitter

Shadowbanned – When content is blocked by TikTok without your knowledge

Sheesh – An expression to show you are shocked or impressed by something

Simp – Being so besotted with someone that you would do anything for them

SMH – Shaking my head. Used to show disappointment

Sneaky Link – Hooking up with someone in secret. Their identity is known as the ‘sneaky link’

Straight TikTok – The mainstream side of the app

SW – Sex worker

Tea / Spill the Tea – Gossip

TikTok Brain – The term ‘TikTok brain’ is used to describe some of negative aspects associated with the platform. The endless stream of short, fast-paced videos that offer instant and constant gratification is leading to shorter attention spans – with kids struggling to focus at home and school – and, in some cases, addiction.

TFW – That feeling when

Valid – Something that is very good or of a high standard

Vibe check – Judging someone by the vibes you get from them – they either pass or fail the vibe check

W – Used in gaming and sport to mean ‘win’ or to congratulate someone on their success

YT – Not an abbreviation for YouTube but a TikTok slang term for ‘white’. Used to refer to a person’s skin tone

#xyzbca – A jumble of letters with no specific meaning that’s used as a hashtag on TikTok in a bid to get more video views

4Lifers – People who will always be in each others’ lives

1437 – I love you forever

Other Gen Z slang

teen slang meanings

TikTok isn’t the only platform where kids have their own slang these days. Other social media sites such as Snapchat and Instagram have their own unique terms and phrases. Unique language also extends to TV shows such as anime and video games such as Roblox.

Spending too much time on TikTok?

Although TikTok is a popular social media platform, it can be highly addictive and lead to individuals struggling with TikTok addiction.

Many users – particularly teenage girls – are spending too much time compulsively consuming content to the detriment of other interests and activities, their education, relationships, and mental health and well-being, leading to what some experts call TikTok brain.

In this article, we take a closer look at TikTok to help you understand more about the app, the risks involved and why TikTok is so addictive.

If you’re still struggling to communicate with your teen, despite reading our TikTok slang guide, and you’re worried about their gaming or social media use, we can help.

Get immediate help for your loved one’s TikTok and social media use. Book a free Gameplan call now to learn if our program is the right fit for you.

How Gaming Affects Learning in College

Every year, millions of students arrive at university with the dream of obtaining a degree and securing a future for themselves. While most students graduate and progress into successful careers, others do not, with up to 33% of undergraduate students dropping out 55 55. https://educationdata.org/college-dropout-rates/ × . So how does gaming affect learning in students?

There are a variety of reasons why students fail out of college or university including homesickness, being academically unprepared, financial constraints, personal issues, lack of motivation, laziness, and no guidance or mentoring, but the modern student has another phenomenon to navigate: video games.

This article looks at how popular gaming is at on college campuses and explores the ways video games can positively and negatively affect learning and academic success. If you are a concerned parent, there are tips on how to support your college gamer and help them develop healthy gaming habits.

How popular is gaming at college?

stats about video game play in college

Most students today are gamers with 92% playing regularly and 35% playing most days 56 56. https://www.ygam.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/research_full_report-FINAL-Online-220819.pdf × . On average, 75% play more than 20 hours per week and over 40% report playing more than 30 hours.

An increasing number of colleges and universities are embracing video games with the rise of esports – 175 US higher education institutions offer varsity esports programs 57 57. https://www.ncsasports.org/college-esports-scholarships/varsity-esports × with full or partial scholarships and are members of the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE).

However, despite the multiple benefits of gaming and esports when played in moderation (see below), video game overuse has been shown to be a high-risk activity that can negatively impact academic success and 48% of student gamers agree that gaming keeps them from studying 58 58. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2003/07/06/let-the-games-begin-gaming-technology-and-college-students/ × .

How many college students are addicted to video games?

man texting a friend at college about not going to class

Here are some statistics about video game use and unhealthy gaming habits among young American adults:

  • More males (aged 18-29) play video games than females: 77% versus 57%.
  • 9% of people aged 18-24 are preoccupied with playing video games.
  • Over 5% of young adults experience withdrawal symptoms when not able to game.
  • More than 8% of people aged 18-24 are unsuccessful when trying to control the amount time they spend gaming.
  • Over 3% of young adults have lost or jeopardized a relationship, job or educational opportunity as a direct result of their gaming activities.

Jakes’s story

As a Canadian high school student, Jake was a functional addict. His gaming was problematic and did affect his grades but he still enjoyed playing sports and had a wide circle of friends.

That was until he went off to school at the University of Guelph and away from his family in Toronto. Faced with the anxiety of a first-year college student, Jake used gaming to cope with school and personal issues.

Without his parents monitoring his play, Jake began gaming all night and missing classes. He started to lose weight and stopped showering as much. He hit rock bottom during his second year when he missed the registration cut-off date and was on the verge of being evicted from his residence hall because he was no longer technically a student. That is when he sent an email to his mother asking for help. When she arrived at his dorm, she says he was “pale, shaking and smelled foul.”

He moved back home to begin his video game recovery and, with the support of his family and a counsellor, turned his life around. Today, he hasn’t played a game for five years, instead spending his time on new activities and a job he secured with a software company. He has also graduated from college – unlike when he failed before because gaming was affecting his learning.

The gaming cycle explained

gaming addiction is on the rise

Jake isn’t alone. Over 85,000 people search for help on the Game Quitters website every month. Read other real-life stories of gaming addicts. The typical person seeking support is a male college student aged 18-24 years old who has become caught in the gaming cycle.

The gaming cycle works like this: roughly 9% of students develop problematic gaming in high school but are often able to cope with gaming and academic requirements 59 59. https://drdouglas.org/gclslfk2011ft.html × . Classwork in high school is typically easier than college work, living at home enables more parental supervision, and gamers have been proven to perform significantly better in terms of reasoning and short-term memory 60 60. https://greenlab.psych.wisc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/280/2017/07/Memory-abilities-in-action-video-game-playersMcDermott-Bavelier-Green-2014.pdf × which affects learning and helps them perform well academically.

The transition to college is a different story.

College students usually have less parental supervision, more independence, increased academic responsibilities, and a change in social environment which all lead to increased levels of stress. The student gamer often turns to video games as a way to escape. Instead of doing their college work, they game. They get further behind in class causing more stress and they escape further into games to cope with their anxiety. This creates a cycle of academic self-destruction.

To make matters worse, two in three students say they tend to keep issues or problems to themselves 61 61. https://www.ygam.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FINAL-research_full_report-PRINT-READY-5.pdf × . The main reason for not seeking support is stigma 62 62. https://openrepository.aut.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10292/7726/DriverJ.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y × and even if a student does ask for help, they may be turned away. Many student affairs departments are overwhelmed after the rise in mental health issues experienced by young people during the Covid-19 pandemic.

How gaming affects learning and academic success

esports player struggling to graduate

Gaming can positively and negatively impact learning and academic performance depending on the level of engagement. Too much of anything – including playing video games – can be a bad thing. Moderation and balance are key.

The benefits of gaming for academic success

Playing video games is not always harmful. It can be a fun and enjoyable activity with multiple academic benefits including:

  • Increased interest in STEM subjects
  • Improved problem-solving skills and logic
  • Greater multi-tasking ability
  • Faster and more accurate decision-making
  • Enhanced creativity
  • Greater brain efficiency
  • Memory enhancement
  • Improved cognitive abilities.

A recent study 63 63. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1875952121000094 × measured the differences in academic performance between students who played video games and students who did not. It found that gaming can positively affect educational outcomes. Students who spent equal time playing video games and studying still achieved high grades. The researchers reported that many students adopted a ‘work hard, play hard’ approach and rewarded themselves with gaming time for studying.

The risks of gaming on educational outcomes

When gaming takes over a student’s life, and the line is crossed between intentional and compulsive use, it can have serious consequences:

Find out more about the negative effects of gaming.

A US study explored video game addiction and college performance among male first-year students. It found that video game addiction was negatively correlated with expected college engagement and grade point average (GPA) 64 64. http://publish.illinois.edu/zhengqi2/files/2016/05/source2.pdf × . This suggests that as video addiction symptoms increase, student involvement in college life and academic performance decrease.

How to keep healthy gaming habits in college

When gaming is a positive habit, it can be a regular part of college life, without gaming affecting learning. Here are some strategies individuals can use to develop and maintain healthy gaming habits:

  • Limit gaming to certain times and use a schedule to keep it in balance.
  • Do not game in class.
  • Have other interests and activities besides gaming – see our hobby tool for suggestions.
  • Socialize with other students in person.
  • Minimize blue light as it can interfere with sleep – use blue light minimizing glasses or blue light filter on your screens.
  • Stop gaming an hour before bed.
  • Get plenty of sleep. If your student accommodation has one room for sleeping and gaming, use an alarm to monitor your gaming time.
  • Choose video games that are positive experiences – be mindful of toxic play and the temptation to overspend.
  • Drink plenty of water, limit caffeine, eat healthily and avoid junk snacks.
  • Take regular breaks to move around, preferably outside.
  • Avoid hunching over the screen – try to play with a straight back with your monitor at eye level.
  • Shut your eyes for a couple of minutes every hour to relax your eye muscles.
  • Review how much you’re playing each week and adjust it if necessary.

How to know when gaming is an issue

mom learning to spot the signs of gaming addiction

It can be tricky to differentiate healthy from unhealthy gameplay, as there is not one single factor to determine video game addiction.

Instead, there are several warning signs that, when presenting together, can signify problematic behavior.

If you are concerned about a loved one’s preoccupation with video games, the signs listed below will help you gauge if there’s a problem. Your loved one can also take our video game addiction test.

Signs of healthy video game use

  • The individual is open and honest about the amount of time they spend playing video games.
  • The individual has full control of their video game activities.
  • The individual is able to stop or reduce the amount they play if it starts to cause problems.
  • The individual does not lose sleep to continue gaming.
  • The individual stops playing to eat, shower and do other daily tasks.
  • The individual is able to focus on their job or education.
  • The individual has time to spend with family and friends.
  • The individual has other hobbies and interests.
  • The individual can fully immerse themselves in a game and then easily return to the offline world.
  • The individual is not overly bothered if their video game is interrupted.
  • The individual will not spend money they can’t afford on video games.

Signs of unhealthy video game use

  • The individual is unable to control their gaming activities despite attempts to stop or reduce play.
  • The individual continues to play video games even though it has a negative effect on their life.
  • The individual needs to spend an increasing amount of time playing video games to get the same level of pleasure.
  • The individual is restless and irritable when unable to play.
  • The individual is constantly thinking about their next gaming session.
  • The individual lies about how much time they spend playing video games.
  • The individual uses gaming to escape from everyday life.
  • The individual is sleep deprived due to regularly playing at night.
  • The individual skips meals, neglects their personal hygiene and avoids other daily tasks to continue playing video games.
  • The individual prioritizes video games over other hobbies and interests.
  • The individual misses educational or career opportunities.
  • The individual withdraws from spending time with friends and family.
  • The individual gets angry or annoyed if their video game is interrupted.
  • The individual will get into debt to buy the latest video games and/or through in-game spending.

Where to find support

asking for help is not a weakness

Left untreated, video game addiction and any associated mental health issues can have a lasting impact on your child’s education, career prospects, and physical and mental well-being. However, help is available to get their life back on track.

On-campus support

Most universities and colleges have free, or low cost, student counseling services that provide on-campus mental health support. You can usually find out what is available and how to access help in the counseling service section of the university or college website. When making an enquiry, it is important to check that the therapists are trained in gaming issues.

Many campuses have an on-site student health center that offers a range of front-line medical services. If any student is showing physical signs of video game addiction – such as migraines, back pain, eye strain, carpal tunnel syndrome or exhaustion – they can assess the problem and signpost to the appropriate medical and/or psychological support.

Off-campus support

If you are struggling to find specialist help for video game addiction on-campus, Game Quitters has coaching programs, resources and support groups for students and parents.

You can also read our guide: How to quit gaming in college.

Our Parent Coaching program is recommended if your loved one has lost control of their gaming habits and you need a strategy to get their life back on track. Here are some of the benefits:

  • Establish a stronger relationship with your child.
  • Discover how to respond to difficult situations and reduce conflict.
  • Improve communication and connection at home.
  • Build confidence in your parenting skills.
  • Enhance your problem-solving and conflict resolution skills.
  • Create a calmer and happier home environment.
  • Learn self-care techniques.
  • Understand the stages of video game addiction and recovery, and how to cope with relapse.
  • Have a professional as part of your parenting team.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK A GAMEPLAN CALL

How to support a college gamer

parent supporting a college gamer

If your child is showing signs of video game addiction, you may be wondering how to help them regain control of their gaming habits. It may seem tempting to simply remove all access to gaming devices and the internet.

However, enforcing a complete detox is not practical if they are living away from home at college or sustainable as their brain will have become accustomed to the rush of dopamine induced by gaming and they will experience withdrawal symptoms as a result. While the long-term solution may be to quit gaming, the short-term goal should be to reduce the amount of time they play video games in small increments – this is known as harm reduction.

Here are some ways you can help them gradually reduce their reliance on video games:

  • Educate them on what gaming does to the brain.
  • Get involved in the roommate selection process and try to avoid choosing a roommate who is a gamer.
  • Limit the games paraphernalia they take to college – leave video games, gaming PC, large monitor/screen at home.
  • Draw up gaming/study timetable together so there is a healthy balance of both.
  • Do not fund their gaming habit – refuse to pay for game subscriptions and micro-transactions and set limits on their phone data plan to stop large downloads.
  • Suggest they get a part-time job to fill their free time with something other than gaming.
  • Encourage them to join non-gaming clubs and societies to expand their social circle and extracurricular interests.
  • Consider a gap year if classes are being failed and use that time to seek support and help them regain control of their gaming habits.

Even if your child’s situation seems hopeless now, it is possible to turn their life around. Read this inspiring story of how one student gaming addict turned his life around.

Common Drug Slang Emojis Decoded 2022

Every generation has its own drug slang but today’s teens have a whole new language. Drug slang emojis are used as a secret code for messaging about illegal substances online. These colorful icons may look harmless which means that parents can easily overlook them.

What’s more, they are designed to avoid detection by law enforcement and the algorithms used by social media sites. Without adequate protections in place, the responsibility for monitoring teens’ online activity largely falls on parents.

This article reveals the hidden meanings behind common emojis used to buy or sell drugs to help parents understand what their teens are saying to friends and strangers online. For non drug-related emojis, learn these other 45 emoji slang meanings.

The prevalence of teen drug use and online exposure

Since the swinging sixties, many teenagers have experimented with illegal substances and this generation is no different. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported these drug use stats among children and teenagers 65 65. CDC: Teen Substance Use & Risks × :

  • About half of 9th to 12th grade students have used marijuana
  • 20% of 12th graders have accessed prescription drugs without a prescription
  • By 12th grade, about two-thirds of students have tried alcohol
  • Around 40% of 9th to 12th grade students have smoked cigarettes.

However, for today’s teens, social networking platforms are making drugs more normalized and readily available. Youth are particularly vulnerable to what they see online as they are highly susceptible to peer pressure and celebrity influencers. A UK study found that one in four young people aged 16-24 years old had seen illegal drug advertised on social media: 56% saw them advertised on Snapchat, 55% on Instagram and 47% on Facebook 66 66. DM for Details: Selling Drugs in the Age of Social Media × .

On the ground, UK Lochee Labour councillor Michael Marra believes TikTok in particular to be contributing to the city’s drug crisis, he said: “The purchase of drugs from online forums and through social media is a growing problem. Parents will be particularly concerned that apps such as TikTok, so commonly used by young people, are being exploited in this way.”

A 2021 report by Bark 67 67. Bark: Annual Report 2021 × into children and technology analyzed over 3.4 billion messages across texts, email, and 30+ apps and social media sites. It found that 5.35% of tweens and 93.31% of teens had engaged in online conversations about drugs and alcohol. Bark noted a 21.2% increase in alerts for drugs and alcohol compared with 2020. These alerts can range from messages about prescriptions, to videos showing children taking illegal substances.

Parents should be aware that the threat of drugs no longer lurks on street corners. Using messaging apps and social media sites, they can be bought at any time and delivered straight to the door as easily as ordering a pizza. To keep this ease of access under the radar, a totally new language of drug slang emojis has been developed.

Popular drug slang terms

This drug slang glossary reveals the hidden meanings behind some seemingly innocent emojis that teens are using to access drugs online:

🥧 — Batch of drugs

💊 — Prescription pills, drugs in general, or heroin

🔌 — Drug dealer

🤑,👑,💰, 💵, 🔌 Dealer advertising they sell / deliver

🚀, 💣,💥 — Drug potency

⚗️ — A bong

💨, 🚬 — Smoking a joint

⛽ — High-quality drugs, or to be intoxicated

🔥 — To ‘blaze’ a joint or to be ‘lit’, meaning intoxicated

🌿, 🍁, 🎄, 🍃, 🥦, 🍀,🌴 — Marijuana

❄️, 🥥, 🤧, 🔑, ⛄, 🎱 —  Cocaine

💉, 🐉, 🐎, 🎯 — Heroin

💎, 🏔, ❄, 🧪 — Crystal meth

🍄 — Magic mushrooms

💊, A-,🚆 — Adderall

💊, 🍫, 🚌 — Xanax

💊, 🔵, 🅿️, 🍌 — Percocet and Oxycodone

🍼, 🍇, 💜, 🔮 — Cough syrup

🍬, ❤, ⚡, 🤯, ❌ — MDMA and Mollies

Combination emoji drug slang

📦 🪂 – Package arrived

💯pk – 100 pills

⛽ 🚗 📱 – Mobile / delivery

The above drug slang dictionary is intended to explain the most popular emojis used to represent illegal substances. It is not a definitive list because new drug emojis are being added each year as dealers try to evade detection.

What can parents do?

screen free activities for toddlers

In February 2021, 16-year-old Sammy Berman tragically died from a drugs overdose after taking a lethal dose of fentanyl bought from a dealer on Snapchat. Since then, his mother – American therapist Dr Laura Berman – has been sharing information about the drug-related emojis teens use to help parents decipher their kids’ coded messages through various platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, Roblox and even through anime series. Dr Berman is urging people to sign an online petition to allow parental monitoring tools on every social media platform.

While it is important for parents to be aware of the double meaning of some emojis, they should not instantly jump to conclusions if their teen is posting cake or broccoli icons. Parents should monitor their teen’s social media activity and emoji use, and look out for any outwards signs that may suggest they are involved in illegal drugs use. According to the Drug Enforcement Association 68 68. DEA Emoji Drug Code × (DEA) these signs may include:

  • Behavioral changes such as withdrawing from friends and relatives
  • Change in friendship group; hanging out with people who may come across as questionable
  • Spending an increasing amount of time using emojis to communicate on text messages or social media with people other than friends and family.

The DEA recommends that parents regularly talk to their children about the dangers of drugs. If a parent notices that their teen is using emojis to communicate with someone they do not know, they are strongly advised to have a serious conversation about their online activities.

To further enhance your understanding of teen culture and how to help them stay safe, learn these 130 teen slang words and phrases.

It is also recommended for parents to enable parental controls on platforms such as Reddit and games such as Roblox to provide a safer experience for their children.

45 Emoji Slang Meanings Explained

Although emojis appear cute and innocent, for many teens they have hidden meanings that may represent explicit or risky behavior. Therefore, we have created this article for parents to better understand emoji slang meanings and how to keep teens safe online.

What are emojis?

what are emojis

Emojis are modern day hieroglyphics. These small visual symbols are a quick and easy way to inject humor and emotion into messages. They replicate the tone of voice, facial expressions and body language used in face-to-face communication.

Invented by a Japanese cellphone company in 1999, there are now nearly 4,000 emojis available with more added each year. Millions of people worldwide use them every day in texts, chats and emails and they are increasingly being employed in advertising campaigns and video captions. One of the main benefits is that emojis transcend cultural and language barriers.

Even though many parents regularly use emojis, they may be unaware that some seemingly innocent symbols can have a double meaning. For example, emoji meanings on Snapchat and TikTok are often more explicit than the emojis meanings iPhone lists. Some emojis can also be used as drug slang.

These small icons are a secret code for teens that create a sense of community with peers. Many of them are fun and harmless but others can be explicit and mask risky behavior. It is useful for adults to understand the alternative definitions in order to watch for warning signs that young people are being bullied or sexually harassed online and may need support. We have created an emoji dictionary to help you decode the double meanings.

Emoji slang guide

emoji slang guide

Here are some of the most common emoji slang used by teens so parents can understand what they may be saying when chatting, gaming or streaming. Please note: many of the definitions below are x-rated and some have multiple meanings.

🍆 or 🍌 — Penis

🍑 — Bottom

🥴 — Drunk, hungover or sexually aroused

🥵 — Means ‘hot’ in a sexual sense

😵 — When someone has seen something x-rated

🙃 — Used to express annoyance

🚛 — Large and/or shapely bottom

🌮 — Vagina

🤡 — Describes something that is foolish

👻 — Ghosted (ignored or dumped with no explanation)

🧢 — Symbolizes a lie

📬 — Can be used to mean sex

👉👈 — Shy, nervous – usually in the context of flirting

👉👌 — Sexual intercourse

🐫 — The act of sex (humping)

🔥 — Indicates someone is attractive or sexy

🧿 — Represents warding off the evil eye

🧠 — Oral sex

💦 — Ejaculation

🎪 — Erection

👅 — May indicate sexual activity, especially oral sex

⏳ — Used when someone has an hourglass body

🥶 — Often used in response to a nasty comment, meaning “That was cold”

😈 — Feeling frisky or naughty

👁️ 👄 👁️ — A response that means “It is what it is”

🧚‍♀️✨— Denotes a sarcastic, mean-spirited tone

🍃 — Marijuana

🐙 — Virtual hug

🍒 — Breasts or virginity

🍇 — Testicles

💓 — Depending on the color, heart emoji meanings can vary from declarations of love to jealousy, dark humor or sorrow

🦋 — Having a crush or falling in love – represents butterflies in the stomach

🎞️ — Someone wants an x-rated movie

🖥️ — Someone wants an x-rated chat

📸 — Flashing or taking sexting to the next level with nude pictures

🍝 — Represents nudes

👀 — Used when sending or receiving nudes

🤤 — Desiring someone sexually – often used in response to nudes

🙆— Can be used to signal a woman’s orgasm

💳 — Often used on TikTok to express wanting something shown in a video

💯 — Stamp of approval

🔨 — Sexual activity

🐍 — Someone is a back stabber

🌶️ — Inappropriate or risky content

🌽 — Porn

Further Reading: 130 Teen Slang Words and Phrases Decoded

Need help with your teen’s tech use?

girl addicted to tiktok

Even when parents have grasped the double meanings above, there can still be ambiguity. Sometimes seemingly sinister emojis can be innocent and vice versa. And emoji meanings from a girl to boy and boy to girl can vary. It is worth talking to your teen before jumping to conclusions.

If you’re still struggling to engage with your teen – despite gaining an insight into their world – and you’re concerned about their gaming or tech habits, we can help.

At Game Quitters, we’ve developed the Reclaim program to help families reduce conflict, manage problematic gaming and get their gamer back. And our Respawn program helps gamers quit or moderate their gaming habits.

You can also book a Gameplan call to discuss your situation. Limited spots are available.

130 Teen Slang Words and Phrases Decoded

If you are the parent of teens – or work with young people – you may feel alienated from their world due to the words and phrases they use. Every generation has its unique expressions but today’s youth seem to have more teen slang than ever before, mainly due to the minefield of texting acronyms. They use these terms as shorthand, to express emotions and to create a sense of community with peers.

Many of the words and phrases are fun and harmless but others can be toxic and mask risky behavior. It’s helpful for adults to know what teens are saying – even if they don’t intend for you to understand – in order to break down communication barriers. When you know what their jargon means, you can engage with them more easily and look for warning signs that they are struggling and may need support.

Although there are some words and phrases used by youth across the world, slang is not universal. Expressions may vary from country to country and culture to culture. So, what are some teenage sayings in 2022? We have created a slang dictionary to help you decode the most widely-used terms.

A-Z of the most popular teen slang words and acronyms

teen slang meanings

Here are some of the most common teen slang words and acronyms explained. Many of them are used by gamers when playing video games or streaming.

AF — as f**k

AFK — away from keyboard, meaning the person is unavailable

And I oop — surprise, shock or embarrassment

And that’s on [something] — to show something is final and needs no further discussion

Anime – TV shows and movies inspired by Japanese animation

ASL — age/sex/location

Awks — short for awkward

Bae — before anyone else; a significant other or term of endearment (like babe)

Basic — used to describe someone or something that is mainstream or unoriginal

Bet — an affirmative reply: “Wanna hang out?” “Bet.”

Bih — abbreviation of b*tch

Body count — number of people someone has slept with

Boujee — aspiring to have higher social status

Breadcrumbing — sending occasional flirtatious messages to someone without putting in much effort

Bruh — another way of saying bro; used to address someone

Bussin’ — when something is really good

Cake — another word for bottom

Cappin’ — lying

CEO of [something] — someone is the best at something

Cheugy — someone who is uncool or trying too hard to be trendy

Clout — a person’s follower count or influencer status

Code 9 — warning that parents are around

Cursed — something that is creepy or unsettling

Cringe — someone or something that makes you feel awkward or embarrassed

Daddy — a dominant (usually older) man who conveys a sense of power

Ded — something really funny or outrageous

Dope — cool or awesome

Drip / Dripping —as in dripping with money, style or confidence

DTF — down to f**k, meaning someone is willing to have a short-term sexual relationship

E-boy / E-girl — young men and women who spend a lot of time online

Enby — short for non-binary

Extra — trying too hard, being over dramatic

Facts — agreed

Fam — close friends

FBOI — f**k boy, a male looking for sex

Finsta — fake Instagram account (sometimes hidden from parents)

FOMO — fear of missing out

Fire — amazing or exciting

Flex — show off

FWB — friends with benefits

Gas — marijuana; or to describe something that’s great

Ghosting — when someone ignores you for no apparent reason

Goals — something desirable that you want or aspire to

GOAT — greatest of all time

GTG — got to go

Gucci — fashionable or cool

Hentai — graphic anime pornography (Japanese cartoon characters having sex)

High key — intense and out in the open (the opposite of low key)

Hits different — when something is better than normal due to different circumstances

ILY — I love you

I’m dead — something that’s so funny you could die laughing

In my feels — strong emotional reaction to something

IRL — in real life

ISO — in search of

IYKYK — if you know you know (implying there’s an inside joke)

JK — just kidding

Juul — vape device that’s small and discreet

Karen — demanding or entitled woman

KMS — kill myself

KYS — kill yourself

Left on read — when someone has read but not replied to a message

Lit — exciting or excellent; can also mean being drunk

LMAO — laughing my ass off

LMP — like my picture, like my post or like my profile

LOL — laughing out loud

Low key — have a low profile; or keep something secret

Meal — someone who looks attractive and appealing

Mood — relatable feeling or situation

Mutuals — people who follow and engage with each other on social media

Netflix and chill — euphemism for sexual activity

NGL — not gonna lie

No cap — saying that someone isn’t lying

NP — no problem

NSA — no strings attached

Okurrr — ok but with more sassiness

OFC — of course

Ok boomer — calling out an idea that’s out of touch, like a parent who doesn’t know tiktok slang

OMFG — oh my f**king god

Periodt (the t is silent) — conversation over, there’s no more to discuss

Plug — someone who can access hard-to-find items such as drugs

PMOYS — put me on your story or put me on your Snapchat

ROTFLMAO — rolling on the floor laughing my ass off

Salty — to be bitter or irritated about something

Same — I feel the same

SH — sh** happens

Shade — expression of contempt for or disgust with someone

Ship — short for a romantic relationship

Shook — to be in shock

Sis — short for sister but can be used to address close friends

Skeet — to ejaculate

Smash — to have sex

SMDH / SMH — shaking my damn head / shaking my head – meaning you don’t approve of something

Snack — an attractive person

Snapstreak — when friends message each other via Snapchat on consecutive days, creating a streak

Snatched — amazing, attractive or well styled

Spam — fake social media account; or unwanted messages

Squad — close group of friends

Stan — excessively devoted fan

STFU — shut the f**k up

Sus — short for suspicious

Swoop — getting a ride from someone

TBH — to be honest

Tea / Spill the tea — gossip

TDTM — talk dirty to me

Thicc — attractive, full-figured body

TF — the f**k, used to express disgust or disbelief

Thank you, next — when something useful has passed

Thirsty — need for approval or attention

Thot — that ho over there, often used instead of slut or whore

Throw shade — criticise someone

Totes — totally

Trash — something that is bad or unacceptable

TT2T — too tired to talk

Turnt/Turnt up — excited, wild and crazy, often with the help of drugs or alcohol

V — very

Vibing — chilling and hanging out alone or with others, sometimes listening to music

VSCO girl — a style characterized by crop tops, scrunchies and white Vans, an avid user of the VSCO photo editing app

WAP — wet-ass p*ssy

Woke — politically or socially conscious

WTF — what the f**k?

WYA — where (are) you at?

WYD — what (are) you doing?

Yaaasss — a very definite yes

Yeet — exclamation of excitement or approval, or to throw something very hard and fast

YK – you’re kidding

Zaddy — attractive, fashionably-dressed man

420 — marijuana

Want to understand more about teen slang? Read our guide on how the emojis teens use can have underlying meanings. You can also learn more common slang terms on platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram and Roblox.

emoji slang guide

Do Video Games Reduce Stress? The Science Explained.

Gaming is often promoted as a fun way to connect and relax from life. But can playing video games actually relieve stress?

The answer is not so clear cut. Some studies have found video games reduce stress, while others may induce stress such as competitive games where you play to win, and if you lose you experience negative consequences.

In this article we look at how video games can provide stress relief, why they can cause stress, and suggest effective ways to reduce stress that don’t involve gaming.

Gaming out of control? Get immediate help for you or your loved one’s gaming problem. Book a free Gameplan call now to learn if our program is the right fit for you.

The negative effects of stress

The impact of stress on our physical and mental well-being is significant. It has been shown to cause or exacerbate several illness and diseases including muscle tension, headaches, gastrointestinal problems, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and stroke.

Stress can also increase the risk of mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, burnout and sleep issues. Are video games a way to reduce stress and the risk of physical and mental illness or do they make it worse?

How can video games reduce stress?

Let’s look at some of the advantages of playing video games and how they can relieve stress:

Video games are relaxing

After a long and stressful day at work or school, picking up the controller and playing a few rounds of your favorite video game, can be a great way to relax and unwind.

Video games offer escapism

Getting immersed in a video game can be a diversion from real-life issues and unwanted thoughts that are causing you stress. Gaming can be an escape into a different world, a psychological detachment that can reduce stress.

Video games build resilience

Video games with a strong social element, particularly multiplayer games that require cooperation, will enable you form to meaningful connections. Having a support network can feel empowering and help you build resilience to stress.

Video games are fun

Most video games are fun and engaging. Gaming produces a release of dopamine (the happy hormone) which will make you feel good and help you cope with the stresses of everyday life.

Dive Deeper: How Dopamine Impacts Gaming

Video games are rewarding

Many video games present a challenge – when levels are completed or awards are earned – and give you instant rewards for overcoming it. This provides a sense of achievement which can have stress relieving benefits.

Video games create a flow state

Gaming is an immersive activity that can get you into a flow state, similar to meditation. You are completely present in what you are doing and nothing else matters. This state of mind can be a great stress reliever.

Video games build skills

Video games can enhance problem-solving skills and logic. These tools can be used to resolve issues and overcome obstacles in your daily life which can help relieve stressful situations.

Video games are a creative outlet

Gaming can be an outlet for self-expression and creativity which can help relieve stress. Video games like Minecraft allow you to think outside the box and design whatever you want – the sky’s the limit.

Find out more about the positive effects of video games in our article.

5 online games to relieve stress

5 relaxing online games

If you, or someone you know, is looking for the best games to relieve stress, here are five recommendations:

  1. Personal Zen – a relaxing game designed to break the cycle of stress and anxiety.
  2. SuperBetter – take on challenges to build resilience and improve mental health.
  3. Bejeweled – a casual puzzle game to reduce anxiety and boost your mood.
  4. Stardew Valley – involves a daily routine that is calming and cathartic.
  5. Flower – a journey through nature with restful music and calming visuals.

How can video games cause stress?

fighting over gaming

Although video games can be an effective form of stress relief, there are several ways that gameplay can increase stress levels:

Gaming communities can be toxic environments

While many gaming communities are friendly and supportive, there is a dark side to gaming. Players can be exposed to online gambling, toxicity, discrimination and harassment which can cause high levels of stress and anxiety. Find out more about toxicity in gaming and how to stand up to it.

Dive Deeper: Toxicity, Hate and Harassment in Gaming

Excessive play can lead to gaming disorder

Playing video games in moderation can be a good stress buster but there are risks from excessive play. An increasing number of people – around 3% of the world’s 3.2 billion gamers – are suffering from gaming disorder, a behavioral addiction that is recognized by the World Health Organization.

Research has found a higher level of chronic and everyday stress reported among young males with gaming disorder. Check out our screen time guidelines to help keep your gameplay in the healthy zone.

In-game purchases can cause gambling problems

The lines are increasingly blurred between gaming and gambling, with video games containing many gambling-like features. Games labeled as ‘free-to-play’ are designed to get players to spend as much money as possible. This can lead to gambling problems, financial issues, family conflict and stress.

Highly competitive play can be stressful

Many video games are highly competitive, which (as mentioned above) can provide a sense of achievement when you are performing well. However, it can also be demotivating and cause stress when you are performing badly.

Escapism is not a long-term solution

Although gaming may take your mind off the stress in your life for a brief time, as soon as the game ends your problems are still there. Stress is something you need to learn to manage in healthy ways, instead of escaping from it with video games. In extreme cases, playing video games too much can literally kill you. See our tips below.

7 ways to manage stress without gaming

Although video games can help relieve stress if played in moderation, they don’t provide solutions. There are other ways to manage stress, so you feel happier and more fulfilled:

  1. Exercise – Physical activity is proven to be a stress reliever and it is highly accessible. Find an exercise you enjoy – go to the gym, join a group class, walk your pet or just get out in nature – and make it part of your regular routine.
  2. Practice gratitude – Being grateful for what you have will help shift your perspective from negative to positive. Practicing gratitude is proven to have stress-busting benefits and it is easy to do. Recognize a couple of things you are grateful for, including those you might take for granted, particularly the aspects of your life you can control.
  3. Help others – Volunteering can help you move away from seeing the world through your own lens. By supporting other people, you will realize that you’re not the only one dealing with challenges. It can help you feel better and reduce the stress you are experiencing.
  4. Journaling – Writing down what is going on in your head can enable you to process your thoughts and experiences. It will also help you explore different viewpoints and solutions so you can focus on what you can control and let go of the things you can’t.
  5. Call a friend – The old saying ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ is still very relevant today. Find someone (or several people) you can rely on to provide a listening ear and provide perspective when you are feeling stressed.
  6. Find a creative hobby – Take part in a creative activity (like learning a language, playing an instrument or painting) that will give you a break from stress but won’t numb it altogether. Afterwards you will come back recharged and refreshed ready to deal with the challenges in your life head on.
  7. Meditation – Taking time to meditate and focus on your breathing will help your body relax and improve your emotional well-being. It will help quieten the stream of thoughts that may be crowding your head and causing stress by channelling your attention onto something more calming.

Need help to control gaming?

level up irl

Are you concerned that you may be addicted to video games? Is your excessive gameplay having negative repercussions, including stress? If so, take our short online video addiction test for gamers.

We also have a video game addiction test for parents and a video game addiction test for spouses and partners.

Plus, we offer specialist courses and coaching programs for gamers, parents and clinicians to reduce gaming problems.

Or you can book a Gameplan strategy call to discuss your situation. Limited spots are available.

The Truth About Joe Rogan’s Gaming Addiction

Joe Rogan is a stand up comic, UFC commentator, martial arts fanatic and most importantly the most successful podcaster on the planet, with over 200m podcast downloads each month.

But did you know that he used to be addicted to video games?

Watch this video to find out all about it:

What Joe Rogan thinks about gaming

If you’ve been following Joe Rogan for a while, you’d know that he is a serious advocate for living a healthy lifestyle, training hard and eating well.

His daily routine involves fasted cardio, up to 3 hours of weight lifting, yoga twice a week, martial arts training and sometimes hunting wild meat. With such a lifestyle it’s no wonder that Joe Rogan is not a fan of video games.

In fact, he has come under fire many times before for expressing his views on gaming. In episode 1514 of JRE he contrasted video games to Jiu Jitsu.

His argument was that by someone spending the same efforts training BJJ rather than playing video games, in 3 years of time they can become successful. But by playing video games – they get nowhere.

He said: “You [could be] doing something exciting and fun, or you could just be playing video games.”

Some big names in the gaming scene such as Dr.Lupo and Ninja disagreed with that view. Saying that games are great in moderation, have awesome communities and that most gamers are not wasting their time as there are loads of career opportunities these days such as: game coaching, content creation and monetizing in-game economies.

What Joe Rogan thinks about esports

joe rogan esports

Despite having a negative outlook on gaming, Joe Rogan does recognise the success it can bring to the best players. In JRE 1404 when discussing video games, Joe states that professional gamers should get more recognition from their parents and society in general.

He says that professional gamers provide entertainment for people, and they have to execute strategy and skill on the highest level which requires mastery of yourself.

But most people don’t see professional gaming that way as the actions performed are not physical.

For example good golf players can earn millions and be respected on the highest level, while professional gamers don’t get the same level of recognition, simply because what they are doing is in the digital realm.

He goes on to say “We’re also brainwashed to believe that video games are for losers”.

So, Joe believes that professional gaming is as respectable as any other sport, but as a hobby it’s a waste of time as it’s easier to progress in life from physical hobbies such as martial arts, sports, etc.. 

Dive Deeper: What is Esports? (Professional Gaming)

Joe Rogan’s gaming addiction story

joe rogan gaming addiction

But now let’s talk about Joe’s gaming addiction… In episode 1404, Joe mentions that gaming is completely fine if you’re already successful and don’t have to worry about work.

How much is Joe Rogan worth?

Joe’s net worth is estimated at $120m, more money than most people will ever see in their entire lifetime. For comparison, PewDiePie has a networth is estimated is under $10m.

So why did Joe Rogan have to cut out gaming? In episode 1666 when interviewing Counter-Strike pro Jordan “nOthing” Gilbert, Joe elaborated on his issue.

Joe loved first person shooter games like Quake and would play 8 to 10 hours a day.

Frustrated with his slow internet, he even made the decision to upgrade to a package that cost over $10,000 a month!

“I wish I could just play for like one hour and stop, but I cannot… Because, at one hour, I start getting a better feel of where my cursor’s going, when I’m moving the mouse around. I get a better understanding of strafe jumping and where to aim with my rail gun, can’t do it. I get too excited. I get too locked in.”

Joe Rogan’s comments on his gaming experience were pretty clear, when he plays it becomes an addiction and that is probably why he has such a big issue with playing video games as a hobby. 

Due to their manipulative nature it doesn’t take much for a gaming hobby to develop into a 30-50 hour a week habit before you notice. And once that happens, other areas of life take a hit:

  • your school and work performance suffers
  • you become isolated from friends
  • you experience increased conflict with your family
  • you have less motivation to take care of your physical health

As much as gaming can be fun at times, it’s not worth it if it causes issues in other parts of your life.

As Joe says, “three years later you could just be that same kid, playing video games wasting your time.”

Dive Deeper: Are Video Games Designed to Be Addictive?

And with millions of players out there it’s very hard to make it as a professional gamer, the trends are constantly changing so in 3-5 years time when you master the game, the industry has probably moved on to a fresher title.

Need help to control gaming?

control gaming

If you, or a friend or family member, are experiencing any negative effects of gaming, we have several resources that can help:

You can also book a Gameplan call to discuss your situation. Limited spots are available.

Do Video Games Make You Smarter? What Research Says

As the number of gamers worldwide continues to increase – including a high percentage of children and young people – the impact on their developing brain and cognitive abilities is a hotly debated topic – do video games make you smarter?

This article examines the specific ways video games can make you smarter and looks at the positive effects and potential risks of gaming. You can read on below or jump to a specific area of interest using the table of contents.

In short, the key will be in you or a loved one’s relationship to gaming and how their gameplay is affecting their quality of life. Balance, not just with gameplay but also with gaming-related platforms such as YouTube and Twitch is crucial for overall wellness and to gain the most benefit from play while reducing or eliminating the associated risks.

Gaming out of control? Get immediate help for you or your loved one’s gaming problem. Book a free Gameplan call now to learn if our program is the right fit for you.

5 ways video games can make you smarter

ways video games make you smarter

When played in moderation, video games can increase intelligence, enhance attention, boost memory, improve learning and have a positive impact on problem-solving:

Video games increase intelligence

Researchers at the Karolinska Institutet and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam studied the link between the screen habits of 5,000 US children and how their intelligence developed over a period of two years. 69 69. KI: Video games can boost children's intelligence ×

The results showed that those children who spent an above-average amount of time playing video games increased their intelligence by approximately 2.5 IQ points more than the average. Whereas, watching TV and videos, and engaging with social media had no significant effect on their cognitive abilities.

However, the study did not consider the impact of their digital habits on other areas of their life such as school performance, physical activity, sleep or emotional well-being.

Another study supports the above findings about video games and IQ. The University of York found a link between skill at two multiplayer video games – League of Legends and Dota 2 – and high intelligence levels. 70 70. York: Multiplayer Video Games ×

Video games enhance attention

Researchers in the US and China looked at how video games effect attention. 71 71. UArk: Gaming can increase the brain's ability to focus ×

They studied students who were either expert gamers (2+ years’ experience playing action video games and in the top 7% of League of Legends players) or non-expert gamers (less than six months’ experience and in the lowest 11% of players). The students’ visual selective attention (the brain’s ability to focus on relevant information and disregard less relevant details) was assessed before and after gaming.

They found that both expert and non-expert gamers demonstrated improved attention skills after just one hour of playing video games. However, they emphasized that more in-depth research is needed to establish how long these effects might last.

Video games boost memory

First-person shooter games require players to rapidly react and respond to fast-moving situations. A study by the University of Leiden investigated whether playing these types of video games can boost memory. The research compared people who played for five hours per week with people who had never played video games.

They found that gamers outperformed non-gamers in the task they had devised and concluded that playing video games trains the brain to become more flexible in updating and monitoring new information, thus enhancing memory capacity.

Video games improve learning

Video games are increasingly being used to engage and motivate students, but do video games lead to learning gains? The American Psychological Association (APA) has looked at how video games effect learning and recognizes that more research is needed. 72 72. APA: Gaming ×

In 2015, they reported that over the last 20 years, there had been nine major reviews of research into the effectiveness of educational video games which had found the research to be “highly diverse, disorganized and unfocused, with a significant number of methodologically flawed studies.”

A subsequent study by Robles and Quintero in 2020 found that video games can be effective for teaching high school math skills. The students studied showed an improvement of around 14% in the topics covered. 73 73. Intelligent System for Interactive Teaching through Videogames ×

Video games increase problem-solving ability

Many video games require planning, strategic thinking and logic to succeed but does this result in gamers developing better problem-solving skills than non-gamers?

A 2013 Canadian study of 1,492 students over four high school years found that playing strategy games was positively linked to better problem-solving abilities and school grades in the next academic year. 74 74. More Than Just Fun and Games: The Longitudinal Relationships Between Strategic Video Games, Self-Reported Problem Solving Skills, and Academic Grades ×

The benefit of problem solving in video games is that players can try different ways to solve a problem without any long-term consequences. They may lose that game but can re-think their tactics in the next game or level. This trial-and-error approach is a useful life lesson – decisions may not be immediately obvious but trying out various options can be beneficial.

Read our article to find out more about the positive effects of video games.

The risks of video games

fighting over gaming

While gaming is a fun and positive experience for most people, it can have negative consequences for those who game excessively. Here are some of the impacts you may experience if gaming starts to dominate your life:

  • Mental health conditions including anxiety, stress, depression and, in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts
  • Physical health issues such as obesity, heart problems, dehydration, disrupted sleep and exhaustion
  • Poor personal hygiene
  • Unhealthy diet
  • Loss of interest in other activities and laziness
  • Relationship conflict
  • Missed educational or career opportunities.

The bottom line

As this article has shown, playing video games can make you smarter and have a positive impact on your life, when played in moderation. In order to keep your gameplay in the healthy zone, check out our daily screen time guidelines.

If you play games in moderation – in conjunction with other hobbies and activities – you are likely to enjoy many benefits and video games can make you smarter. However, if the balance tips and video games start to take over your life, you may begin to experience problems and, in extreme cases, develop gaming addiction.

If you are concerned about your gaming habits – or a loved one’s behavior – take our short video addiction quiz to find out if you (or they) meet the criteria for problematic play.

Need help to control gaming?

If you, or a friend or family member, are experiencing any negative effects of gaming, we have several resources that can help:

You can also book a Gameplan call to discuss your situation. Limited spots are available.

50 Best Screen-Free Activities by Age

We are often contacted by parents who are concerned that gaming is taking over their child’s life. However, there are many positive aspects of video games when they are played in moderation. It’s all about balancing screen time with other hobbies and interests.

This article explains how to help your child develop healthy gaming habits and gives screen-free activity examples that will appeal to kids of different ages including toddlers, kids, tweens, teens and adults.

Gaming or tech use out of control? Get immediate help for you or your loved one’s problem. Book a free Gameplan call now to learn if our program is the right fit for you.

What is healthy gaming?

gamers

Healthy gaming is when your child has a good gaming-life balance. They are physically active, socialize offline with friends and family, prioritize schoolwork and have other hobbies apart from playing video games. When the balance tips and gaming starts to take over, your child is likely to develop unhealthy habits – they may skip school, neglect their personal hygiene, eat junk food, wake up in the night to game and drop activities they used to enjoy.

To help your child develop and maintain healthy gaming habits, talk to them about what motivates them to play video games. Our 15 Reasons People Play Video Games article will help you steer the discussion. If you understand why your child likes gaming so much – for relaxation, escapism, excitement, competition, socializing – it will be easier to help them find non-screen activities to fulfill those needs.

Check out our screen time guidelines which advise that toddlers should avoid all screens except video calls, kids aged 2-5 years have one hour of screen time per day, no more than two hours of daily screen time for 6-12-year olds and the same limit for teenagers (excluding school use). You also want to avoid these dangerous apps for kids. To encourage healthy gaming habits for kids, it is important to set and monitor screen time limits at home. Your child may ask: “How can I have fun without screens?” or even “What are non-screen activities?” We have plenty of ideas to inspire them.

Screen-free activities by age

So, how do you entertain kids without screens in our tech-centric world? Here are some suggestions for toddlers, younger children and teens:

Screen-free activities for toddlers

screen free activities for toddlers

  1. Singing songs and nursery rhymes – Young children love music and movement. Singing songs and nursery rhymes together is a great way for them to develop their language and communication skills. See if there’s a baby rhyme time at your local community center or library.
  2. Read to your toddler – Listening to stories will give your toddler a feel for the sounds and rhythms of language. Looking at the pictures will stimulate their imagination. A book before bedtime – or any time of the day – is also good for their emotional well-being.
  3. Sensory board – A sensory board (also known as a busy board) will give your toddler hours of entertainment and help develop their fine motor skills. Attach everyday household items to a large board – buckles, zippers, knobs, handles, wheels, flaps, locks— the options are endless.
  4. Playdough – Whether you buy it or make your own (and the ingredients are very cheap), playdough gives toddlers the opportunity to get creative and develop their hand-eye coordination. It also improves dexterity in their hands and fingers, which is useful for learning to write and draw as they get older.
  5. Painting – Toddlers enjoy finger painting, potato printing, marble rolling, leaf painting and just unleashing their creativity on a blank sheet of paper. Not only is painting fun, but it can also help to develop concentration, and hand-eye coordination and control. Playing music as they paint will create a calm and relaxing environment.
  6. Hide and seek – If your child has been sitting in front of a screen, it’s a good idea to choose an activity that will get them moving. Hide and seek also encourages them to use their imagination and helps develop problem-solving skills as they work out where their friend, sibling or toy is hidden.
  7. Obstacle course – This is an activity that will help your toddler burn off some energy inside or outdoors. Find objects they can run to, jump over, crawl through, walk on and wind their way around. Take turns so that they can practice understanding and giving instructions.
  8. Playing with water – Toddlers love playing with water – in the bath, paddling pool or plastic bowl. Use bottles, funnels, jugs, straws, spoons, tubes and anything else that is unbreakable. Never leave a young child alone when playing with water – they can drown in less than 5 centimetres (2 inches) of water.
  9. Dressing up – This is a perfect rainy-day activity. Dressing up doesn’t always need to involve expensive, shop-bought items. Create a collection of old hats, scarves, shirts, dresses and other accessories and props. In pretending to be different characters, your child will develop their imagination and be able to express their emotions.
  10. Hands-on games – Engaging your toddler in hands-on games – such as threading cotton reels on string, stacking blocks, sorting shapes and doing simple jigsaw puzzles – is not only fun, but it will also the help develop their problem-solving and fine motor skills.

Screen-free activities for 2-5-year-olds

screen free activities for 5 year olds

  1. Exploring outside – If your child is reluctant to switch off the screen, getting outside is a great distraction. Whether you visit the local park or go for a walk in the woods, they will love having the freedom and space to run about. Getting outdoors will help develop their independence and self-confidence.
  2. Den building – Kids love video games that offer action and adventure. Building a den will give them the chance to have their own adventure. With just a few sheets, blankets, and cushions they can be transported from their home to another world. Or they can get busy outside and build a den in the garden.
  3. Role-playing – Try role-playing together in different scenarios such as a shop, hospital, dentist, vet, post office, hotel, building site – or simply pretend to be other characters and have a conversation on a toy phone. Acting out real-life roles builds confidence, creativity and communication skills.
  4. Treasure hunt – If your child is bored, a treasure hunt (also known as a scavenger hunt) is bound to get them excited. It does take a little planning to make clues and hide objects but it’s an inexpensive activity you can do at home or outdoors. Plus, it helps develop their problem-solving skills and gets them active.
  5. Memory tray – Put familiar toys and brightly-colored objects on a tray and cover them with a cloth. Give your child one or two minutes to memorize the items. Then, re-cover the items and see how many they can remember. It’s a great way to improve their attention, concentration and focus.
  6. Baking – Young kids love baking. Not only is it a fun activity, but they will enjoy a tasty treat at the end. There are lots of simple recipes available online – cupcakes or cookies are ideal. If you don’t have the time or inclination to bake, simply buy something ready-made, mix up or buy some icing, and let your pre-schooler get busy decorating.
  7. Coloring – If you’re looking for an activity that will keep your child quiet and occupied for a while, coloring is a good choice. There are plenty of low-cost coloring books available and online printables that can be downloaded for free. Whatever your child is into – dinosaurs, fairies, unicorns, cars, animals – you are bound to find something they like.
  8. Puppet making – Help your pre-schooler make a hand or finger puppet out of a sock. All you need is some paper to stick on as eyes, nose, mouth and ears. You can then use it for role-playing games, hide and seek or you could even make a little theatre and put on puppet show for friends and family.
  9. Create a collage – This simple craft activity involves pasting pictures from newspapers and magazines, photos, pieces of material or leaves onto a sheet of paper. Creating a collage will help kids at the upper end of the age range practice their cutting skills. It’s also a fun way to develop your child’s awareness of colors and texture.
  10. Make musical instruments – Noisy activities are always popular with young kids. It’s easy to make musical instruments out of things you have at home. For example, an empty plastic bottle filled with rice or pasta makes a great shaker or use a tin can, cardboard box or saucepan to make a drum.

Screen-free activities for 6–12-year-olds

screen free activities 6 to 12 year olds

  1. Reading – If your child plays video games for escapism and excitement then reading is a great way to get them immersed in other worlds and adventures. Make sure they read physical books, not online ones, for a break from digital devices.
  2. Geocaching – There are several video games that involve searching for hidden treasure. Geocaching is an exciting, offline alternative. Simply download the app and your kids can follow clues to find containers hidden in different locations. It’s fun, exciting and gets them outside and active.
  3. Mountain biking – If your child likes adventure, mountain biking is an ideal activity. Get them involved in planning a route and explore different places on two wheels. It’s great for family bonding and/or socializing with friends. Plus, there are multiple physical and mental health benefits.
  4. Martial arts – There are many popular martial arts video games so encourage your child to learn the skills themselves. There are different types to choose from – including Karate, Tae Kwon Do and Judo – whether they want to have fun, learn self-defense, be competitive or make new friends.
  5. Skateboarding – While skateboarding will get your child offline and outside, it has several similarities to gaming: the freedom to explore, learning new tricks, being in the moment and hanging out with like-minded friends. Plus, skateboarding releases endorphins in the brain which can reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
  6. Camping – Whether it’s building a den in the house on a rainy day or pitching a tent outside, camping is a great way for kids to reconnect with family and friends without digital distractions. New experiences and challenges will stimulate them mentally and physically.
  7. Arts and crafts – Many children play video games to be creative – Minecraft for example allows players to build anything they like. Similarly, art and crafts is an excellent outlet for imaginative ideas and inventiveness. It can also be relaxing, therapeutic and a way to de-stress if there has been conflict in the house because of your child’s gaming habits.
  8. Board games – If your child likes the competitive nature of video games then many board games will tick the same box. They are a great option for an afternoon with friends or family with different genres available, from casual to hardcore strategy.
  9. Playing with Lego – Kids enjoy using virtual building blocks in games like Minecraft to create towers, castles and other structures. With Lego they can construct whatever they want out of physical bricks – the only limit is their imagination.
  10. Visiting a theme park – For thrill-seeking kids, the opportunity to visit a theme park is likely to entice them offline. It’s a fantastic day out with family or friends and will enable your child to explore, have an adventure and be immersed in a fictional world.

Screen-free activities for teens

screen free activities teens

  1. DJing – Music is a form of escapism for many teens so DJing may well appeal as an off-screen activity. Like gaming, DJing offers a way to be creative, sociable and get lost in it for hours. Plus, positive, upbeat music can relieve stress, anxiety and depression.
  2. Casual or extreme obstacle courses – Adventures races like the Color Run, Tough Mudder and the Spartan Race will give teens a similar sense of excitement, competition and adrenalin rush to video games. As well as taking part on the day, they will need to get physically fit which will mean getting offline to exercise in the run up to the event.
  3. Events, concerts and meetups – Encourage your teen to get out of their bedroom and meet new people at local events, concerts and meetups. If there is nothing that appeals to them, suggest they set something up – it could even be a face-to-face meetup with other gamers.
  4. Volunteering – Gaming can be a solitary activity if your teen doesn’t enjoy multiplayer games, so volunteering in the local community is a good way to meet other people. It will give them a sense of purpose and help them feel happier and less isolated.
  5. Airsoft/paintball – If your teen loves first-person shooter games (FPS), like Fortnite , Valorant, Counter-Strike and Call of Duty, they will enjoy playing airsoft and paintball. Both are competitive team ‘shooting’ sports filled with action, adventure and excitement.
  6. Exercise class – Playing video games is a sedentary activity so an exercise class is a good way for your teen to spend time offline. There are many different classes available from pilates, zumba, dance and yoga, to circuit training and bootcamps.
  7. Running – A great way to start exercising and getting outside is running. It is accessible for people of all fitness levels whether your teen begins a couch to 5K program, starts training for a half or full marathon, or simply runs for fun either alone or with friends.
  8. Recreational sports team – Gaming can sometimes be lonely so joining a recreational sports team will help your teen make new friends in a fun and casual way. Check out what is available in your local area – dodgeball, volleyball, softball, ultimate frisbee, bowling etc.
  9. Cooking – When gaming, teens sometimes skip meals or choose junk food as a quick and easy option. That’s why cooking is such a useful off-screen activity. They will develop a life skill, learn about healthy eating and it will encourage family mealtimes.
  10. Part-time job – If your teen has a part-time job they will get a regular break from gaming as well as earning money. A job will provide structure in their life outside school, develop their team building skills and boost self-confidence.

Screen-free activities for adults

california surfer

As a parent, it’s important to remember that every time you scroll through social media, binge-watch a Netflix series or check messages on your phone, you’re setting an example for your child. They are much more likely to embrace other hobbies and activities if you model healthy screen time use. Here are some ideas of screen-free activities for adults:

  1. Learn a language – If you’ve always fancied learning another language, there has never been a better time. Whether you want to join a class or learn at your own pace at home, there’s a wide choice of learning styles and languages available. Have fun, gain confidence and practice your new linguistic skills on your next holiday or business trip!
  2. Join a book club – If you love reading, joining a book club is a great way to enjoy a wider variety of genres, discuss the plots and characters with like-minded people, and expand your social circle. If there isn’t a book club near you (check at your local library or book store), consider setting one up.
  3. Listen to podcasts – Whatever you’re interested in – current affairs, true crime, comedy, drama, health and fitness – there’s a podcast for you. Put on some headphones and listen while you are walking, running or commuting to work. It will help you switch off and relax.
  4. DIY project – Getting stuck into a DIY project will not only save you money, you’ll feel a huge sense of accomplishment afterwards. Start with something small, such as putting up a picture or hanging a shelf, and then progress to a bigger project like restoring a dresser or painting a room.
  5. Fishing – If you spend a lot of time sedentary and indoors, fishing has excellent physical and mental health benefits. It is a good form of exercise – you need to use your neck, arm and leg muscles when reeling in a fish. Getting outside also helps you relax and relieves stress, away from the pressures of everyday life.
  6. Start a new sport – Keeping fit and active is a great way to model healthy behavior to your kids. It’s easier to stay motivated if you enjoy what you’re doing. So, if you’re stuck in a rut, why not take up a new sport? Whether you fancy trying golf, tennis, badminton, basketball, swimming or something else, find out what’s available where you live.
  7. Join a choir – There are lots of different choirs and musical societies to choose from, so you’re bound to find one that appeals. Joining a choir will enable you to meet new people and escape your usual routine. As well as attending regular practice sessions, you’ll also travel to different venues for performances.
  8. Cycling – Getting on your bike is a good way to start exercising. Choose the terrain and distance to suit your fitness level. There are also indoor options available – from static exercise bikes at home or the gym, to spin classes which are fairly intense but lots of fun.
  9. Gardening – You don’t need a big outdoor space to take up gardening. You could start with some indoor plants, a window box or balcony. If you have a larger plot, it can be great fun planning what you’re going to plant – growing your own flowers, fruit, vegetables and herbs can be hugely rewarding.
  10. Group fitness class – Exercising on your own can get boring. That’s why group exercise classes like yoga, pilates, zumba, HIIT and circuit training are so popular. Working out with others is good for motivation, you’re much less likely to skip a group fitness class than the gym. It’s also sociable and enjoyable.

Our hobby tool has more ideas. Feel free to share it with other parents who ask: “How do you entertain kids without screens?” Or “What do you do on your screen-free day?”

Need help?

If you’ve tried to interest your child in these screen-free activities without success and need help getting their gaming and screen time under control, book a Gameplan call to discuss your situation. Limited spots are available.

How to Break Your Soda Addiction

As soda is made from potentially habit-forming ingredients, like caffeine and sugar, it can become addictive and cause a number of physical and mental health problems.

Are you or a loved one drinking too much soda? In this article we look at the signs and health impacts of soda addiction, as well as how to prevent or stop it.

Gaming out of control? Get immediate help for you or your loved one’s gaming problem. Book a free Gameplan call now to learn if our program is the right fit for you.

What is a soda addiction?

what is soda addiction

Is soda the first thing you think about in the morning? Do you constantly crave soda throughout the day? Do you drink soda at every mealtime and often in between? If so, you may have a soda addiction.

Soda addiction (also known as soda dependency) involves consuming excessive amounts of soda without being able to moderate your intake, despite negative health consequences.

Although soda addiction is not officially recognized as a disorder, it is a type of food addiction that releases the same feel-good hormone in the brain that can cause drug and alcohol addiction.

Signs of soda addiction

warning signs of soda addiction

Soda addiction has many symptoms in common with alcohol or drug addiction such as cravings, lack of control, tolerance and withdrawal. Here are some common signs that you or a loved one may be addicted to soda:

  • Constantly preoccupied with thoughts of drinking soda.
  • Experiencing strong cravings for soda that are difficult to resist.
  • Needing to consume larger quantities of soda to feel the same level of pleasure.
  • Often drinking more than intended.
  • Having a thirst that can only be quenched by soda.
  • Repeatedly trying to control, cut down or stop drinking soda without success.
  • Hiding soda consumption from others.
  • Feeling guilty after drinking soda.
  • Having withdrawal symptoms such as a headache, irritability or difficulty concentrating when unable to have soda.
  • Suffering from physical health problems like tooth decay and unwanted weight gain.
  • Experiencing mental health issues including depression and anxiety.

If these signs of soda addiction resonate with you, see the ‘How to stop soda addiction’ section below.

What makes soda so addictive?

why soda is addictive

There are three main reasons why soda can be addictive.

Potentially addictive ingredients

Soda has just the right amount of sugar, caffeine and carbonation to make the body crave more.

One 12 oz can of Coca-Cola contains 39 grams of sugar – that’s the equivalent of about 10 teaspoons. It produces a rush of sweetness that triggers a release of dopamine, the brain’s reward system. In fact, research has found that sugar can be more rewarding than cocaine.

Caffeine is another soda ingredient that can be addictive. It is a stimulant that speeds up messages between the brain and the body which can lead to increased energy and alertness. High consumption can cause irritability, restlessness and insomnia whereas withdrawal symptoms include headaches and poor concentration.

The fizziness of soda can also be addictive. The carbonation adds a small amount of acidity and when combined with sugar, it intensifies the ‘high’.

Habitual behavior

Drinking soda can become associated with everyday activities such as eating meals, watching a movie, scrolling through social media or playing video games. These occasions can feel incomplete without drinking soda.

Personal taste

Many people prefer the sweet, fizzy taste of soda to water and other beverages. So even when different, healthier options are available, they will always choose soda.

How soda effects your health

soda health effects

Drinking soda as an occasional treat is unlikely to be harmful, whereas excessive consumption can have adverse side effects. How soda addiction impacts your health varies from person to person but here are some of the common physical and mental health risks:

  • Tooth decay
  • Unwanted weight gain
  • Increased heart rate
  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • Insomnia
  • Nausea
  • Obesity
  • Kidney stones
  • Osteoporosis
  • Stroke
  • Anxiety
  • Depression.

How to stop soda addiction

break soda addiction

If you are concerned about your drinking habits and want to know how to consume less soda, here are helpful tips to help prevent or stop soda addiction:

Reduce your soda consumption

It can be difficult to stop drinking soda all at once. If you experience withdrawal symptoms, gradually cut down the amount of soda you are consuming. Start by drinking one then two less cans a day to wean yourself off it, building up to going for a whole day without soda. Eventually, you may choose to only drink soda when socializing with friends or at weekends.

Drink plenty of water

The best soda alternatives are still or sparkling water. Try to drink as much water as you do soda. Add mint, cucumber or fresh fruit to make it more flavorsome. Keeping hydrated with water – which has no calories, caffeine, sugar or additives – will quench your thirst, fill you up and stop you consuming so much soda.

Stop using soda as a reward

Often people use soda as a reward which can trigger dependence by promoting a high dopamine response to the drink. There is nothing wrong with rewarding yourself – just replace drinking soda with a healthier behavior that addresses the same need.

Choose a substitute for soda

Plan ahead for how you will respond when you get the urge to drink soda. Perhaps you could try breathing exercises, go for a walk or find a replacement activity.

Cut out triggers

If you drink soda when watching movies, don’t do the cinema for a while. If you always order a soda when you get a takeout, prepare food at home. Make it easier on yourself by avoiding the things that trigger your soda cravings.

Visualize yourself succeeding

Imagine yourself not needing soda to feel happy, regaining control of your life and enjoying your success.

Although these tips are not guaranteed to stop soda addiction, they may reduce your risk of developing it.

Need help to build better habits?

build better habits

If you or a loved one are addicted to soda and the above advice has not helped, consider talking to a health professional or therapist. We have a database of therapists worldwide so you can contact one close to where you live.

As soda addiction is not a recognized disorder, there is no formal treatment. However, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be effective at targeting problematic thought patterns that can cause unhealthy behaviors such as drinking excessive amounts of soda.

Sometimes, people with soda dependency also struggle with gaming or digital addiction. They spend hours playing video games or scrolling through social media, despite negative consequences. If you or someone you care about is addicted to gaming or tech, get in touch to book a free 30-minute Gameplan strategy call.

How to Break YouTube Addiction

YouTube might seem like a harmless form of entertainment, but compulsively watching videos can negatively impact your education, career, relationships and mental wellbeing.

Domingo Cullen explains how binge-watching YouTube videos became his “drug of choice”:

“I would sit entranced, swelling my command of thoroughly useless information as YouTube gently wove its spell on me, drawing me deeper and deeper into its pixelated underworld. As one video finished, another one on a similar topic loaded, sucking me in for another five or 10 minutes. Half hours became hours became half days. And outside my window, the world whizzed on…”

Does this sound familiar?

In this article, we take a closer look at what makes the video-sharing platform so addictive and suggest effective strategies to help you or a loved one have a healthier relationship with YouTube.

Tech use out of control? Get immediate help for you or your loved one’s YouTube problem. Book a free Gameplan call now to learn if our program is the right fit for you.

Who uses YouTube?

youtube statistics

YouTube is a free video-sharing and social media platform. Since its launch in 2005, and subsequent sale to Google in 2006, it has become the world’s second most-used social media network after Facebook.

Here are some statistics about the platform and who uses it:

What makes YouTube so addictive?

addicted to youtube

Although there are no specific YouTube addiction statistics available, it is estimated that 330 million people worldwide will potentially suffer from problematic internet use in 2022 and up to 10% of people in the US could have social media addiction.

In order to understand how YouTube is designed to be addictive, we only need to look at its algorithm. The algorithm behind an app can be one reason it becomes dangerous. The sophisticated technology recommends videos based on your viewing history to entice you to keep watching. This can make it difficult to know when to stop as the content never runs out. According to YouTube’s product chief, 70% of what is watched on YouTube is based on algorithm recommendations.

Although, YouTube addiction is not listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the compulsive use of YouTube is often described as a behavioral addiction. Unlike addiction to drugs or alcohol, behavioral addictions do not involve a substance. However, the desire to experience a ‘high’ from the behavior – in this case binge-watching videos – can be just as strong.

Warning signs of YouTube addiction

warning signs of youtube addiction

As YouTube addiction is not an officially recognized condition, there is no agreed criteria for problematic use. However, here are some common warning signs that you – or someone you care about – may be addicted to YouTube:

  • Spending hours at a time watching YouTube videos, thinking about videos or planning to watch videos.
  • Feeling an uncontrollable urge to watch YouTube videos when away from the platform.
  • Needing to spend more and more time on YouTube to find the same thrill.
  • Trying to control, cut down or stop watching videos, without success.
  • Having withdrawal symptoms – such as feeling irritable, restless or anxious – when away from YouTube.
  • Turning to YouTube to escape from personal problems.
  • Continuing to watch YouTube videos even when it has adverse consequences.
  • Hiding YouTube viewing habits from others.
  • Sacrificing sleep to watch just one more video.
  • Unable to stop watching YouTube during other activities.
  • Neglecting work, school, family, friends or other important life areas.
  • Losing interest in all other hobbies and pastimes.
  • Quickly reverting to YouTube overuse after taking a break from the platform.

How to stop binge-watching YouTube

Even if your binge-watching isn’t a full-blown YouTube addiction, it might still be causing problems in your life. If you want to stop wasting time on the internet, here are some steps you can take:

Clear your YouTube history

As explained above, to keep you wanting more, the YouTube algorithm combs through your search and watch history to recommend videos it thinks you would like. The best way to stop it is to delete this information. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to clear your YouTube history.

Set a daily YouTube limit

Check out our recommended screen time guidelines to help you decide on a reasonable amount of time to spend watching videos each day. Then, set a daily limit so you stop using YouTube when you reach that threshold.

Switch on the take a break reminder

On YouTube settings, there is a ‘take a break’ reminder to help you manage your usage. It will pause the video until you dismiss it or resume playing the video. For users aged 13–17, the take a break reminder is switched ‘on’ but for users aged 18+ or over, the default setting is ‘off’. Find out how to set a take a break reminder.

Turn off auto-play

The auto-play feature on YouTube bombards users with a constant stream of videos. You can turn off auto-play by using the toggle option on the watch page. This may make it easier for you to step away when a video finishes. Here are instructions for turning off auto-play on different devices.

Try a digital detox

If you keep finding yourself pulled back to watching videos, try a digital detox for 24 hours or longer. The goal is not to step away from YouTube forever but to use it in a more balanced way. Read our digital detox guide.

Delete the YouTube app

If a digital detox is not possible, try deleting the YouTube app on your smartphone. Restricting access to your desktop or laptop will help you be more intentional in your use and reduce the amount of time you spend mindlessly watching videos.

Delete your YouTube account

If none of the above approaches are working, and YouTube is still disrupting your life and causing distress, you may need complete abstinence. Learn how to delete your YouTube account.

Find new activities

Find other ways to fill your time so you aren’t tempted to spend hours binge-watching videos. Our hobby tool has over 70 ideas to inspire you.

Need help to break your addiction to YouTube?

If you or a loved one are addicted to YouTube, or have any other social media addiction, expert help is available. Our coaching program is designed to help individuals and families regain balance with technology.

Get in touch today to book your gameplan strategy call.

How to Fix Your Sleep Schedule as a Gamer

“Sometimes I got to bed at like 1am because I’m trying to complete a level. I just want to get to the end before I stop but it can go on and on… if I have to get up early then I can’t.”

Does this sound familiar? Are you or a loved one sleep deprived through gaming at night? If it has become a negative cycle and you don’t know where to turn, we can help.

This article looks at why some gamers lose sleep to gaming, the symptoms of sleep deprivation and tips to fix your sleep schedule if night-time gaming is adversely affecting your life.

It’s possible to fix your sleep schedule, even if it’s reached the depths of degen. Soon you will wake up well rested and motivated for the day.

Gaming out of control? Get immediate help for you or your loved one’s gaming problem. Book a free Gameplan call now to learn if our program is the right fit for you.

Why do some gamers suffer with sleep deprivation?

Some gamers play video games late into the night and may get less sleep than they need. They may delay their bedtime to keep playing, wake in the middle of the night while their parents are asleep (in the case of young gamers) or rise early before school or work to play.

Gamers with friends in different time zones may justify playing at irregular hours to socialize with them or be on an esports team and have to practice at certain times. They may also feel compeled to play “just one more game” to complete a level of achievement or end on a win. Before they know, hours have passed and it’s the middle of the night – people with ADHD and executive function issues, in particular, may not track time well.

The mental stimulation of video games and the blue light of screens can interfere with sleep patterns and melatonin (the sleep hormone) production, so gamers don’t feel sleepy at bedtime. However, the later they play, the later they wake which can impact on school or work. It can lead to sleep deprivation and a degen sleep schedule which can have a major impact on all aspects of their health and wellness.

But what is a dengen sleep schedule? A degen (or degenerative) sleep schedule involves having an irregular sleep pattern where someone is often awake from midnight to 6am. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidelines on the recommended number of hours of sleep per night needed by each age group.

Symptoms of sleep deprivation

adults sleep deprived

Unhealthy sleep habits can have a profound effect on overall health and well-being on a day-to-day and potentially long-term basis. They can lead to the following physical and mental health problems:

  • Obesity
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Fatigue
  • High blood pressure
  • Heart disease
  • Stroke
  • Lack of concentration
  • Irritability and anger
  • Poor school or work performance
  • Lower life expectancy
  • Burnout
  • Stress
  • Anxiety
  • Depression.

Sleep deprivation is not the only negative consequence of excessive gaming. If you are concerned about your gaming – or a loved one’s gaming habits – take our short online quiz to find out if you (or they) meet the criteria for gaming addiction.

8 ways to fix your sleep schedule

rested gamer

Here are some tips for resetting your sleep schedule if it has become unbalanced due to excessive gaming at night.

1. Set a sleep schedule

Choose a set bedtime and wake-up time and stick to them every day. By following a regular schedule, your body clock will develop a new routine and healthier sleeping habits. Over time, you will know the best time to sleep; you will be ready to go to bed, have an uninterrupted night’s sleep and wake up refreshed.

2. Remove all devices from bedrooms

Removing all screens (TV, tablets, smartphones, computers) from bedrooms will greatly improve sleep as they can stimulate the brain for several hours. The whole family can try this as an experiment for a week. Keeping devices that connect to the internet out of bedrooms also increases children’s online safety and parental control of content.

3. Create a relaxing sleeping environment

Make your bedroom conducive to a good night’s sleep. Turn off devices a minimum of one hour before bed and keep them outside the bedroom. If you live in a noisy area, white noise can help you drift off to sleep (fan, air conditioning, white noise machine) or get some earplugs. Ensure the room temperature is just right – not too hot and not too cold – and you have a comfortable mattress to sleep on.

4. Skip daytime naps

If you or a loved one are staying up late to game, it can be tempting to nap during the day. If you are trying to build healthy sleeping habits, this is the wrong approach. Daytime napping can cause grogginess and make it more difficult to sleep at night. If you get the number of hours sleep per night recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there should be no need to nap in the day.

5. Get daily exercise

Regular daily exercise is a good way to improve your sleep quality, and general health and well-being. According to the Sleep Foundation, moderate to vigorous exercise can reduce the amount of time it takes to fall asleep, lessen broken sleep at night and help alleviate daytime tiredness. However, exercising in the evening can overstimulate the body so avoid working out one to two hours before bedtime.

6. Eat early

As well as setting regular bedtime and wake-up times, having meals around the same time each day will also get your body into a regular routine. Try to eat your evening meal at least two to three hours before bed and watch what you eat– food with a high fat content might disrupt your sleep because it can take longer to digest.

7. Avoid late-night caffeine and alcohol consumption

Avoid drinking caffeinated drinks or alcohol when gaming in the evening. As a stimulant, caffeine can take up to 12 hours to wear off so try to restrict caffeine consumption to the morning. Drinking alcohol before bed can also cause disrupted sleep and make you feel tired the next day (regardless of how many hours sleep you’ve had) because it prevents you from reaching the rapid eye movement (REM) restorative stage of sleep.

8. Establish a calming bedtime routine

Creating a relaxing bedtime routine can help you wind down after an evening of gaming:

  • Follow the same hygiene habits – take a bath or shower, brush your teeth
  • Focus on calming activities such as deep breathing, yoga or meditation
  • Write down your thoughts in a journal
  • Read a book
  • Listen to relaxing music.

Still need help?

level up irl

If you or a loved one have tried these healthy sleeping tips without success, book a Gameplan call to discuss your situation. Limited spots are available.

Other specialist support and resources from Game Quitters include:

Healthy Gaming Habits for Kids, Teens and Adults

Video gaming is the most popular form of entertainment worldwide among children and adults alike. People play video games to connect with friends, overcome challenges, explore alternate worlds, develop interesting careers and just for fun.

However, gaming is an activity that occurs on a spectrum, from healthy at one end to harmful at the other end.

In this article, we look at the positive and negative effects of gaming and share some healthy gaming tips for kids, teens and adults.

Gaming out of control? Get immediate help for you or your loved one’s gaming problem. Book a free Gameplan call now to learn if our program is the right fit for you.

Video game statistics

video game statistics

There are over 3 billion gamers globally which means that almost 40% of the world’s population plays video games.

Most people have a healthy relationship with gaming and it is one of many interests and activities they enjoy. However, around 10% of gamers are at risk of playing problematically – which means that gaming has a negative impact on their life. Research finds between 2-3% of gamers globally struggle with a video game addiction.

Let’s take a closer look at video game use among adults and young people:

As the number of gamers worldwide continues to rise, there will be an associated increase in people with video game addiction. That’s why developing healthy gaming habits is crucial.

What is healthy gaming?

healthy gaming

Healthy (or positive) gaming is when people play video games as one of many activities in their life. They spend time with family, go to work or school, have real-world friends as well as online friends, and enjoy other interests besides gaming.

Gaming follows a predictable pattern we call hook, habit and harm. A gamer likes playing video games, they are hooked by the fun, stimulation, challenges, sense of conquest, skill-building, friendships and social aspect of playing with others. Modern video games are specifically designed to hook a young person’s brain to want more and more of it. And that is when harm can occur. Read our article on the pros and cons of gaming.

When gaming is a positive habit, it is a regular part of life – people make time to play games, but they still manage to get school or work and other responsibilities done. There are several notable benefits from playing video games in moderation. Find out about the positive effects of gaming.

What is unhealthy gaming?

fighting over gaming

For some people, their gaming habit begins to create harm in their life. It starts to become a greater priority, cutting into time spent doing other activities. It can negatively affect their mental and physical health, family and relationships. They may be eating poorly, not sleeping well, not exercising regularly or getting outside. Other harms include anxiety, low moods, irritability and depression. Socially, some gamers become more isolated and anxious and have difficulty making friends and interacting with others in the physical world.

Here are some common signs that playing video games has turned into an unhealthy habit. A gamer may:

  • Lose interests in sports, lose interest in friends, lose interest in school or work or hobbies
  • Make gaming a priority above everything else and talk only about video games
  • Lack motivation for anything but gaming
  • Be moody, irritable, depressed or anxious
  • Show no interest or joy in anything
  • Withdraw from family and friends
  • Develop poor eating, sleeping, hygiene habits – may stop brushing teeth or showering or stay up all night to game
  • Consume a poor diet
  • Use excessive caffeine or other stimulants to game
  • Have physical aches and pains such as headaches or back strain
  • Skip classes or work, or drop out of school or work
  • Have conflict with family members about time spent gaming or how it is affecting them.

Sometimes, a gamer may have tried to cut down but be unable to stop or reduce their gaming. They may be lying about their gaming or hiding when or how much they game. Some wake up to play through the night, drink high caffeine energy drinks or other stimulants and suffer the knock-on effects of sleeplessness through the day. Find out more about the negative effects of gaming.

Healthy gaming tips

gamers

Are you concerned about the amount of time you spend gaming? Is your child or teen showing signs of video game addiction? Here are some tips to help you and your family develop healthy gaming habits.

Healthy gaming habits for kids

Parents should be responsible for setting rules and limits for their child.

  • Have gaming in a communal area of the house, not their bedroom
  • Ask your child to explain what they are playing to check it’s age appropriate – ideally, get involved in their gameplay
  • Find out who your child is playing with
  • Make sure they get schoolwork and other responsibilities done before gaming
  • Suggest games that move the body, like dance apps
  • Make sure your child plays other games in addition to video games
  • Encourage them to get outside and play
  • Stop gaming an hour before bed
  • Keep them hydrated with water
  • Have limits – the recommendation is 30 minutes on weekdays, one hour per day on weekends
  • Make sure your child understands safety rules – no giving out personal information on chats.

Healthy gaming habits for teens

Gaming limits and rules should be agreed by parents and teens.

  • Get schoolwork and other responsibilities done first, before gaming
  • Take breaks to move around and stretch
  • Keep gaming in a communal area of the house
  • Make time to socialize with real life friends
  • Make daily physical activity or sports a priority, go outside for a walk every day
  • Stop gaming an hour before bed
  • Stick to your limits – decide how much you will play, then set an alarm and stop when it goes off
  • Stay hydrated with water and limit caffeine and stimulants, avoid junk snacks
  • Understand safe gaming – no giving out personal information online.

Healthy gaming habits for adults

  • Limit your gaming to certain times and places, use a schedule to keep it in balance
  • Keep gaming out of the bedroom to avoid disrupting sleep
  • Use an alarm to let you know the time is up if you tend to ‘lose yourself’ in the game
  • Choose games that are positive experiences instead of negative ones, especially with toxic play and overspending
  • Minimize blue light from screens by using blue light minimizing glasses or modes on your screens, as blue light interferes with our sleep schedules
  • Keep hydrated and take breaks to stretch and move
  • Limit caffeine and stimulants while playing
  • Eat healthily and avoid junk snacks.
  • Review how much you’re playing every week and adjust it accordingly

Need help to control gaming?

control gaming

If you or a loved one have tried these healthy gaming tips and still need help, book a Gameplan call to discuss your situation. Limited spots are available.

At Game Quitters, our Respawn program helps gamers detox from gaming and get their life back on track. Our Reclaim program helps families reduce conflict and manage problem gaming.

Other resources include:

60 Best Summer Hobbies for Kids

Video games can be a fun and harmless activity when played in moderation. It’s all about encouraging healthy gaming habits for kids. But what is healthy gaming? A key aspect of healthy gaming is ensuring your child enjoys a balance of hobbies and interests. That means taking regular breaks from screen time.

But how do you entertain kids without screens and what is the best hobby for a child that loves gaming?

Gaming or tech use out of control? Get immediate help for you or your loved one’s problem. Book a free Gameplan call now to learn if our program is the right fit for you.

How do I keep my child entertained in the summer?

kids paint

With the school holidays stretching ahead, you may be wondering what to do in the summer to entertain your kids. We are often asked: “What are non-screen activities that will appeal my child?”.

We have listed a range of summer hobbies examples below that are good replacement activities for video games. You may be wondering: “What can an 11-year-old do when bored at home?” or “What can a 10-year-old do in the summer?” However, rather than show the summer hobbies by age, we have set them out in categories as some activities will appeal to kids of different ages.

60 summer hobbies for kids

Our list of 60 hobby ideas below will help you entice your child away from video games over the summer. Our hobby tool has even more suggestions.

Hobbies for relaxation

kids reading

1. Reading

Reading is the ultimate form of escapism. It’s a great way to discover new worlds and connect with the characters away from screens.

2. Colouring

Colouring is a relaxing and creative hobby that appeals to kids of all ages. It’s easy to get started and can be focussed on something they are interested in.

3. Story writing

Story writing is a way for kids relax, calm their mind and express their feelings. It can also be fun as they develop storylines that tap into their interests.

4. Yoga

Yoga is a relaxing hobby that has physical benefits – it develops strength and flexibility – and is also good for mental well-being.

5. Meditation

Paying attention to the current moment through meditation can help improve sleep, increase attention span, reduce stress and anxiety, and build mental resilience.

6. Gardening

With so much time spent on screens, gardening is a great way for the digital generation to connect with nature. Growing fruit and vegetables is particularly rewarding.

7. Knitting

Knitting can help kids to unwind and it’s an easy skill for beginners to learn. This practical hobby produces results (hats, scarfs, bags) that provide a sense of achievement.

8. Walking

Getting outside in nature will help your child unplug and de-stress. It also has multiple physical health benefits.

9. Listening to music

Discovering new bands and artists, and getting immersed in their music will appeal to kids of all ages.

10. Journaling

Journaling is very relaxing and therapeutic. It can help your child reflect on their life, relieve feelings of anxiety and practice gratitude.

Hobbies for getting active

kids running

11. Running

Running is one of the easiest keep-fit hobbies to start. All your child needs is a pair of trainers and somewhere to run.

12. Dancing

There are many types of dance and many ways to get involved – whether it’s a dedicated dance class or moving to some tunes at home.

13. Mountain biking

There’s not much your child needs to go mountain biking – just a bicycle, helmet and some ideas of different routes to explore. This is a fun activity to do with friends.

14. Skateboarding

Skateboarding has quite a steep learning curve but it’s easy to practise and when your child starts to make progress it can be incredibly rewarding.

15. Weightlifting

Kids can start with body weight exercises such as sit-ups, push-ups and squats, then move on to a simple dumbbell workout.

16. Roller skating

All your child needs are some roller skates, protection and somewhere safe to practise. If they start slowly, they will soon be whizzing around.

17. Swimming

Swimming is a great summer activity for all the family. It’s something you can do indoors and outside whatever the weather.

18. Rock climbing

You don’t need to live near mountains for your child to take up this hobby. Many towns and cities have indoor climbing centres that offer instruction.

19. Group fitness class

Taking part in a group fitness class is a fun and sociable activity. There is something for everyone – pilates, circuit training, spin classes, water aerobics, bootcamps.

20. Martial arts

Your child may be interested in learning martial arts if they play this genre of video games. Find out what’s available in your area – Karate, Tae Kwon Do and Judo are popular.

Hobbies that are adventurous

geocaching

21. Geocaching

Geocaching combines the excitement of discovering somewhere new with thrill of hunting for treasure. Simply download a geocaching app and off you go!

22. Camping

Whether you set off on a family camping trip or your child pitches a tent in the garden, camping will show your child there’s more to life than video games.

23. Hiking

If your child is reluctant to go hiking, invite one of their friends along. It’s more fun exploring new places, climbing trees and playing hide and seek when they have company.

24. Escape room

Completing challenges and solving clues to escape from the room make this a fun and high-adrenalin activity for your child and their friends.

25. Airsoft/paintball

If your child enjoys first-person shooter video games, they will love playing airsoft and paintball – both simulate gun combat with mock weapons.

26. Road trip

Wondering what do you do on your screen-free day? Getting out of the house on a road trip – even if it’s not far from home – is a good distraction from video games.

27. Theme park

Next time your child asks, “How can I have fun without screens?” a theme park visit is a good option. There are rides and attractions to appeal to all ages.

28. Adventure races

Extreme obstacle courses like Tough Mudder and the Spartan Race will give older kids something to train for as well as a great experience on the day of the event.

29. Abseiling

Abseiling is a great activity for kids of all ages. They will experience an adrenalin surge as they make their descent and a huge sense of achievement afterwards.

30. Orienteering

Orienteering combines outdoor adventure with map reading and navigational skills. It is can either be a competitive sport or a fun activity.

Hobbies that teach a skill

kids volunteering

31. Volunteering

If your child is bored over the summer, volunteering is a good way to fill their time. As well as getting involved in the community and learning new skills, it will boost their self-confidence.

32. New instrument

Whether or not your child already plays an instrument, the summer holidays are a good time to start learning a new one as there is lots of time to practise.

33. New language

Learning a new language can be extremely rewarding. Find out what interests your child – they may be inspired by their favourite food, film or next holiday destination.

34. Coding

Coding is a sought-after skill that often starts as a hobby. There are many online resources that cover the basics of HTML, JavaScript and CSS.

35. Drama

If your child lacks confidence, they could start with acting exercises at home and then progress to a drama workshop or acting course.

36. Woodworking

Perhaps a family member could help your child get started on a simple woodworking project or they could do a course to learn the basic skills.

37. Cooking

Cooking is a great life skill to learn and the possibilities are endless – from trying new recipes to creating something completely unique.

38. Chess

If your child likes the competitive aspect of video games, they are likely to enjoy learning to play chess. It’s a game of skill that can provide hours of entertainment.

39. Public speaking

Public speaking is a highly useful life skill. If your child loves gaming, they could demonstrate their knowledge and expertise by talking about video games.

40. Summer job

A summer job will give your child a regular break from video games. They will learn new skills, earn some pocket money and meet new people.

Hobbies that are creative

scrapbooking

41. Scrapbooking

Creating a scrapbook will while away hours of time over the summer. It’s a relaxing hobby that focuses on something your child is interested in.

42. Blogging

If your child likes writing and enjoys sharing their ideas and opinions, blogging is a good choice of hobby. It’s easy to get started and there are plenty of blogging platforms around.

43. Painting

Painting (or drawing or doodling) is a way for your child to express themselves. It’s a hobby they can do anytime at home or as part of a class.

44. Sewing

Sewing (or embroidery or crocheting) can be highly creative. It requires concentration which can be a good distraction if your child sometimes feels anxious or stressed.

45. Photography

Photography is a highly accessible hobby because most kids have a smartphone in their pocket which is suitable for learning the basics of photography.

46. Writing music

If your child enjoys playing an instrument and can read music, they may want to start writing their own music. You can find free software online such as MuseScore.

47. Baking

Baking is a fun and creative activity to do at home. Your child can conjure up a host of sweet and savoury treats independently or supervised, depending on their age.

48. Graphic design

Graphic design is a hobby that is easy to get into at home. There is plenty of free graphic design software available online to get your child started.

49. Crafting

Crafting can be very relaxing while still requiring concentration and focus. There are lots of craft kits available or your child could use materials you have at home.

50. Lego building

Lego offers endless hours of entertainment for kids of all ages. They can build whatever they want – the only limit is their imagination.

Hobbies for being sociable

kids djing

51. DJing

DJing is a good replacement activity for gaming as it has several similarities – there are limitless tracks, it can be highly sociable and it will fill any amount of time.

52. Events, concerts and meetups

Get your child out of their bedroom and socializing with other people at local events, concerts and meetups.

53. Book club

If your child loves reading, joining (or setting up) a book club is a great way to socialize and connect with others over a shared interest.

54. Board games

Board (or card) games are a great way to spend time with friends and family with many different types of games available.

55. Recreational sports team

Joining a recreational sports team will help your child make new non-gaming friends. Check out what sports are available in your local area.

56. Starting a club with friends

If you can’t find any clubs or activities that interest your child locally, perhaps they could set one up with some friends.

57. Magic tricks

Performing magic tricks is a fun way to entertain friends and family, and perfecting the tricks and illusions is a good screen-free activity.

58. Bowling

Bowling is a sociable hobby and a good way for your child to make friends. When players are not on the lane, they are usually sitting and chatting with teammates.

59. Coaching

If your older child is good at a sport or activity, they could share their skills and knowledge with other people.

60. Starting a band

If your child sings or plays an instrument, they could team up with others to start a band – writing their own music or performing songs from other artists.

Need help?

If you’ve tried to interest your child in these summer hobbies and they still only want to play video games, book a Gameplan call to discuss your situation. Limited spots are available.

Addicted to Anime and Manga? Here’s What to Do.

Anime TV shows and movies, and manga graphic novels and comics are experiencing a surge in popularity as streaming services like Netflix are making the genre accessible to global audiences. People are attracted to the action-packed storylines and insights into Japanese lifestyle and culture.

However, there is a dark side to this cultural phenomenon as an increasing number of people are becoming addicted to it.

I love anime, and am certainly not ashamed of enjoying it in healthy amounts. But I find myself lying and keeping the extent to which I watch shows secret from even my close friends. Sometimes I only get a few hours of sleep at night, and go into work exhausted and perform badly because I was watching anime until late the night before.

In this article, we take a closer look at anime and manga to help you understand why they can be so compulsive and how to overcome addiction.

Get immediate help for you or a loved one’s anime or manga addiction. Book a free Gameplan call now to learn if our program is the right fit for you.

Different types of anime and manga

types of anime

The art of anime originated in Japan in 1917 but it wasn’t until the 1960s that the artist, Osamu Tezuka, (known as the godfather of manga) developed it into the hand-drawn animation we know today. In the 1990s, anime started to become recognized outside of Japan and since then it has become increasingly popular worldwide.

Although manga and anime are visually similar, they are two distinct mediums – manga are graphic novels and comics, while anime (abbreviated from animation) refers to TV shows and movies. Anime also has its own anime terms. There is a blurring of lines though as some of the more popular manga graphic novels have been adapted into anime such as Dragon Ball and Devilman Crybaby.

There are five types of anime and manga for different ages and genders – kodomomuke, shonen, shoujo, seinen and josei:

  • Kodomomuke – popular with younger children of both sexes who enjoy the sweet and simplistic stories.
  • Shonen – aimed at boys aged 8 to 18 years old. Typically, they are action-packed and feature a young male protagonist.
  • Shoujo (or shojo) – targeted towards tween and teenage girls due to the romance-centered stories and plots.
  • Seinen – suitable for young males aged 18+ because they tend to have more violent content in the storylines which include action, adventure, sci-fi and horror.
  • Josei – for older females aged 18+ as they are a mature version of shoujo due to the more realistic portrayal of relationships.

In Japan, the birthplace of anime, many people are addicted to watching anime or reading manga graphic novels. In fact, there is a term for people with anime addiction – they are called ‘otaku’. A 2013 survey found that 42.2% of Japanese teenagers described themselves as a type of otaku. Outside of Japan, anime and manga addiction is also a growing problem.

Why is anime so addictive?

anime addiction

The most common reasons for becoming addicted to anime and manga include:

  • FOMO – There is often a continuing storyline, with each episode ending on a cliff-hanger. When a new episode starts or book gets released, you may experience FOMO (fear of missing out) and feel compelled to watch or read ‘just one more’ to see what happens next.
  • Escapism – Coping with everyday life can be difficult for teenagers so they find it attractive to escape into anime where the characters, settings and plots are a good distraction. However, using anime or manga to escape from reality and/or relieve stress, anxiety and depression can be become addictive.
  • Boredom – If you have nothing else to do, watching anime or reading manga novels is an easy way to fill hours of time. However, this can have negative repercussions including sleep deprivation, family conflict and a decline in school grades.
  • Social connection – For people who struggle to make friends in the physical world, anime offers a sense of community. You can join parties, conventions and communities with others who are passionate about anime and get deeper into the subculture.
  • Streaming services are addictive – Watching anime on streaming services, like Netflix, can be highly addictive because when one episode finishes, Netflix will ‘autoplay’ the next episode which makes it difficult to switch off and walk away. Plus, there are dozens of new shows coming out every season so there is always something new to watch.

Dive Deeper: How to Stop Binge-Watching Netflix – 2 Methods

Have you ever asked yourself: “How do I stop my addiction to anime?” or “How do I stop my addiction to manga?” If so, read on…

Signs of anime and manga addiction

manga addiction

Here are some warning signs that you or a loved one may be addicted to anime or manga:

  • Experiencing an uncontrollable urge to binge-watch anime or read manga novels.
  • Needing to spend more and more time on anime/manga to find the same level of pleasure.
  • Attempting to control, cut down or stop anime/manga use without success.
  • Getting so emotionally attached to the characters and story that you feel irritable, restless or anxious when away from it.
  • Using anime/manga to escape from stress, anxiety or depression.
  • Devoting so much time to anime/manga that it has a negative impact on other areas of life such as school, work and/or relationships.
  • Neglecting all other hobbies and interests you used to enjoy.
  • Lying to cover up the amount of time you are spending on anime/manga.
  • Quickly reverting to excessive use after a period of abstinence.
  • Experiencing the physical consequences of a sedentary lifestyle and excess screen time (or reading time) such as eye strain, migraines, sleep deprivation, backache, obesity and poor personal hygiene.

How to overcome anime and manga addiction

Do you want to stop binge-watching anime? Are you worried that you may be addicted to manga? These effective strategies will help you regain control:

  • Set yourself a time limit or a certain number of episodes/pages per day – check out our recommended screen time guidelines.
  • Consider taking a complete break from watching anime or reading any manga for a certain period of time – it could be a day, a weekend or longer.
  • Use anime or manga as a reward. Get other tasks done first.
  • Turn off autoplay on Netflix or other devices you use to watch anime.
  • Remove fan sites from your browser favorites.
  • Stop attending anime/manga conventions.
  • Cut back on buying anime and manga merchandise.
  • Find new activities to fill your time. Use our hobby tool for inspiration.

Still need help?

If you or someone you care about has tried the above strategies and nothing is working, we can help. At Game Quitters, there are many great resources you can access to get your life back on track:

You can also get in touch to book a gameplan strategy call to discuss our coaching programs.

How to Stop Instagram Addiction

For most people, Instagram is a fun way to share and comment on photos and videos. However, some users – particularly teenage girls – are spending too much time compulsively scrolling while neglecting other interests, schoolwork, relationships, and their mental health and well-being.

In this article, we take a closer look at the social media app to help you understand more about the risks involved and why Instagram is so addictive.

Get immediate help for you or a loved one’s social media addiction. Book a free Gameplan call now to learn if our program is the right fit for you.

Who uses Instagram?

instagram statistics

Instagram is a free photo and video-sharing platform. Since its launch by Apple in 2010, and subsequent sale to Facebook in 2012, it has become the world’s fourth most-used social media network after Facebook, YouTube and WhatsApp.

There are currently over 1.1 billion monthly users worldwide and this figure is projected to increase to nearly 1.2 billion monthly users in 2023.

According to a Global State of Digital 2022 report, the majority of Instagram users are Millennials and Gen Z:

  • 13-17 years old – 8.5%
  • 18-24 years old – 30.1%
  • 25-34 years old – 31.5%
  • 35-44 years old – 16.1%
  • 45-54 years old – 8%
  • 55-64 years old – 3.6%
  • Over 65 years old – 2.1%.

Across all age groups, the gender split is fairly even: male users – 50.7% versus female users – 49.3%. However, this is not the case in every age category, for Instagram users aged 35+, women outnumber men.

The average user scrolls through the platform for 53 minutes every day which equates to eight months of their life spent on Instagram. 63% of Instagram users check the app at least once a day and 42% open the app multiple times.

Although there are no specific Instagram addiction statistics available, it is estimated that 330 million people worldwide will potentially suffer from problematic internet use in 2022 and up to 10% of people in the US could have social media addiction.

What makes Instagram so addictive?

social media addiction

Several ex-employees of Apple, Facebook and Google have revealed that Instagram is designed to be addictive. It uses sophisticated and data-driven methods to entice users to spend as much time as possible on the platform because this generates more advertising revenue. One former Instagram addict explains how “fighting a habit can be very hard, especially if there is an army of programmers, behavior scientists as well as data analysts working against you.”

App developer Peter Mezyk explains that “the success of an app is often measured by the extent to which it introduces a new habit.” He reveals that developers use a three-pronged approach when designing an app: sufficient motivation, an action and a trigger. Instagram ticks all three boxes. This is a way that apps are specifically designed to be dangerous for kids. The motivation comes from the reward system triggered by scrolling through photos and videos – it releases the feel-good neurochemical dopamine that can leave us craving more,. The action comes from being able to open the app and interact with it straight away. And the trigger comes in the form of smartphone notifications and the fear of missing out (FOMO).

Dive Deeper: The Dopamine Theory of Addiction

For some people, like bestselling author Laura McKowen, Instagram can become as addictive as drugs or alcohol. McKowen published an article in The New York Times about how she was addicted to Instagram. Her life became increasingly consumed by the app to the point that it started to harm the relationship with her daughter and boyfriend, so she decided to quit the platform. She describes “the buzz of fear in my stomach, the clutch of anxiety around my throat, the endless procession of negative thoughts, the fractured texture of my attention.”

How Instagram impacts mental health

mom addicted to social media

Research has shown that Instagram is associated with positive and negative effects, depending on how it’s used.

According to the Pew Research Center, most teenagers report that social media helps them feel more connected to friends and provides emotional support.

However, Facebook’s internal studies, published by The Wall Street Journal, reveal that Instagram has made body image issues worse for one in three 3 teenage girls.

The American Psychological Association says that “studies have linked Instagram to depression, body image concerns, self-esteem issues, social anxiety, and other problems. By design, the app capitalizes on users’ biological drive for social belonging—and nudges them to keep on scrolling.”

Signs of Instagram addiction

instagram addiction warning signs

What are the signs that you are addicted to Instagram, or your son or daughter is addicted to Instagram? Here are a few red flags to watch out for:

  • Feeling an uncontrollable urge to check and scroll through Instagram.
  • Needing to spend more and more time on Instagram to find the same level of pleasure.
  • Attempting to control, cut down or stop using the app without success.
  • Feeling irritable, restless or anxious when not using Instagram.
  • Turning to Instagram to escape from personal problems.
  • Devoting so much time to Instagram that it has a negative impact on other important life areas.
  • Unable to stop scrolling through Instagram during other activities.
  • Losing interest in all other hobbies and pastimes.
  • Quickly reverting to excessive Instagram use after a period of abstinence.

The way social media apps, such as Instagram, affect your brain even has a term now called TikTok brain.

Get immediate help for you or a loved one’s social media addiction. Book a free Gameplan call now to learn if our program is the right fit for you.

How to stop Instagram addiction

If you, or someone you care about, is showing signs of Instagram addiction here are some tips to help break the scrolling cycle:

Stop sharing photos and videos

Although Instagram is not just about sharing content (it’s also about seeing what other people have posted), cutting out one of these reasons for scrolling will reduce your time spent on the platform. That’s because if you haven’t shared any photos or videos, you won’t be tempted to keep checking for likes and comments.

Turn off your phone

You may start the day with good intentions not to check Instagram but it’s very tempting to reach for your phone when you receive notifications. However, if you switch off your phone for the day, it’s much easier to ignore it. Choose a non-workday and let close friends and family know an alternative way to contact you in an emergency. You will be surprised how liberating it is to be able to focus on other activities without any distraction.

Delete the Instagram app

If it’s not possible to switch off your phone for a whole day, try deleting the Instagram app on your smartphone. Restricting access to your desktop or laptop will help you be more intentional in your usage and reduce the amount of time you spend mindlessly scrolling and commenting.

Use the ‘Take A Break’ feature

Instagram has recently launched a new ‘Take a Break’ feature to help users spend less time on the app. It gives you the option of receiving notifications to take a break from Instagram after a certain amount of time. Here are instructions for setting it up.

Set a daily Instagram limit

Check out our recommended screen time guidelines to help you decide on a reasonable amount of time to spend on Instagram each day. Then, set a daily limit so you stop using the app when you reach that threshold. Find out how to set a daily Instagram limit.

If you are also addicted to other social media apps such as TikTok you will need to set limits for them as well.

Find new hobbies

Find other hobbies or activities to fill your time so that Instagram isn’t the default whenever you are bored. Our hobby tool has over 70 ideas to inspire you.

Get expert help

stop instagram addiction

If you, or a loved one, are suffering from Instagram addiction, help is available. Our coaching program is designed to help individuals and families regain balance with technology.

Get in touch today to book your gameplan strategy call.

Social Media Addiction – Statistics, Symptoms, Treatment

Millions of people around the world use social media every day but how does a seemingly harmless hobby become an addiction?

An ever-increasing array of social networking sites are available on which to post, like, comment, share or follow – from Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube.

While social media is a great way to connect with friends and family, watch videos and discover a world of information, for many people it can have negative repercussions including a fear of missing out (FOMO). This can make some people feel that others are leading more fun and interesting lives, which can trigger feelings of loneliness and low self-esteem that can eventually cause more serious mental health issues.

This article lifts the lid on social media addiction – what it is, how to identify it and where to get support if you, or a loved one, are struggling.

Get immediate help for you or a loved one’s social media addiction. Book a free Gameplan call now to learn if our program is the right fit for you.

What is social media addiction?

why social media is addictive

There is currently no official diagnosis of social media addiction. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) from the American Psychiatric Association lists it as a “condition for further study”. However, compulsive social media use is widely recognized as a behavioral addiction that is becoming increasingly common and gaming disorder was officially recognized in 2019.

Unlike addiction to drugs, alcohol and nicotine, behavioral addictions do not involve a substance. However, the desire to experience a ‘high’ from the behavior – in this case scrolling through posts, images and videos – can be just as strong, especially if the app is particularly dangerous.

Social media addiction is usually characterized by an uncontrollable urge to log onto social media and continue to engage in the activity for extended and frequent periods of time despite the damage it may cause to relationships, work or school responsibilities, and physical and mental health.

Clearly not everyone who uses social media will develop an addiction. But as social networking sites becomes increasingly accessible to more and more people around the world, there is likely to be an associated rise in the number of people suffering from social media addiction.

Why is social media so addictive?

In order to understand why social networking sites can be so addictive, we need to look at how social media affects the brain.

Whenever you use social media, the brain releases dopamine – the feel-good neurotransmitter. As a result, the dopamine makes your brain recognize social media as a rewarding activity that you should repeat again and again. Over time, the brain becomes reliant on this type of stimulation as the positive feelings experienced when using social media are only temporary and the dopamine rush soon wears off. So, the brain needs more and more social media use to induce the same feelings of pleasure – there’s even a term now called TikTok brain.

The constant stream of likes, comments, shares, views and emoticon reactions from social networking sites cause the brain’s reward pathways to trigger the same kind of chemical reaction seen with alcohol or drug use. Stanford psychiatrist, Anna Lembke, describes the link between drugs and ‘digital dopamine’ when describing the addictive potential of social media:

“Just as the hypodermic needle is the delivery mechanism for drugs like heroin, the smartphone is the modern-day hypodermic needle, delivering digital dopamine for a wired generation. The hypodermic needle delivers a drug right into our vascular system, which in turn delivers it right to the brain, making the drug more potent. The same is true for the smartphone; with its bright colors, flashing lights and engaging alerts, it delivers images to our visual cortex that are tough to resist. And the quantity is endless. TikTok never runs out.”

Sometimes, social media is used to relieve stress, loneliness or depression. However, the more you turn to social networking sites as escapism, the more the negative consequences of social media will worsen loneliness or stress. This pattern of behavior can become increasingly destructive over time. Undoing the damage done to the brain because of addiction to social media can take months to correct.

Social media statistics: scale and usage

social media statistics
Source: Hootsuite’s Digital Trends Report 2022

These statistics offer a fascinating insight into the scale of social media usage and how overreliance on social networking sites can be a cause for concern.

  • 4.62 billion people now use social media – 58.4% of the world’s population. Globally, the number of social media users has grown by more than 10% (424 million) in the last year.
  • It is projected that the average adult will spend 6 years and 8 months of their life on social media.
  • The average daily time spent using social media in 2021 was 2 hours 27 minutes (up from 1 hour 37 minutes in 2013).
  • More than 210 million people worldwide are estimated to have suffered from addiction to social media and the internet in 2017. Allowing for increase in social media usage since then, it is estimated that around 333 million people globally are likely to experience problematic social media use today. In fact, some experts think that up to 10% of people in the US could have social media addiction.
  • 9% of US online users report feeling “completely” addicted to social media, with 30% feeling “somewhat” addicted. The percentage of people addicted to social media is highest among those aged 23-38 with 15% feeling “completely” addicted and 37% feeling “somewhat” addicted.
  • Young people who spend five hours each day using their phones are almost twice as likely to have depression than people who spend only one hour a day online.
  • Young, single females are more likely to be addicted to social media than any other group.
  • Almost half of teenagers (45%) check mobile devices after going to bed and around a quarter (23%) check their mobile device more than 10 times a night.
  • FOMO (fear of missing out) is experienced by 56% of social media users who are afraid of missing out on events, news and important status updates. The most common contributors of FOMO include Facebook (72%), Instagram (14%), Twitter (11%), and Pinterest (8%).
  • Young people feel under pressure to portray their ‘best life’ on social media and are concerned about how others will react to their posts: 32% worry about the number of likes they receive on a post, 40% often compare themselves to others on social media and 36% are concerned about receiving hurtful or negative comments.
  • Discord has 250 million registered users as it has become the social playground and fabric for most are teenagers.

Warning signs of social media addiction

mom addicted to social media

For most people, social media is a fun activity but for others it can become an unhealthy obsession. How do you know when your social media use – or the behavior of someone you care about – has become problematic? Here are some common warning signs that your relationship with social media may be spiraling out of control:

  • Frequently thinking about social media and planning how and when to use it next.
  • Needing to spend more and more time on social networking sites to find the same level of pleasure.
  • Attempting to control, cut down or stop spending time on social media, without success.
  • Feeling irritable, restless or anxious when unable to use social media.
  • Experiencing unpleasant physical and emotional symptoms when social media use is restricted or stopped.
  • Using social media to forget about or cope with personal problems.
  • Engaging with social media so much that it has a negative impact on work or school.
  • Unable to stop scrolling through social media during other activities such as eating out with friends, watching a movie at the cinema or even while driving.
  • Losing interest in all other hobbies and pastimes.
  • Quickly reverting to excessive use of social media after a period of abstinence.

Get immediate help for you or a loved one’s social media addiction. Book a free Gameplan call now to learn if our program is the right fit for you.

The link between social media and mental health issues

Does time spent on social media always have negative mental health implications or can it be beneficial for our well-being?

According to a review of studies, excessive social media use is associated with a number of psychological problems, including anxiety, depression, loneliness, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and addiction for a minority of people. This is because the overconsumption of social media can make them feel isolated and socially excluded if they think that their life is not as exciting or fulfilling as other peoples’. Another study shows that young people who spend more than two hours a day on social networking sites are more likely to have poor mental health with high levels of psychological distress and suicidal ideation. This can be especially true for people on apps like Discord, TikTok and Reddit.

However, other research suggests that social media use is not always harmful. A large-scale study published in the journal Psychological Science found that the relationship between screen time and mental well-being works in a concept known as the ‘Goldilocks hypothesis’. This concept uses the same analogy as the Goldilocks and the Three Bears fairy tale – where moderation in screen time rather than porridge (not too hot, not too cold) and beds (not too hard, not too soft) is ‘just right’. The research found that high levels of daily screen time (2+ hours), especially on weekdays, was linked to lower levels of well-being. However, it also found that very low (or no) daily screen time was also linked to lower levels of well-being. The optimum well-being was associated with just under an hour a day spent online.

How to achieve a healthier balance with social media

happy teens

If you, or a loved one, want to reduce the amount of time you spend mindlessly scrolling and posting on social networking sites here are some tips:

  • Education is key. Just as parents talk to their kids about stranger danger, safe sex and avoiding drugs, you should be discussing social media usage too. It’s not just about the negative impacts of excessive use, it’s also teaching them about cyberbullying, sexting, appropriate emojis, and sharing personal photos on social media sites. You might even need to learn common TikTok terms and phrases.
  • Delete all social media apps from your smartphone so you won’t be tempted to open up the endless flow of information and feedback. Restricting access to your desktop or laptop may help you be more intentional in your use and reduce the amount of time you spend on social media overall.
  • If you aren’t prepared to delete all social media apps immediately, at least reduce your screen time by turning off or use ‘do not disturb’ on your smartphone at school or work, during mealtimes, when spending time with friends and family, and definitely while driving.
  • Switch off notifications on your social media apps some or all of the time so it doesn’t become a constant distraction.
  • If you aren’t ready for complete abstinence from social media, allow yourself a certain amount of time on social media sites each day. Our screen time guidelines for children, teens and adults will help you decide on a reasonable limit. You may find it helps to set a timer so that you stay on track.
  • Leave your smartphone, tablet and computer out of your bedroom. If you currently use one of them to wake you up in the morning, buy an alarm clock.
  • Find replacement hobbies or activities that are not technology related. Our hobby tool has over 70 ideas to inspire you.
  • Arrange to see your friends and family in person, rather than on a screen, whenever possible.
  • Try to have regular breaks from social media to stay in control and reduce your dependency on it. Take small steps to start with – perhaps an hour or a half day – then build up to a full day, weekend or avoid checking it when you’re on vacation for a complete digital detox.

Get expert help

Reducing screen time can be an effective way of cutting down on social media use before it becomes harmful. However, if your addiction to social networking sites is deep rooted, you may need professional support.

Social media addiction is treatable and many people have successfully recovered. Our coaching program is designed to help individuals and families establish a healthier relationship with technology.

Get in touch to book your gameplan strategy call to discuss how to stop social media addiction and regain control of your life.

How to Stop TikTok Addiction

Although TikTok is a popular social media platform, it can be highly addictive and lead to individuals struggling with TikTok addiction.

Many users – particularly teenage girls – are spending too much time compulsively consuming content to the detriment of other interests and activities, their education, relationships, and mental health and well-being.

In this article, we take a closer look at TikTok to help you understand more about the app, the risks involved and why TikTok is so addictive.

Get immediate help for your loved one’s TikTok addiction. Book a free Gameplan call now to learn if our program is the right fit for you.

Who uses TikTok?

tiktok users

TikTok is an app for making and sharing video content. Since its launch in 2017, and subsequent merger with Musical.ly in 2018, it has become one of the world’s largest social media platforms.

There are currently one billion users worldwide, more than 100 million in the United States and 23 million in the UK.

TikTok is banned in five countries – China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia and Bangladesh – on various grounds, including the promotion of indecency and cyberbullying. Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, is the only permitted version in China. In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, TikTok has banned new Russian posts and livestreams.

TikTok is most popular with teenage females aged 10 to 19 who account for 16.4% of active users in the US. Females aged 30 to 39 were the second largest group, representing 13.8% of users. Across all age groups, the female/male split is approximately 60%/40%.

Why is TikTok so popular?

tiktok popularity

The main reason why TikTok is so popular is apparent as soon as you open the app. Unlike other social platforms, the first thing you see isn’t a feed of your friends’ posts, but a button called ‘For You’. It offers the type of content you want to see using an algorithm based on videos you’ve watched or interacted with previously. And it never runs out of content.

The short videos available on TikTok can cause viewers to lose hours of their day to the platform. Data shared by TikTok in January 2022 revealed that the average user spends one hour and 25 minutes on the platform every day and opens the app to watch videos 17 times a day. Many users spend far longer on the platform.

What makes TikTok so addictive?

For most people, TikTok is a harmless distraction from everyday life but for others it can become as addictive as drugs or alcohol.

Dr Julia Albright, digital sociologist and lecturer at University of Southern California (USC), explains that TikTok has adopted the same principles that have made gambling addictive. In psychological terms it’s known as ‘random reinforcement’ (sometimes you win, sometimes you lose – just like a slot machine) which is how platforms like TikTok are designed.

Dr Albright says that in a sense she got addicted to TikTok the first time she used it. She started watching 15-second videos one afternoon and totally lost track of time:

“When you’re scrolling … sometimes you see a photo or something that’s delightful and it catches your attention. And you get that little dopamine hit in the brain … in the pleasure center of the brain. So, you want to keep scrolling.”

It’s not just watching video content that causes the brain to release feel-good neurochemicals such as dopamine and serotonin. When a TikTok user gets a like, comment, share, save, view or follow, it can release the same feelings of euphoria. Over time the brain becomes reliant on this type of stimulation to induce pleasure and it needs more and more TikTok videos and engagement to get the same rush of excitement. Undoing the damage done to the brain because of TikTok and other social media addiction can take months to correct and even lead to addiction.

Risks associated with TikTok

girl addicted to tiktok

As well as addiction, there are a number of other risks linked to the overuse of TikTok:

Lower attention span

A major concern is what constant interaction with digital technology, such as TikTok, is doing to the brain, particularly young brains that are still developing. Dr Julia Albright says that “our attention spans are lowering”.There is so much information to consume and so little time to consume it in.

Education and career opportunities

Overuse of TikTok can take attention away from learning, reading and doing homework. The consequences are poorer performance and lower grades at school, and ultimately fewer career opportunities later in life.

Neglect of other interests and activities

Constant scrolling through video content is a distraction from other interests and activities that can help young people develop confidence and life skills, to create a strong foundation for a happy and fulfilled future.

Family conflict

Too much time spent on TikTok can cause family conflict. Parents may become worried that too much screen usage is negatively impacting their child’s education and social development. Constant arguments can lead to a breakdown in relationships.

Physical health

Children and teens who spend hours in front of a screen have lower levels of physical fitness, higher obesity rates and less healthy eating habits than children who spend less time scrolling through social media platforms.

Mental health and well-being

A study among teenage TikTok users found that those who are addicted to TikTok experience higher rates of anxiety, stress and depression, and weaker working memory than those who use the app less frequently. When an app is affecting your mental health, it’s dangerous.

How to stop TikTok addiction

happy teens

If you’re concerned that your son or daughter is addicted to TikTok, it’s time to take action. Here are a number of steps you can take to shift the focus away from screen time to other activities:

Understand your child

Start by asking your child about TikTok and their underlying motivations for using the app. What drives and motivates them? Ask them open-ended questions but don’t argue with them; try to develop a connection, not create tension. To help understand them better learn common phrases and terms on TikTok.

Build a rapport

Showing interest in TikTok without judgment is a good start. Building trust and rapport is key. You can then gently nudge them towards other hobbies and activities and even suggest doing them together.

Create a plan

Set goals with your child – are they going to stop using TikTok altogether or just reduce the amount of time they spend on the app each day? To do the latter, you’ll need to set limits for screen time use. Agree on daily TikTok limits with your child and discuss the consequences of breaking the agreement.

Implement the plan

They may experience withdrawal symptoms in the first few days. It’s important to be aware of these symptoms and have strategies in place to address them. The next step is to find replacement activities.

Evaluate the plan

We recommend evaluating your plan once per month and making changes and adjustments, if necessary.

Get expert help

If you or a loved one are suffering from TikTok addiction, help is available. Our coaching program is designed to help individuals and families regain balance with technology.

Get in touch today to book your gameplan strategy call.

Is Your Wife Addicted to Video Games?

Struggling with a wife addicted to video games? In this article we will share how to know if your wife has a gaming problem, stories of others in similar situations and how to get help to save your relationship.

Not everyone who spends hours playing video games has a gaming problem. There’s a difference between a hobby and a problem – but the two can become blurred. What may start as a way to unwind after work or putting the kids to bed can become an unhealthy habit.

Due to the addictive nature of games, it can be tempting to play for hours into the night. Over time this pattern of behavior can become a vicious circle: being tired and irritable the next day, so using gaming to relax the next evening.

This article has real-life stories of wives who have become addicted to video games and shows the devastating impact it can have on the gamer and their close relationships.

Get immediate help for your wife’s gaming problem. Book a free Gameplan call now to learn if our program is the right fit for you.

Warning signs of a gaming problem

wife gaming

Here are some warning signs of gaming addiction that indicate your wife’s gaming may have crossed the line between loving to play and having to play:

  • Constantly thinking about gaming
  • Feeling sad, restless and irritable when not playing
  • Needing to spend more and more time gaming to satisfy the urge
  • Being unable to cut down or stop playing
  • Neglecting other hobbies and activities previously enjoyed
  • Lying about the amount of time spent gaming or playing in secret
  • Feeling constantly tired and getting headaches or hand pain from too much screen time and use of controllers
  • Having problems at work, school or home because of time spent gaming
  • Not prioritizing washing, eating and sleeping
  • Continuing to game despite problems
  • Gaming to relieve bad moods and feelings.

What can I do if my wife is addicted to video games?

It’s important to recognize that not everyone who spends a lot of time gaming has a video game addiction. However, if you’re concerned about your wife’s gaming habits, you can suggest our video addiction test to find out if she meets the criteria for problematic use.

If she doesn’t want to take the test, explain how much pain her gaming is causing you and how it’s impacting your relationship. Gently point out the effect it’s having on your family life and other activities you used to enjoy together. Ask her why she is spending so much time gaming. Is it to escape an underlying problem or stressful situation? If so, is she able to talk about it? People addicted to video games rarely see what’s going on outside their virtual world, so she needs to understand the harm her gaming is causing.

Your wife may not immediately recognize the consequences of her actions. It may take a while for her to process your conversation and that’s perfectly normal. Give her the space she needs and let her come to the realization on her own. Then you can seek help together.

Deep Dive: The Stages of Changing Unhealthy Habits

Stories of wives with gaming problems

Gaming problems can put a huge strain on relationships. We often get messages from concerned husbands saying:

  • “Why does my wife play video games so much?”
  • “Is my wife addicted to video games?”
  • “Video games have ruined my marriage.”
  • “Nothing I try is helping my spouse with gaming addiction.”

If you don’t know what to do and where to turn, these real-life stories may inspire you to get help.

A husband’s story

female gamer drinking alcohol

We recently heard from a husband whose wife is addicted to gaming. He explains how she logs on as soon as she wakes up and stays online until 2.00-3.00am because many of the people she games with are international. She just about manages to hold down a job but time spent with her friends and family is practically non-existent. She even games during vacations and on birthdays and anniversaries. This has created conflict and the more arguments it causes, the more she turns to video games.

Household chores – which they used to share – are either ignored or take an inordinate amount of time. If she does the laundry, she folds with one hand while continuing to game. Her husband told us he feels more like a slave than a partner as he tries to fill the void and keep some semblance of normalcy for their teenage sons. However, they spend hours gaming too although not to the same extent. They still make time for sports and schoolwork.

His wife recently tried to cut down on gaming – as she has lower back pain from sitting for extended periods – but it lasted less than a day. Her husband is in despair and doesn’t know what the future will hold. As she is increasingly consumed by gaming, they have little in common. He feels lonely and frustrated. What are the games giving her that he is unable to? He used to think she was lazy but he now understands it is an addiction and she needs professional help.

Sound familiar? Get immediate help for your wife’s gaming problem. Book a free Gameplan call now to learn if our program is the right fit for you.

A wife’s story

This story from a member of the Game Quitters community lays bare the potentially destructive nature of video games.

“I’m a gaming addict, mother of two boys and a stay-at-home mom. The addiction got worse when I became a mom at 21 and suffered from post-partum depression.”

Instead of getting help for her depression and gaming addiction, she spent hours playing Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. Her husband is also a gamer but plays in moderation.

She told us that she has no friends and gaming has become an increasingly important part of her life:

“I’ve been a gamer since I was five and I’m now 28 years old. I’m scared of not playing because I get bored easily, so finding something that’s just as stimulating is hard.”

After managing to stop for a short while and turning to art to fill the void, she relapsed: “I got sucked back into playing League of Legends, Black Ops 2 and a bunch of other games. I stopped drawing altogether because I felt that what’s the point in trying to teach myself to draw when it just takes too long. Trying to balance playing video games with my life seems hopeless so that’s why I relapsed.”

She has a new baby and worries how playing video games will affect her interaction with him: “Will I forget to feed him? Will I get frustrated when he starts crying and interrupts my gaming session?”

She wants to stop playing but feels trapped: “I sent in a ticket to Riot to delete my League of Legends account and they gave the option of either deactivating or deleting. I haven’t decided yet because I don’t know what would happen to me if I ended up deleting my account. All I know is that the progress I made two weeks ago would be gone. I’d have to start all over again. I hate this, I hate myself and the negativity I put myself through on a constant basis. This is just a vicious cycle. I’m lost in my own head.”

Get expert help for your wife’s gaming addiction

If these stories resonate with you, we can help. At Game Quitters, we understand how gaming impacts relationships and how gaming can harm your marriage.

Book a Gameplan call today to discuss your situation and get gaming under control. Limited spots are available.

The Stages of Changing Unhealthy Habits

There is a widely-recognized process through which people can overcome addiction and other unhealthy habits. It is known as the ‘stages of change’ or ‘transtheoretical model’. The key to achieving and maintaining a change in behavior is to find a way to stay motivated.

In this article, we look at the various stages of change to show how working through each element in the process can help you, or a loved one, cut down or quit video games.

What is the transtheoretical model (TTM)?

transtheoretical model (TTM)

In the late 1970s, two researchers – Prochaska and DiClemente – examined the experiences of two groups of smokers. The first group was those who managed to quit on their own, while the other group was those who required treatment. They wanted to understand why some people were capable of quitting on their own.

It was determined that ultimately people stop smoking if they are ready to do so, which sounds obvious. But, through their research, they discovered that changing behaviors doesn’t happen quickly. Instead, it is a gradual process that happens in a cycle.

Therefore, what has become known as the ‘transtheoretical model’ (TTM) or ‘stages of change’, was born.

What are the stages of change?

There are six stages of change in the model: precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance and relapse.

These stages can be represented as a cycle. In theory, people should go through them in order. However, in reality, people bounce between different stages, go backwards and forwards and can even be in more than one stage at a time.

For each stage there are specific strategies to help someone, such as you or a loved one, understand where you are in the process and move onto the next stage.

These stages of change examples show how changes in addictive behaviors can be encouraged and managed.

Precontemplation stage

You do not consider your behavior to be a problem. You may be in denial because you have not yet experienced any negative consequences. People around you – friends, family members or a therapist – may have commented that your gaming is a problem, but you think it’s fun and are not interested in cutting down or quitting. However, harmful repercussions will eventually arise and push you towards the contemplation stage.

Contemplation stage

You are starting to think about changing, reducing or quitting gaming but you are still undecided. You might be thinking about the benefits of changing your habits and ready to hear some strategies for managing or quitting. You might be open to non-judgmental information rather than confrontation. At this stage, it can be very useful to make a list of the pros and cons of gaming.

Preparation stage

You have moved forward to planning and preparing for carrying out changes. You may be researching strategies to reduce or quit gaming and getting support. You might be telling friends of your plans and may be looking for help online, or for a support group or forum.

Action stage

This is the stage where real change starts to happen as you develop new behaviors. Embracing and engaging new habits takes effort. But you can talk about your ‘old habits’ in a negative way and measure your progress at changing. This stage is typically a stressful time so you will need support and new ways of coping with stress. However, it can also be an exciting time as you regain control of your life and start a new chapter.

Maintenance stage

You are upholding the intentions made during the preparation stage and sticking to the behaviors introduced in the action stage. It can be a challenging time. After a while, you may become complacent and begin to think that a small ‘cheat’ on your old behavior is no big deal. Life’s problems may tempt you back into old harmful ways of coping with stress. This is the stage at which you must keep practicing recovery actions and new healthy behaviors or risk relapse into old habits.

Relapse stage

This additional stage is included to recognize that for many people, there will be lapses or relapses before they can remain firmly in the maintenance stage. Relapse can be difficult and painful, and devastating for those close to you to witness, but must be understood as part of the process.

The outcome of the stages of change addiction process is highly individual. Some people will be able to cut down and control their video game use without harmful consequences. Whereas for others, total abstinence will the only way to keep their addiction under control.

Celebrate each small victory

When you make these changes, you should reward each small victory. For example, if you are choosing to take a 30-day break from gaming, you can cross another day off the calendar, watch your progress and give yourself a small reward for each successful day. Even if the reward is just high fives and praise, a celebration of each small victory will help keep you on track to success.

Need help?

The stages of change model can help you overcome your gaming addiction, or another type of digital addiction, as long as you reach and stay in the maintenance stage.

If you need help getting gaming and screen time under control, book a Gameplan call to discuss your situation. Limited spots are available.

Is Your Husband Addicted to Video Games?

While gaming is a harmless activity for most people, it can become a problem and you may find yourself wondering if your husband is addicted to video games.

Is your husband staying up late and playing into the night? Is it creating a vicious circle where they wake up tired and irritable the next day, and then spend more hours playing video games to relax? If so, you’re not alone.

In this article we look at true stories of husbands hooked on gaming and explain how it’s possible to quit video games if they are harming your relationships.

“Gaming kept me from spending time with my wife. Since I’ve stopped our relationship has improved a lot.” –Caleb

Get immediate help for your husband’s gaming problem. Book a free Gameplan call now to learn if our program is the right fit for you.

Warning signs of a gaming problem

unhappy marriage gaming

Not everyone who spends hours playing video games has a gaming problem. Here are some warning signs of gaming addiction, or someone you care about, may have crossed the line between loving to play and having to play:

  • Constantly thinking about gaming
  • Feeling sad, restless and irritable when not playing
  • Needing to spend more and more time gaming to satisfy the urge
  • Being unable to cut down or stop playing
  • Neglecting other hobbies and activities previously enjoyed
  • Lying about the amount of time spent gaming or playing in secret
  • Feeling constantly tired and getting headaches or hand pain from too much screen time and use of controllers
  • Having problems at work, school or home because of time spent gaming
  • Not prioritizing washing, eating and sleeping
  • Continuing to game despite problems
  • Gaming to relieve bad moods and feelings.

Are you concerned about your gaming or wondering: ‘Is my husband addicted to video games?’ Take our video addiction test to find out if you, or your loved one, meet the criteria for problematic use.

Stories of husbands addicted to gaming

Video game addiction can have a devastating impact on the lives of the gamer and those around them, especially spouses or partners. We’re often contacted by people saying:

  • My wife left me because of video games
  • Video games ruined my marriage
  • My husband plays video games instead of helping with the kids and chores.

If you’re wondering how to talk to your husband about their gaming addiction, these three real-life stories may help you broach the subject.

From fun hobby to divorce – the wake-up call I needed

divorce due to gaming

A member of the Game Quitters community has shared his battle with video game addiction. He can’t remember the first few years of his children’s lives due to prioritizing gaming and regrets missing out on memorable times: “I knew I was making a negative impact on my family and realized there was no way for me to manage my time with gaming because I didn’t have the self-control.”

Things went from bad to worse as his life became increasingly consumed by gaming: “What really sent my marriage and relationship to my family into freefall was choosing to switch from day shift/second shift rotation at work to straight nights for the sole reason of being able to have more time to game through the day.”

Sadly, his marriage didn’t survive but it was the wake-up call he needed to quit gaming: “It took something so catastrophic such as my divorce to make me realize how much I missed out and ignored in life. I lived in a virtual world and ignored reality.” Today, he is in a new relationship and working to keep his gaming under control. Read the full story.

Discharged and divorced – my road to recovery

This story from the US shows the damage that excessive gaming can cause: “What started as a harmless hobby, transformed into a life-destroying addiction. One that ultimately led to me getting discharged from the military and having a marriage ending in divorce.”

He recognizes that video games were the root of his problems: “Gaming was always my number one priority. Over my wife, my child, and the countless jobs I had squandered away.” Determined to turn his life around after the divorce, he committed to three months of ‘gaming detox’, sold his gaming equipment and ditched all technology: “I didn’t even use my smartphone during this time. Friends had to fill out my job applications on their own computers.”

He is now able to play in moderation and has a supportive girlfriend: “Life is so much bigger and more rewarding than what any game can offer you. I’m living proof that you can overcome your addiction and really create a life worth living.” Read the full story.

I think my husband has gaming addiction but he’s in denial

We’re contacted by many spouses who don’t know where to turn. This story is typical of someone who refuses to recognize they have a gaming problem. His wife says: “He doesn’t play every day but even if he’s not playing every day, he’s constantly watching streams or game play videos. On the weekends he starts playing at like 11pm and then will go to bed at like 3am or 4am.”

She continues describing his preoccupation with gaming: “He built his own PC and has gotten a laptop that’s good for gaming… Whenever I visit my parents and I’m not home, he ends up spending most of that time playing… Lately he’s been obsessed with the PS5 and playing Call of Duty.”

But despite this, her husband refuses to recognize that he is addicted to gaming: “He vehemently denies it every time I bring it up and refuses to see that there is an issue. His gaming habits have caused many fights and I feel like he’s in total denial and gaslights me constantly and says I’m exaggerating.” Read the full story.

How Caleb improved his marriage by quitting gaming

Tired of feeling like a slave to games and wanting to finally get control for good, Caleb joined our coaching program in December. 94 days later, he’s free.

Instead of gaming, Caleb is now spending more time with his wife, engaging in new hobbies like board games, making extra money and learning to cook. “My priorities have shifted” he says.

His wife has noticed the positive differences too:

  • He’s more present in their relationship
  • He’s more relaxed and less stressed
  • He’s no longer “always in a rush” to get home so he can game a bit longer

For Caleb, he had been gaming for 15 years. But he’s 31 now and he wanted something different for his life. He had quit drinking and smoking weed… but his bad gaming habit was still around.

That burden is no longer weighing him down. He’s free!

“Gaming is not a substitute for the adventure of real life.” –Caleb

Help for your husband addicted to video games

Do these stories resonate with you? Is your relationship being destroyed by gaming? Concerned your husband is addicted to video games? You’re not alone and we can help.

Book a Gameplan call to see if our coaching program is a good fit for your husband to get gaming under control. Limited spots are available.

Do Video Games Cause Violence: Fact or Fiction?

We are often asked: “Do video games cause violence?”.

Research shows that video games, especially violent video games, are a risk factor for violence. However, they are often not the only cause of aggression but a contributing factor. Other factors include poor family relations, poverty, social stress, frustration and negative childhood experiences. When combined with one or more of those risk factors, playing video games can cause violence.

In this article, we look at the link between video games and violence and provide tips to help parents deal with video game-induced aggression.

Video games and violence: is there a connection?

school shooters video games

In April 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold murdered 12 students and one teacher at Columbine High School in Denver, Colorado. The pair subsequently took their own lives. The tragedy sparked a fierce debate over gun control laws, bullying and violence in video games as the two high school students enjoyed playing Doom, a video game licensed by the US military to train soldiers to kill. Many people asked at the time, should they be banned due to the effects of video games on the brain.

This event was one of the first acts of aggression to be blamed on video games. Since then, other school shootings, massacres and violent incidents have been automatically attributed to video games by the media. These news stories play on the fears of responsible parents and increase the shame and stigma attached to gaming. But are the links between video games and crime justified?

The idea that being exposed to violence causes violence is not new. It was heavily debated in the 1960s, 70s and 80s when aggressive rock music, horror movies and violent TV shows were often blamed for crimes and violence. So, are video games really to blame or is the answer more complex?

What does the science say?

gamer violence science

Research shows that video games, especially violent video games, are an important risk factor for aggression and violence. A 2015 review by the American Psychiatric Association found “a consistent relation between violent video game use and increases in aggressive behavior, aggressive cognitions, and aggressive affect and decreases in prosocial behavior, empathy and sensitivity to aggression.”

It should be noted that while all violence is aggression, not all aggression is violence. Aggression can manifest itself in different ways and it does not necessarily result in violence. Although violent video games are a significant risk factor for violence and aggression, both are caused by a range of risk factors. It is too easy to say that only video games cause violence or aggression because in many cases, it is not true.

Other risk factors for violence and aggression

angry teen

Violence is caused by a complex set of issues and risk factors, and one of them is video games. The US Department of Justice recognizes that violence, anger and aggression may be emotional or physical, and it is often a result of a combination of different risk factors including:

  • Exposure to violence and antisocial behavior in childhood
  • Influence of violence depicted in the media
  • Poverty
  • Frustration
  • Personal and social stresses
  • External events and situations
  • Biological influences, such as hereditary factors and hormones.

One of the risk factors is video games. However, playing video games alone will not make someone violent; it may increase the risk of aggression, but it will not be the only factor. Instead, research suggests that playing violent video games in combination with the above-mentioned risk factors will increase the likelihood of violence and aggression.

Do all video games cause violence?

video game addiction

Unsurprisingly, violent video games are more likely to cause violence and aggression than non-violent games. For example, games like Doom and Mortal Kombat, that are heavily focused on violence and killing, are “likely to increase a person’s aggressive thoughts, feelings and behavior” according to the American Psychological Association. Violent video game use also decreases empathy. When gaming online, it’s easy to see someone as an avatar or username, and not as a real human being.

It is important to note that not everyone playing violent video games will become violent. Those who play these types of games for hours at a time will be more likely to develop violent and aggressive behaviors than those who only play games sporadically. There is even some research that suggests violent video games might help to relieve stress.

For parents wanting to minimize the risks of aggression and violence, non-violent video games such as The Sims or Animal Crossing are good options. These types of games allow players to have adventures and excitement without exposure to violence.

Find out more about the negative effects of video games.

Tips to help parents reduce video-game induced violence

What can parents do to manage the effects of video games and anger problems? Here are some tried and tested tips that will help:

  • Check out your child’s games – Monitor the games your child is playing and remove any with overly violent content.
  • Verify game ratings and age recommendations – If you’re unsure whether a game is violent, do some research. Also check the age rating – if your child is not old enough to play the game, it should not be on their games list.
  • Promote non-violent video games – Up to 85% of all video games contain some form of violence but there are many great non-violent games. Look for games that provide excitement and adventure without too much (or any) violence.
  • Set up rules and stick to screen guidelines – We recommend screen time of no more than two hours a day for under 18s. Keep track of your child’s playing time so it doesn’t exceed this recommendation, especially if the games have some violent content.
  • Discourage isolated gaming – Make sure your child’s gaming console or device is not in an isolated space so you can better monitor what they are playing.

How we can help

If you, or someone you care about, is suffering from video game-induced aggression or violence, we recommend taking our video game addiction quiz and working with a Game Quitters coach or therapist.

For families, we have developed the Reclaim program to help you establish a better relationship with your loved one and promote healthier gaming habits.

For gamers, the Respawn program will help you regain control of your gaming, and any aggressive or violent behaviors.

Other resources include:

The Social Effects of Video Games

It’s Saturday night. Your friend is having a party and you’re invited. An hour before the party, you decide not to go. You text your friend with an excuse and stay at home to play video games instead. Weeks and months go by and you avoid several more parties because you don’t want to miss out on gaming. Eventually, your friends give up and stop inviting you.

However, you now feel lonely and isolated – you miss your friends and regret prioritizing video games. Does this sound familiar?

This article looks at the social effects of video games, including the positive and negative impacts of gaming on social skills. And also what strategies you can use to improve your social skills if you are noticing they are a problem for you.

Get immediate help for a gaming problem. Book a free Gameplan call now to learn if our program is the right fit for you.

What are the negative social effects of video games?

Excessive gaming can negatively impact social skills due to the lack of face-to-face interaction, the toxic nature of gaming and withdrawal from other social activities. Here are some of the adverse repercussions of unhealthy gaming habits:

Poor social skills

If you play video games too much, you can stop paying attention to your social skills. Developing social skills is one of the most important things you can do in life, but when you spend the entire day in front of a screen, you have few chances to hone that skill. This can lead to a deterioration of social skills, which results in a worse quality of life. We all need social skills, whether it’s to find a job, nurture a relationship or make friends.

Luckily, social skills are like a muscle; the more you use them, the more they will grow. However, if you don’t work on your social skills at all, they will weaken and decline. As with any skill, it will take time and determination, because at first, you might go through a few awkward experiences before you master your social skills.

Social anxiety

Many young people are stuck in the vicious cycle of gaming-induced social anxiety: they don’t develop social skills because they play video games so much, but they can’t socialize properly because they have social anxiety and don’t have the right skills to do so.

People who suffer from video game addiction are more likely to have social anxiety than people who don’t play games excessively. 75 75. https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2006/9/3/article-p617.xml × This is because social anxiety and gaming disorder are closely related and usually affect each other. You might develop social anxiety before getting addicted to video games – or it can happen the other way around.

Many people who suffer from social anxiety will turn to video games as a solution, and as an escape. It will work in the short term as you forget about other people. However, in the longer term, this will have an even worse effect on your social life. Your social anxiety will further deteriorate because you’re not meeting or interacting with other people. If you have social anxiety and you’re addicted to video games, it might help if you speak to a therapist.

Loneliness

Constantly playing video games to the detriment of other interests and activities is a slippery slope. You’ll start to neglect your friends and family which can leave you isolated and unable to re-establish or strike up new relationships.

Some gamers compensate for their loneliness by meeting other gamers online, which can be helpful. However, these friendships are not the same as in-person relationships, so they’re not a long-term, sustainable solution for loneliness.

The key to overcoming loneliness – and using video games as an escape – is gradual exposure. You need to try other hobbies that will allow you to socialize and find new friends in the physical world, even though it might seem intimidating at first.

Relationship breakdown

The social consequences of gaming addiction can be devastating. It can put a huge strain on relationships with family members and friends. Lying about the amount of time spent gaming and neglecting others to play video games compulsively can cause conflict, confrontation and even marriage breakdowns.

One woman posted about this issue on HuffPost. 76 76. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/my-husband-plays-video-ga_b_11493336 × She complained about her husband was addicted to playing video games so much that she was reconsidering the marriage, even though she was pregnant with his child. She explained that she was worried about the future as her husband was withdrawn and in denial about the extent of his gaming problems.

This is just one example of how gaming impacts social skills and can ruin relationships. It might not be your spouse that you’re letting down; it could be another family member or friend, or it could even be a wife addicted to gaming.

Depression

There’s a strong correlation between social anxiety and other social disorders, and depression. Not everyone with social anxiety gets depressed, but depression is often caused by social anxiety. And as excessive gaming can cause social anxiety, it is also indirectly responsible for depression.

If you’re socially anxious and don’t have well developed social skills because of playing video games, you probably don’t go out very often. As a result, you rarely meet new people, try new hobbies or have adventures and this can cause depression because life starts to lose its meaning.

This happened to Anthony, who, after many years of gaming was depressed and isolated and became suicidal. He started seeing a therapist because he was desperate for a change. This helped him to rediscover his passions and purpose in life.

Get gaming under control without cravings, boredom or wasting time on other internet activities through our Respawn Coaching program.

Toxicity

The toxic nature of gaming can cause social problems for people who play excessively. If you have video game addiction, you may well have experienced online toxicity, harassment and hate.

Players sometimes try to rationalize toxic gaming culture as a normal part of gaming. In fact, research has shown that toxic behavior is contagious 77 77. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0747563220300972 ×  and regular exposure increases the likelihood that someone will bully and abuse other players in future games. Learn more about the dark side of gaming culture in our story on how the toxic gaming community made me quit gaming.

What are the positive social effects of video games?

Despite the negative effects of gaming mentioned above, can video games improve social skills? There are a number of social benefits of gaming:

Prosocial games increase prosocial behavior

There are many prosocial games that promote the social aspect of gaming. Some games involve cooperating with other players and talking to them via text or voice chat. This can improve communication skills and encourage social interaction. Three studies conducted in three countries with three different age groups found that students who played more prosocial games behaved more prosocially. 78 78. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2678173/ ×

Gaming can be an ice breaker

The social aspect of gaming has grown beyond just playing prosocial games. Gaming can be a good ice breaker in face-to-face interactions and is often a popular topic of conversation among students at school and college. Find out more about gaming and students: benefits and risks.

Scholastic esports teams and clubs

There are an increasing number of scholastic esports teams and clubs being formed which encourage social connection. Although, players are primarily playing online, other team members are likely to be based locally so there are opportunities to meet face to face and game in person together.

Social media apps

There is an increasing convergence between gaming and social media platforms, such as Discord, that make it easy for players to connect and engage. Discord is a free voice, video, and text app that enables gamers to join a group chat with one or more other gamers so they can talk in real time while playing.

How to get help

If you, or a family member, are experiencing any of the negative social effects of gaming mentioned in this article, we recommend working with a Game Quitters coach.

At Game Quitters, we have a program called Respawn, where you will learn how to manage your gaming habits and get your social life back on track.

How to Delete Your Rainbow Six Siege Account

Looking to delete your Rainbow Six Siege account?

Then you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll show you the steps of deleting your R6S account and quitting the game for good.

Steps of Deleting Your Rainbow Six Account

Deleting your Rainbow Six Siege account is quite a simple process, but you will need to keep in mind that you’ll need to delete your Ubisoft, or Uplay account for this to work.

Even if you play the game from Steam, you’ll need to go through the process of deleting your Uplay account anyway.

The reason for this is that R6S requires Uplay to run, so even playing from Steam will require you to have an Uplay account.

So this is how to delete your Uplay account to stop playing Rainbow Six Siege.

Step 1: Log in to Your Ubisoft Account

The first step of the process is to go to Ubisoft’s website and log in to your account.

Now you’ll be able to open up the settings and start the closure of your account.

Step 2: Open Account Management

Now that you’re logged in to your account, it’s time to go to the Account Management portion of your account, where you’ll be able to delete your account.

To do that, simply click on the head and torso icon in the top right corner of the screen.

delete rainbow six siege account

After that, a tab will show up with all the options. Near the bottom of the tab, you’ll see the option “Account Management”. With this option, you’ll be able to open up the settings of your account and change them.

delete rainbow six siege account

Click on Account Management to proceed with the deletion of your account. A separate tab in your browser should now open up.

Step 3: Go to Account Information and Close the Account

Now that you’ve opened the account management screen, you’ll need to go to the “Account Information” tab.

rainbow six siege account

This will again open up a separate page where you can manage all the information of your account. It is also where you can request the closure of your Uplay account, which will help you delete your Rainbow Six Siege account.

Once you click on Account Information, scroll all the way to the bottom, where you should see a button that says “Close Your Ubisoft Account”.

rainbow six siege

The last step is to request the closure of your account by clicking on “Close”. You’ll be prompted with a window where you can read all about what you’re going to lose if you delete your account.

To confirm the deletion, tick the box in the window and click on “Close my account”. After this, you’ll have 30 days to reactivate your account, or else you’re going to have the account fully deleted.

When you want to stop gaming it’s crucial that you don’t just delete your Rainbow Six Siege account, but any other games as well, such as your FIFA account, PUBG account, or even your Candy Crush account. If you play with gamers friends, you may need to stop using Discord as well.

Need Help with a Gaming Problem?

If you suffer from poor gaming habits, we offer guides and resources to help you get your life back on track:

If you appreciate our content and what we do, feel free to share it with other people who might find this article (or other articles) helpful. Our mission is to help as many people overcome their gaming addictions and get their lives back to normal.

How to Delete Your Genshin Impact Account

If you’re looking to quit playing Genshin Impact, then the best way to start is to delete your Genshin Impact account.

When you want to play Genshin Impact on any platform, you’ll first need to create an account. And once you want to stop playing, you can also delete your account if you request its deletion.

Genshin Impact is a popular game available across different platforms, including Playstation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

The good news about deleting your Genshin Impact account is that you only need to delete your account once, even if you have it connected to different platforms at the same time.

The steps of deleting your Genshin Impact are quite simple. Just follow them and you’ll get it done in no time.

Step by Step Instructions to Delete Your Genshin Impact Account

Step 1: Log in to Your Account

The first step is to go to the Genshin Impact website and log in to your account.

delete genshin impact account

Simply enter your credentials when you’re asked and you’ll be logged in to your account where you can start making changes.

Step 2: Go to Your Account Settings

The next step is to click on your account and go to account settings. You can do that by clicking the name of your account in the top right corner of your screen.

Hover with your mouse over your account’s name and then click on Account.

genshin impact account

A separate page will now open where you might need to log in to your account again to access the settings of your account.

If you’re prompted to log in again, just enter your credentials again to proceed to the next step.

genshin impact

Step 3: Go to Account Security Settings and Delete

Next, you’ll see that the account management portal will open. On this site, you’ll be able to manage your account and change its settings.

You are interested in the deletion of the account, so the next step for you will be to click on the “Account Security Settings” tab on this screen.

instructions to delete genshin impact account

Under this tab, you should be able to see the “Delete Account” button on the bottom right corner of your screen. Click that button to proceed.

genshin impact

Step 4: Verify Your Account and Complete Deletion

The last step of the deletion process will be to verify your account through the verification code you’ll receive on your email account connected to this Genshin Impact account.

genshin impact

When this screen opens for you, click on “Send code”. After that, you should receive the verification code through your email address connected to the account. Enter that verification code and click Next.

The last step will be to confirm the deletion of your account, which you can do by clicking on “Ok” in the last window.

genshin impact

This is the complete process of deleting your Genshin Impact account. After you have requested the deletion of your account, you’ll still be able to reactivate your account by logging into the account. After 30 days, your account will be fully deleted.

Need Help with a Gaming Problem?

If you suffer from poor gaming habits, we offer guides and resources to help you get your life back on track:

If you appreciate our content and what we do, feel free to share it with other people who might find this article (or other articles) helpful. Our mission is to help as many people overcome their gaming addictions and get their lives back to normal.

How to Delete Your Valorant Account

Valorant is an addictive game produced by Riot Games. Released in 2020, Valorant quickly became a hit among the competitive players, as it offers numerous tactics to outplay the opponents and win the game.

It has millions of players around the world – the problem is the game is highly addictive, so many people are looking to quit it altogether, especially if you have overspent on in-game items. If you’re unsure how much you’ve spent on Valorant, review your purchase history.

Are you one of them?

If that’s the case, then one of the best places to start is by deleting your Valorant account. And to delete your Valorant account, you’ll need to delete your Riot Games account.

Do you want to know how? Just follow these steps and it should be easy.

Step by Step to Delete Your Valorant Account

Step 1: Go to the Valorant Support Page and Sign In

The first step is simple: go to the Valorant support page. You can reach this site by typing “Valorant Support” into your preferred search engine, or by simply clicking this link.

This should take you to the Valorant support page, which looks like this:

delete valorant account

Step 2: Submit a Ticket to Support

To delete your Valorant account, you’ll need to submit a ticket to the customer support of Riot Games.

This process will take some time to complete, but you can start it by clicking on the “Submit a Ticket” button in the top left corner of your screen.

get rid of valorant account

After you have clicked on that button, you’ll have to choose the request type. In this scenario, you’ll have to select “Account management, Data Requests, or Deletion”.

riot account

Step 3: Fill the Information and Submit the Request

The last step of the process will be for you to fill in all the details that you’ll be tasked with in the next step.

Here, you’ll have to fill in that you need to delete your account, the subject of your ticket, and you might also leave any notes or additional reasons for deleting your account.

valorant account deletion

Under subject, you’ll want to put “Account Deletion”, and in the description, tell them that you want to delete your Valorant or Riot Games account.

You can also submit additional information and files, such as images or other types of data that might be useful for your request. But since the information we’ve filled in here should be enough, you don’t have to do it.

What Happens Next?

The next step is for you to wait for the support to process your request. This might take a few hours up to a few days, depending on the availability of the support agents.

After your request has been processed, you’ll have a 30-day grace period where you can stop the deletion. If you do nothing during this period, your account will be fully deleted.

Read More: Valorant: Parents Guide to the Next “Fortnite”

Need Help with a Gaming Problem?

If you suffer from poor gaming habits, we offer guides and resources to help you get your life back on track:

If you appreciate our content and what we do, feel free to share it with other people who might find this article (or other articles) helpful. Our mission is to help as many people overcome their gaming addictions and get their lives back to normal.

How to Delete Your Counter-Strike Account

Do you want to delete CS:GO permanently from your computer and stop playing it? Then you are probably wondering how you can delete your Counter-Strike account.

Counter-Strike is one of the most popular games in the world. The game has almost one million users each month, and the numbers are steady since they’re not going down any time soon.

It’s also a highly addictive game. Counter-Strike addiction is very common, so many people are wondering how to delete your CS:GO account – and if it is even possible.

Read all about it in this article or watch the video below:

Two Options to Delete Your Counter-Strike Account

The thing with Counter-Strike is that it’s tied to Steam, so deleting your Counter-Strike account might not be as straightforward as you might think.

Essentially, you’re going to have to pick from one of the two options:

  1. Ask Steam to delete Counter-Strike from your Steam account
  2. Delete your Steam account

The second option is far more radical since you’re going to lose all of your other games and stuff you have on your Steam account. But it’s also far more effective.

The first option is also decent, but one of the problems with it is that you can always easily add Counter-Strike back to your account at any time.

In December 2018, the game is fully free to access and play for anyone, so you can easily add it back to your account for free. This means that if you want to fully delete your Counter-Strike account, the most effective option is to delete your Steam account.

Let’s take a look at how to do both.

Option 1: Ask Steam to Delete Counter-Strike from Your Account

You can opt to delete your game from your Steam account so you can never access it again unless you add it back.

The way you do this is you need to go to the Steam Support page and request them to remove Counter-Strike from your account.

Here’s how you do it.

  1. Go to the Steam Support page
  2. Log in to your account using your Steam credentials
  3. From the list of your games, choose “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive” (or another version of Counter-Strike).
    delete csgo account
  4. Scroll down and select “I want to permanently remove this game from my account”.
    delete counterstrike account
  5. Last but not least, select “OK, remove the listed games from my account permanently”.
    counterstrike

Note that if you choose this option, you should also delete the game from your computer for the changes to take full effect.

Option 2: Delete Your Steam Account

Deleting your Steam account will be a more effective solution, but also more radical. You’re going to lose all of your games and achievements if you select this option.

Deleting your Steam account is quite straightforward. You can do it from your account’s settings, but there are some steps along the way that might seem a bit complicated.

That’s why we’ve prepared a full guide on how to delete your Steam account along with a video showing you the steps you need to take.

Need Help with a Gaming Problem?

If you suffer from poor gaming habits, we offer guides and resources to help you get your life back on track:

If you appreciate our content and what we do, feel free to share it with other people who might find this article (or other articles) helpful. Our mission is to help as many people overcome their gaming addictions and get their lives back to normal.

How To Delete Your FIFA Account

FIFA is one of the most popular games in the world. Over promoting gambling to people who play the game, including children. Learn more about dangers of FIFA loot boxes and loot box addiction.

Have you gotten fed up with FIFA and you want to delete your account for good?

The method of deletion will depend on which platform you use:

  • PC players will have to delete their Origin account
  • Console players will have to delete their EA account.

Let’s take a look at how to do both of the two.

For PC/Mac Players: How to Delete Your FIFA Account (Origin)

If you’re a PC player and you want to delete your FIFA account, then you’ll need to delete your Origin account for good.

Origin is a gaming platform developed by EA. This platform offers some of the most popular EA games, such as Battlefield, Star Wars: Battlefront, and of course, FIFA.

To delete your FIFA account, you’ll need to delete your Origin account completely.

Here are the steps that will help you do that.

  1. Open Origin on your computer
  2. On the left-hand side of the screen, click on the Store tab
    delete fifa account
  3. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the window
  4. Click on the “Contact Us” button
    delete fifa account
  5. The next step will take you to EA’s page. You’ll now have to select the platform that you’re playing on (PC or Mac).
  6. Under “Select Topic”, you’ll need to choose “Manage My Account”.
    fifa account deletion process
  7. Next, choose “Delete Account” from the list of options.
  8. Last, you’ll need to enter all the information required by you to complete the deletion. After you have filled this form in, you’ll have to wait a few days to up to a few weeks for the deletion to be complete.

Since 2021, FIFA is also available through Steam. So if you own FIFA on Steam and you want to delete your FIFA account, your only option will be to delete your Steam account and do it that way.

Read our guide on how to delete your Steam account.

For Console Players: Deleting Your EA Account

If you’re a console player and you want to delete your FIFA account, you’ll need to delete the EA account connected to your console.

To do that, you’ll want to go directly to EA’s help site.

From there, you’ll need to follow the same steps as seen above to delete your account.

Note that you can also unlink your account from your console, but that won’t completely delete your FIFA account for good. The only way to completely make sure you’ve deleted your FIFA account is to delete your EA account permanently.

You can also deactivate your account, but if you’re looking to quit playing FIFA for good, then this method is also not great since you can always activate your account back at any point.

Need Help with a Gaming Problem?

If you suffer from poor gaming habits, we offer guides and resources to help you get your life back on track:

If you appreciate our content and what we do, feel free to share it with other people who might find this article (or other articles) helpful. Our mission is to help as many people overcome their gaming addictions and get their lives back to normal.

How to Delete Your Discord Account

Discord is a popular communication tool for everyone who’s looking to chat with their friends and gaming pals. It’s primarily geared towards gamers – both for playing games together and communicating and simply for hanging out.

If you’re looking for ways of how to quit playing video games forever, then one of the most effective steps you can take is to delete all of your games and their accounts – and of course, this includes apps like Discord.

The reason for that is that Discord can be an easy gateway for playing some more games.

You find your friends online, start chatting to them, and before you know it, you’re playing games again, and the vicious cycle of gaming addiction continues.

That’s why it’s effective to also delete your accounts for apps like Discord. Wondering how you can do it? Simply follow these simple steps to complete your account deletion!

Step 1: Log in to Your Account

delete discord account

The first step will be to log in to your Discord account. You can do that by going to Discord.com, or you can simply open the Discord app and log in from there.

For the purposes of this article, we’ve used the Discord browser version, but you can follow the same steps and get the same results if you use the app.

Note that if you decide to use the app for the deletion of your account, don’t forget to delete the app from your computer for the best effects possible.

Step 2: Go to User Settings > My Account

As you’ll see from the next two steps, deleting your Discord account is really simple.

All you need to do is go to your account’s settings. You can do that by first clicking on the gear icon in the bottom left corner that says “User Settings”.

steps to delete discord

After clicking on the gear icon, go to “My Account” tab of your profile.

discord screenshot

There, scroll down to the bottom of the page where you should see two options: Disable Account and Delete Account. Obviously, if you want to delete your account, you’ll want to select “Delete Account”.

disable discord account

Step 3: Delete Your Account

The last step is simple: to complete the deletion of your account, simply enter the password of your account.

discord

Lastly, click on “Delete Account” to complete the deletion. After that, you’ll be logged out of your account and you won’t be able to access it again.

As you can see, deleting your Discord account is really easy. But what if you happen to own a server?

If You Have a Server (or Several)…

Before you delete your account, you’ll need to also delete your servers or transfer them to another person.

If these servers are active and your friends are using them a lot, and you delete them, it will probably leave them wondering what the hell’s going on.

So it’s best to transfer the server or the group to another friend or person that is likely to going to continue using this server.

If you don’t want to continue the server going, then it’s best to delete the server completely before you proceed with the deletion of your account.

It’s common for people who spend too much time on Discord to also play video games, so when you delete your Discord account you will also want to delete accounts for the games you play, such as Genshin Impact, FIFA, Minecraft or Rocket League.

 

Need Help with a Gaming Problem?

If you suffer from poor gaming habits, we offer guides and resources to help you get your life back on track:

If you appreciate our content and what we do, feel free to share it with other people who might find this article (or other articles) helpful. Our mission is to help as many people overcome their gaming addictions and get their lives back to normal.

“I Have No Friends but I Want to Change It”

Having no friends sucks. 

Nobody likes spending Saturday nights alone. So even if you’re the biggest introvert in the world, socialization remains one of the primary human needs.

When I was addicted to video games, they became my go-to replacement for any social activity whatsoever. 

And after a few years of neglecting my social life and prioritizing video games, I came to a horrific but grounding realization: I have no friends. Nobody to talk to, no one to do fun stuff with, and nobody to crack jokes together. 

You might have read the classic advice you get online – stuff like “just get out there” or “find a social activity,” but you haven’t had any success.

It’s time to change this for good.

Having No Friends Isn’t Necessarily Bad.

As you reach adulthood, it’s normal that it gets increasingly harder to find new friends. Most of your old friends move away, get married, or have jobs that “force” them to live in another city.

Even young adults struggle with this sometimes.

But having no friends doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you or you don’t know how to socialize. 

Often, life’s circumstances lead to you having no friends. It’s not personal or something “wrong” with you. But just as life can take your friends away, it’s also possible for you to change it.

If you have no friends and want to change this, it’s time to start focusing on yourself first. Since you probably have enough time to focus on yourself, it might be wise to invest time into your physical and mental wellbeing.

The more comfortable you can become with yourself, the easier it will be to make friends in the future.

Is Video Game Addiction Preventing You From Having Friends?

The first step to finding new friends is to learn what is stopping you from having them.

If you are suffering from video game addiction, you may be isolating yourself from social opportunities to make good friends.

Many people develop their addiction because of past trauma, such as being bullied in school. Video games become their escape from reality where they can’t be bullied. It becomes a coping mechanism for them.

And this creates a never-ending loophole of wanting friends but not having them because of an addiction. 

One of the most common symptoms of video game addiction is jeopardizing relationships and friendships to play video games. As a result, gaming becomes the dominant activity in your life, and you neglect other activities, including socializing to play.

Suppose you’re suffering from video game addiction and don’t have friends because of this. In that case, it’s best to talk to a therapist or consider our Respawn program, which will provide you with scientifically-based action steps to get gaming back under control.

But how do you know if video game addiction stops you from having friends? Be on the lookout for the following symptoms:

  • Playing video games is the dominant activity in your life, and you start to neglect other activities like school and work.
  • You start suffering in your personal and professional life.
  • You experience withdrawal symptoms when you don’t play video games.
  • You need to play more and more to satisfy your need for gaming.
  • You’ve tried to control your playing time but weren’t successful.
  • You have no friends, lost old friends, and burnt down relationships to accommodate your video game playing habit.

Other Possible Reasons for Not Having Friends

If you have no friends, then there might be other reasons for it as well. Here are some of the most common reasons for not having friends.

Shyness and Social Anxiety

Do you have social anxiety, and that’s what’s stopping you from having friends?

Social anxiety is the feeling of discomfort and extreme fear in social situations. For example, you don’t like being judged by other people, so you avoid possible interactions.

Social anxiety is a common comorbidity of gaming addiction. And these two go hand-in-hand. Those who are socially anxious are more likely to become addicted to video games and vice-versa. 

Shyness and social anxiety are often lumped together as two disorders because they are closely connected. 

Suppose social anxiety is the main reason you don’t have friends and why you might revert to playing video games so much. In that case, it might be time to start therapy, which can be quite effective through cognitive-behavioral therapy. Read this article on how to find a good therapist online.

Moving Around a Lot and Life Circumstances

If you move around a lot due to your family or career, it will also make it more challenging to have friends.

Or maybe it happens because your old friends have moved away because of jobs or their lives, and you’re left friendless.

If that’s the case for you, you shouldn’t worry that much. It happens to everyone who changes their surroundings.

It will take you some time to meet new people and make friends with a bit of effort.

You Don’t Know Where to Start.

This is a common reason why many people might not have friends. You might want to find new friends, but you don’t know where to start.

Maybe you have a lifestyle that doesn’t allow you to meet new people all the time. For example, perhaps you’re working from home, as many people do nowadays, and you don’t go to other activities that would allow you to meet new people.

This might leave you wondering where to start again. If you don’t have a lot of experience with socializing, then it might all be baffling for you.

The good news is that you can always change this. All you need is to take action. Do things you like doing and meet people doing those activities. But, of course, you’ll need to be the one to take the initiative to meet new people.

This issue can easily be solved by doing new activities or trying a new group hobby.

The Benefits of Having Friends

The first and the biggest reason why having friends is good is because it leads to a happier and more fulfilled life. This has heaps of research and studies behind it (1,2,). One study by Harvard Medical School even found that having a happy friend can increase your happiness by up to 15%!

Having many friends also helps you build your social skills, an invaluable life skill. It will lead to more satisfying relationships and new interactions, which will allow you to constantly meet new people and build that social muscle that you need to develop to be happier and more successful in life.

Another key benefit of having friends is their support in your life. You’ll be able to let your feelings be known to the friends that are close to you, which is one of the crucial steps of overcoming future problems in your life. This is an important aspect to consider if you’re fighting against video game addiction, for example.

To meet others working on getting their gaming under control, join the Game Quitters Forum.

Last but not least, having friends is linked to better physical and mental health, according to a study done by Casie McMillan in 2019

How to Find New Friends and Keep Them

So now that we’ve gone over why having friends is beneficial, let’s look at some ways to improve your social life.

Always Be on the Lookout

If you’re serious about meeting new people, then you should always be on the lookout for new friend opportunities, wherever you may be.

Whether it’s the library, cafe, church, gym, grocery store, or even your neighborhood, you should always be open to meeting new people. So talk to them, see where that leads you. Being a bit more friendly than usual can bring good results.

The more people you meet, the higher the likelihood you’ll meet someone who would be interested in becoming your friend.

Go to Activities

Now, this might sound like a cliche piece of advice – try a new group hobby or activity, but it works.

You can try our hobby tool to see if there’s something you like there. For example, you can select filters for the kind of activities you have, and then you’ll be able to see a list of some great hobbies you can try based on those filters.

Game Quitters Hobby Tool

Just do something you like, and eventually, you’ll have a lot to talk about with new friends you’ll make doing that activity.

Take Time to Get To Know Acquaintances

I’m sure you have many people on your contacts list or friends on Facebook that you’ve been friends with before, and you haven’t talked to them in a while.

Well, maybe it’s time to check up on those people to see what they’re up to. Who knows, perhaps some of them will make some time for you and become friends?

Stop Playing Video Games!

Last but not least, if you’re addicted to video games or suffer from other forms of tech addiction, the first step will be overcoming that addiction.

Gaming addiction might be the biggest reason why you don’t have friends. If you prioritize video games over anything, including your social life, then it’s time to change it. 

Your best course of action is to consider therapy.

Here at Game Quitters, we also have tons of other resources that you can use, including our Respawn program. This program is specifically aimed at people like you who suffer from video game addiction and don’t know how to find friends.

We also have other types of content, including:

 

What To Do When You Feel Lonely

Loneliness is an ever-increasing problem, especially among young people.

In October 2020, amid the Covid-19 pandemic, 61% of people aged 18 to 25 reported high levels of loneliness 79 79. Loneliness in America × , with up to 36% of the entire population feeling the same.

It’s so easy to feel lonely nowadays. We’ve been stuck inside and hooked to screens and digital entertainment. Two years of little to no in-person interactions has led to poorer relationships and worse mental health.

Many people who play video games see them as a solution for their loneliness. 

Maybe you’re just the same; you escape from feeling lonely by playing video games, but eventually, you find that’s not helping. On the contrary, it can make you feel even more lonely as a result.

Suddenly, you realize one thing: “I feel lonely, but I don’t know what to do about it.” If this is what you’re feeling at the moment, then we have some possible solutions for you to try in this article.

Feeling Lonely and Video Games – A Never-Ending Loophole?

Playing video games can become your coping mechanism if you’re feeling lonely. 

It provides you with a safe space to be yourself without being scrutinized by people around you. Plus, you might have friends online that make you feel like you’re in good company.

These positive social experiences can lead you to play video games more and more, especially if you struggle with friendships in the physical world. However, spending more time online can lead you to neglect other parts of your life in the process. Eventually, it can even lead to video game addiction, which means gaming severely impacts various areas of your life.

One such example is Anthony from Philadelphia, a Game Quitters member who isolated himself more and more from friends and family as a kid with gaming, only to feel the consequences later in his life.

Bullied as a kid, he started to isolate himself, which led to severe consequences on his well-being.

“As I became a teenager, I started to isolate myself more and more from my peers and family. Video games became the only thing I enjoyed doing. Things like reading, family vacations, and spending time with friends were boring. I could only think about the next video game I wanted to play. I would stay up for hours gaming and then be extremely tired the next day.

Eventually, this all caught up to me. I was lonely and depressed. I was exhausted from having no goals or vision for my life. I felt I wasted my life in a virtual world while the real world was out there waiting for me. So when I started to experience suicidal feelings, I knew I needed help.”

Does this sound familiar to you? Is this something you can relate to if you’re feeling lonely? For example, are you turning to video games because of loneliness? Do you want to stop feeling this way? Then we have some great solutions you can try.

Reasons Why You Might Feel Lonely

First, you’ll need to analyze why you feel like this. There can be underlying reasons that make you feel lonely, so let’s take a look at each one. Knowing why you feel lonely will help you understand why you feel this way and look for solutions.

Past Trauma

By far, the most common reason why you’re feeling lonely is past trauma.

Childhood trauma, in particular, is the most common type of trauma that can cause you to feel lonely. This type of trauma is also called severe adverse childhood experience (ACE) and might come in different shapes and sizes.

For example, you might have experienced bullying from peers, family members, or siblings in your childhood. 

Other types of past trauma we see commonly include abandonment, sexual and physical harassment, emotional harassment, witnessing abuse, being raised by a mentally ill parent, and other types of abuse. Trauma can also occur while playing video games through the toxicity, hate, and harassment you can experience from other players.

If you have this type of trauma, the best approach is to talk to a therapist.

Lack of Vulnerability

You might have difficulty accepting other people’s opinions about you because you have a hypothetical “thick shield” around you that protects you from any feedback from the environment.

This can also occur because of past trauma; as we discussed before, you become defensive and don’t do things that will help you feel less lonely as you fear the consequences.

You might have trouble forming deeper relationships because of this, leading you to feel lonely. Often for gamers who spend so much time online they are at risk of developing parasocial relationships with online content creators.

It’s easier said than done, but being more open and vulnerable to connection while engaging in deeper conversations will be the key to overcoming your loneliness. We have found the work and books of Brené Brown (affiliate link) to be particularly helpful to improve in this area.

False Narrative About Yourself and Others

If you were bullied or experienced adverse events in your childhood, you might start to believe you’re not good enough or develop a fear of rejection, creating a false image of yourself and the world around you.

Perfectionism

If you expect every interaction, every relationship to be perfect in your life, then you’re going to end up disappointed, eventually.

You might be so afraid of having a negative interaction that you avoid them in the first place.

You don’t show your true character to other people, and that might well be the reason why you don’t have genuine connections in your life.

Gaming or Tech Addiction

Last but not least, let’s talk about the elephant in the room – tech and gaming addiction.

Although some studies show video games have positive effects and might help people with loneliness 80 80. Online gaming involvement and its positive and negative consequences: A cognitive anthropological “cultural consensus” approach to psychiatric measurement and assessment × , it is often only when playing prosocial games in moderation.

On the other hand, excessive gaming may lead to severe negative effects, including making you feel more lonely.

Your gaming addiction might prevent you from going out and speaking to other people, trying new hobbies, and experiencing the beauty of the natural world.

If that’s the case for you, then you’ll need to get gaming under control.

What To Do When Feeling Lonely

Now that you know potential reasons for feeling lonely, here are some things you can do to stop feeling so lonely.

Reach Out to People Around You

The first and most important thing you need to do is let your feelings be known to someone – whether it’s your friend, family member, or another person you trust.

If you don’t have anyone to talk to, I suggest you speak to a therapist who understands and guides you.

Just letting other people know about your feelings can help you get the weight off your shoulders. 

Call That Old Friend

If you haven’t been socially active in a while and you would like to try it out again, then you might want to connect to your old friends.

Just a quick chat might help you feel better, and who knows, you might even arrange some things to do with that old friend of yours.

Even if you send a text message or a chat – it’s better to keep in touch rather than lose all of your contacts. It can also be helpful to find community groups in your local area, such as Meetups.

Get Active

It might seem like such a stereotypical piece of advice, but it truly works. You might have read elsewhere to “get moving or join a gym,” but getting some fresh air into your head can do you a world of good.

Whether it’s a short walk, a run, or a workout at your local gym, you’ll be able to get much-needed oxygen, and who knows, you might even meet someone new.

A good thing to try is group workouts or sports. 

You will find many different activities to meet other people and potentially meet new friends.

 Try a New Social Hobby

If you play video games too much because you feel lonely and want to change this, an important step will be replacing some of your gaming time with new hobbies where you get to socialize.

There are tons of different ideas you can give a go; if you don’t know where to start, try our hobby tool. It will provide you with some excellent options for discovering new hobbies and activities.

Get Help

Last but not least, we must not neglect the importance of getting help when you need it.

You might feel a bit uncomfortable with the idea of asking someone for help, but sometimes, that’s the best and quickest way towards overcoming your loneliness.

At Game Quitters, we have developed a science-based program called Respawn that will help you, particularly if you’re addicted to video games and feel lonely. With it, you’ll be able to kill two birds with one stone.

For help with anxiety, depression, severe levels of loneliness, or other mental health challenges, we strongly suggest you consider therapy. We have a long list of verified therapists and experts worldwide to help you out. You can also read about the common fears people have for starting therapy.

I Have No Personality – The Reason You Feel Like That

“I feel like I have no personality.”

“When I’m in a conversation, I just sit there and listen to others, laughing at their jokes.”

“I have no interests and hobbies, so I don’t have anything to talk about or anyone to talk to.”

“Everyone else seems to make friends easily, while I can’t even talk to anyone else without worrying about myself.”

Do these quotes sound familiar to you? 

We all sometimes feel like we don’t want to talk about ourselves or that we don’t have anything interesting to add to a conversation. It’s just that some people feel it more often than others.

I used to have the same problem as an addicted gamer. I used to feel like I had no personality, so I’d better not get involved in that group conversation, meet new people, do new stuff, and learn new skills. 

But with some hard work and determination, I managed to solve this problem, at least to an extent. 

Why Do You Feel Like You Have No Personality?

At one point in my life, I decided to stop putting other people on a pedestal and stop caring about what they think about me.

When I used this mindset, the results instantly improved.

But I still felt as though something was missing. I didn’t have anything going for me in my life – no hobbies, friends, or adventures to talk about.

And that is the main problem why you might not feel like you have personality – you don’t have enough life experience.

If you sit in front of the computer all day as I did, you’ll start feeling sorry for yourself. You don’t have anything interesting going on in your life, so the only thing you can talk about or express your thoughts about will be your favorite video games.

You don’t try new things, see new places, talk to new people, do hobbies – all of these things will allow you to discover who you truly are.

And consequently, you’ll start feeling as though you have nothing meaningful to add to this world, so you’ll start avoiding social interactions, events, or adventures with your friends. You fear getting rejected, so you reject other people in the first place.

It’s a dangerous slippery slope that can lead to low self-esteem, depressionsocial anxiety, and you’ll end up in a maze that’s harder and harder to get out of.

Many Gamers Have this Problem

gamer

At Game Quitters, we get many stories from gamers who have suffered from depression and felt they lost their personality or didn’t have it.

  • Jack from Michigan spent his entire days playing video games. He neglected the things he used to do previously, such as playing the guitar or going out with friends, which made him depressed. He didn’t have the chance to expand his personality or express it because of video games.
  • Anthony from Philadelphia played video games from the age of 7. Video games were his escape because he was afraid of expressing his true personality as a gay kid in the nineties. It all started catching up with him until he felt suicidal, so he started seeing a therapist who worked for him.
  • Vadim from Russia played video games as a coping mechanism for his failing life. He had no friends, hobbies, or goals for the future and felt like he didn’t have a personality. He managed to turn things around by doing a 90-day detox and staying determined to try new things and not play video games as much.

Hopefully, some of these stories (and many others) show you that you’re not alone with your problem. Everyone gets the feeling of having no personality from time to time, not just gamers.

And it’s entirely possible to get out of it with a change of mindset and actionable steps that we’ll show later in this article. But for now, you should know one thing…

Everyone Has a Personality

Here’s something that might shock you – you already DO have a personality, you just haven’t discovered it yet, or you shy away from expressing it fully.

Everyone has a personality. Even you! 

Nobody is just born without a personality or personality traits. So even if you’re depressed or you have low self-esteem, and you can’t express your feelings effectively, you have your likes and dislikes about the world.

You have your opinions, ways of doing things, things you like doing and things you don’t, your friends, the foods you like, the foods you dislike, the music you listen to – all of which are part of a personality.

Now, it’s just a matter of realizing those likes and dislikes and putting them out there more often without feeling shame or regret.

And there’s something else that might surprise you: you CAN develop your personality with new experiences. So if you play video games all day and don’t do anything else, you don’t have a chance of expanding your personality. 

It’s possible to expand your personality, but you already have that base you can build on. The main problem is that you might not realize that you already have it, so your first step will be discovering what you’re all about.

What to do When You Feel Like You Have No Personality

no personality

Here’s what you can do if you feel you don’t have a personality. You can do this in the step-by-step order, which I would recommend, or you don’t need to follow the specific order and instead focus on one or two of the suggestions to get started.

Stop Playing Video Games Excessively

Playing video games so much is preventing you from developing or finding your personality.

So the first step is to stop playing video games excessively. Now, it might sound easier than it is, but quitting cold turkey for 30-90 days is an effective solution from our experience. 

When you quit this habit, you’ll have a chance to try new things. Of course, you must know that this will be a long process, so be patient. But patience will be rewarding in the long term, and you’ll be able to develop your personality more easily.

Now, if you’re not playing video games a lot or at all, it might be beneficial for you to play in moderation. Ideally, you want to keep gaming less than two hours a day and not every day. The important thing is for gaming not to be the sole focus of your life.

But if you’re addicted to video games, we can help you out. You can either talk to a therapist, which is an effective solution. Or, you can try our program called Respawn, where you’ll learn every step you need to take to stop your gaming addiction.

Get to Know Yourself

The second step might sound a bit cliche, like something you would find on WikiHow. However simple or cliche this tip is, it is an essential part of finding your personality.

Think about it for a moment: what does it mean to have a personality? Is it having interesting things to talk about? Is it having interesting hobbies or traits? Or is it the ability to share your thoughts about current events, things in life, or various things in life?

It’s probably a combination of all of those, but the most important part is the latter.

And the good thing about that is that you already have it. You simply need to discover it. 

Or you might already know it, but you’re too afraid or shy to express when push comes to shove.

If you don’t know what your thoughts or feelings are, then you need to discover them. And to do that, you’ll need to get to know yourself better. You do that by doing things. When you’re put into a situation where you have to engage in other activities, interact with people, or be challenged, you’ll learn what you are all about.

For example, you can do this in your everyday life. Think about what you like eating, what you don’t like, what you feel about current events, or even consider the simple things in life that you previously took for granted.

If you listen to some of the best comedians you might like, they often talk about the most mundane things in life, don’t they?

So it’s all about finding what you value in your existing life already. Journaling is one way you can reflect and discover more about who you are. You can get started with journaling today on our community forum.

Try New Things

california surfer

Having confidence and developing character comes from doing things. Only action can get you out of your mindset. 

The first step is to find a new hobby to replace your gaming. You can find a new hobby using our hobby tool

Now, if you don’t like a hobby, you can try another one. The key is to find something to fill up your time.

The problem is that if all you do is play video games, you don’t have a chance to immerse yourself fully in life. You don’t get to experience new things, and as a consequence, you don’t have anything valuable to add.

But you can apply this tip to almost every part of your life. You have to challenge your old beliefs (or a lack of them) by doing things you never even thought about. These things can be as simple as:

  • Trying new foods or diets
  • Buying different clothes than you usually do
  • Listening to new music
  • Traveling to nearby locations you’ve never been to
  • Solo travel
  • Reading books
  • Learning a new skill

If you think about it, the options here are endless! And every time you try something new, you’ll expand your personality and mold it according to your beliefs and wants.

Stop Giving a S#*t About Others

One common problem people who feel like they have no personality face is that they give way too much emphasis on what others are thinking about them.

If that’s you, then you need to stop doing that. 

You might not have enough confidence to get out there and express yourself. But with time and determination, things will get easier, I promise.

The key is to stop paying attention to what other people might be feeling or thinking. It can also be helpful to work with a therapist on reframing your beliefs and anxieties so you can live your life to the fullest.

If you’re going to spend your entire life worrying about what others think, then you won’t be able to develop your true personality. Instead, you’ll always cater to others, say what you think others like to hear, and do things you think others will like.

And that’s no way to live a life.

You are you, and other people are themselves, so why would you craft your entire character so that other people like it? The most important thing is what you like and love doing, so do that instead.

It’s also worth noting that you are not the only person who worries about what other people think about them. Many millions of people struggle with these same thoughts. However, it is possible to overcome and to live your life more freely.

Additional Tips

These are the main things you can do to discover your personality, but there are also some other things you can try, such as:

  • Start meditation. It’s the most effective way to tap into yourself and be aware of what you’re feeling. With mindfulness, you’ll be able to see what you truly think, and you’ll also get rid of the brain fog that might develop because of playing video games so much.
  • Develop your personality. If you apply the tips that we’ve provided in this article, you’ll be able to get a good basis to get to know your character, but you’ll want to expand it further for the best results. And you can do that by getting out of your comfort zone and doing things that seem uncomfortable.
  • It’s never too late! If you feel like there’s no help, you’re wrong. You can still develop your personality even if you’re 30 or older. 

We Can Help!

  • We can help you in your quest to develop your personality. For example, if you play video games too much, you can try our program called Respawn, where you’ll find proven techniques that have helped thousands of gamers all around the world kick their gaming addiction and live a life worth living. For families, we have our Reclaim program for parents.

It’s also possible to work with our team privately in our coaching programs. So apply today to get started on a 90-day plan to turn your life around.

How to Reduce Your Child’s Screen Time

Screens are everywhere. 

Need to learn something new about a topic you’re interested in? Google it.  Want to talk to your friends? Use Snapchat, Messenger, Viber, Telegram, WhatsApp, or Discord Need some time for entertainment to blow off some steam? YouTube or Twitch is your answer.

Today we live in a tech-centric world. The average US adult spends 3 hours and 43 minutes daily on a screen. The number is even higher for children. Using a screen and being digitally savvy has become so important that you’re at a huge disadvantage compared to others if you aren’t. 

So, how do you deal with this if you’re a parent? How do you stop your child from spending so much time on their screens and ensure their screen usage doesn’t negatively impact their life?

It is possible to reduce screen time for children; You need to do it methodically and carefully. Follow our guide below for a step-by-step process.

Why Too Much Screen Time Is Bad For Your Child

screens

 The biggest reason why excess screen time is bad for your child is that it is heavily impacting one or several other areas of their lives, such as:

  • School
  • Social life
  • Physical health
  • Mental health
  • Family relationships
  • Motivation and laziness

Too much screen time is often the consequence of poor school performance. For example, one study has shown that watching television for two hours straight lowers the reading ability for eight and 9-year-olds.

But perhaps even more importantly, screens can take attention away from important tasks, such as studying, reading, learning new things, or doing homework. And the consequence is lower grades and poorer performance (and consequently, being further behind later in life).

Too much screen time is also responsible for a worse (or a lack of) social life. Many children neglect real-life relationships and friendships because using screens is easier and more comfortable. Although technology allows children to connect with friends on messaging apps and video games, it’s important to ensure it’s not detrimental to face-to-face interactions and relationships.

Excessive screen use is also heavily linked to obesitylower levels of physical health, and deteriorated mental health and depression in adolescence. All of these areas are often interlinked with each other; physical health impacts mental health and vice-versa. Read more on the negative effects of gaming.

Why Do Children Use Screens so Much?

Before we dive into the steps of reducing your child’s screen time, you should first understand why it happens in the first place. Knowing what drives excessive screen use will help you cope with your specific situation better, especially if you find one of these reasons responsible for your child’s screen use.

Screens are Addictive

If you follow the world of technology or social media even vaguely, then you probably already know that apps and video games are designed to be addictive.

Developers design their products to optimize engagement. This naturally leads to features that keep as many people as possible hooked and coming back for more. Not only that, games are increasingly designed for users to spend as much money as possible on in-game purchases to maximize profits.

Bullying

Bullying might be another reason why your child is resorting to using screens so much. Social media apps, video games, and other forms of entertainment on screens are much more comfortable and low-risk compared to real life, where bullying exists.

Screens, video games, and apps often become coping mechanisms for children who are bullied or experiencing social challenges in schools.

As a parent, be aware if your child is using games or apps to escape from stress, as they may be experiencing difficult challenges such as bullying at school. 

Boredom

A primary reason your child might be using screens too much is simple – they’re bored and don’t have anything else to do.

The truth is that you, or many other parents, might find it incredibly difficult to motivate your child to do anything else other than play video games.

One factor is that video games address some of the most important needs that your child might have, and they’re so comfortable, so they don’t have the motivation to do anything else.

The key will be finding alternative activities that can replace video games and the needs they address for your child, such as:

  • Socialization
  • A sense of achievement
  • Progress
  • Problem-solving
  • Creativity

Problems in School/Life

Video games and screens often become coping mechanisms for real-life problems. For example, some children use screens because they might have anxiety about something they’re looking to avoid in school or life.

Screens are the easiest form of escape for many children. They don’t offer any significant risks, and they’re also accessible, so they use them instead of enduring more problems in the real world.

Of course, that’s not a good long-term solution for this problem. The opportunity here is to focus on the issues in school or life that your child might be facing. That’s why you’ll need to form a closer relationship with your child and learn how to talk to them with empathy, which you can learn more about in our Reclaim program.

Sense of Achievement

 

Video games and apps offer a sense of achievement, too. Killing that new boss, building something inside the game, or getting likes on the social media app feels satisfying, and it starts to replace the achievement you could receive from real-world challenges.

It would help to promote activities in the real world that provide the same sense of achievement as video games or apps do. There are many such activities; you’ll need to help your child discover what they love by trying new things or adding a goal or structure to a new hobby. Use our Hobby Tool to help you find activity ideas.

How to Reduce Your Child’s Screen Time – Step By Step

Now that you know why your child might be spending so much time on their screens, it’s time to take action.

With these steps, you’ll be able to get to know your child better, craft a better and more trustworthy relationship, and help them shift the focus away from screens to other activities.

Understand Your Child

While it might be tough to build a rapport with a child that gets aggressive when you ask them about their screen usage, you must try to do it anyways.

You’ll need to approach this with empathy and understanding. You can start by understanding what games they play and what they like about them. What are their underlying motivations to play? What drives and motivates them? And when you do this, be as understanding as possible.

It’s best to try and talk to them when they’re not playing video games or on their screens. This will be the time when they’re more open to talking. Also, ask them open-ended questions but don’t attack or argue with them; we want to develop a connection, not tension.

Build a Rapport

You’ll want to have as many conversations as you need to with your child about this topic. Showing some interest in an activity they engage in without judgment or arguing is a good start.

The most important thing here is to get them to trust you. And to do that, you’ll need to show a good level of understanding of what is going on in their lives and how you can support them.

You can then gently nudge them toward other activities and even offer to do them together. It can also be helpful if you work with other parents to organize group activities or playdates. Of course, this is only the initial strategy, but depending on the severity of your situation, you may need to use other tactics to get them off their screens.

Create a Plan

Next, you’ll want to determine what your goal is with your child:

  • Do you want to eliminate excess screen time use?
  • Or reduce it? We recommend focusing here first.

At first, you might find it easier if you aim to reduce your child’s screen time. You’ll need to find a structure and plan that works best for you and your family case. To do that, you’ll need to set boundaries and limitations for screen time use.

Consider what will work best for you. For example, setting up daily limits works better for some people, while for others, weekly limits work best. You can try to set up both and implement them for some time to see what works best. Others have found setting up alternate days for screen time use is more effective. Learn more by reading our guide to Screen Time Guidelines by Age.

You might also need to think about how to shut off screens and who will be responsible for that task. For example, your child’s phone is left in your bedroom when it’s time for bed, so they are not distracted and developing poor sleeping habits

Implement Your Plan

Now that you have built your plan, it’s time to implement it.

The first step is to discuss what your family’s media plan will be with your children is also important. Please give them a voice in what they think their limits should be and how you can best work together as a family to be accountable to them. Next, you may want to discuss the consequences of breaking the agreement. If you do, make sure these consequences are meaningful and that you will follow through with them; otherwise, they will not work.

Note that they may experience withdrawal symptoms of excess screen use in the first few days. Please familiarize yourself with these symptoms and acknowledge them as they occur, and have strategies in place to address them proactively as they occur. For personal support for your family, please book a consultation with our team.

The next step will be to find replacement activities to replace screen use. Again, you can use our hobby tool for this, where you’ll find tons of different activities and hobbies that you can try with your child. 

At the same time, you’ll want to deal with the triggers that you have identified that cause your child to use their screen so much. So you’ll still need to monitor the screen use closely and talk to your child regularly, and keep the relationship going that you’ve already established.

Evaluate the Plan Constantly

Now that you have set up the plan and implemented it, it’s time to see how it works. You should know that the plant might not work as you initially intended, so you’ll need to come back to the drawing board and see what is and what isn’t working. We recommend evaluating your plan once per month.

You might change some aspects of the plan. Here, the tips we’ve provided are not cookie-cutter steps but rather general tips that many people have found helpful.

To build and implement a successful family media plan for your family, inquire about our coaching programs.

Conclusion

If you need help with reducing your child’s screen time, then you should know that we’re here to help. We have designed a Reclaim program specifically for parents like you who want to know how to reduce their child’s screen use. 

In this program, you’ll learn how to build a better relationship with your child and manage their screen time use effectively while also implementing the methods we’ve talked about in this article and more.

You might also want to consult with a therapist, especially if comorbid conditions exist, such as ADHD, suicidal ideation, autism, or OCD.

We have other resources you can use, such as:

Parasocial Relationships: What are They, and Are They Bad?

Parasocial relationships are a form of social interaction where one party knows a lot about the other, but the other party doesn’t know anything about them. Often these relationships are one-sided.

Despite the rise of parasocial relationships with Twitch streamers, TikTok stars, and Instagram influencers, these relationships are not new – they’re just more intense and more common than ever.

Covid-19 and social isolation are two major factors that led to the further rise of parasocial relationships. Studies show that this is closely related to higher depression and anxiety among younger generations. 

With this in mind, let’s examine parasocial relationships: what are they, are they healthy, and how to stop them if they become a problem.

What are Parasocial Relationships?

Parasocial relationships occur when an individual interacts with a media figure as a friend or even a sexual partner. Media figures can include reality TV characters, video game personalities, and social media influencers.

The degree of these relationships vary. Some fans are simply interested in the actions of their “friend,” while others become obsessed with them to the point of imagining being in a relationship with them. Parasocial relationships happen without the influencer knowing that it even exists. 

Once the person adoring their idols becomes obsessed, parasocial relationships can become toxic and detrimental to their mental health. While these relationships can decrease loneliness and fill the gap for social interaction, they are by no means as effective and satisfactory as real-life interactions. Furthermore, these relationships can escalate to stalking and harassment concerns.

History of Parasocial Relationships

Parasocial relationships have been around since the invention of books and later television.

The earliest forms of this type of interaction were between book readers and their authors. But it wasn’t until television that parasocial relationships were in the spotlight.

Early on in the era of television, there were no reality shows, social media influencers, or video games. Instead, the only way to build this kind of relationship was through watching TV or movies. 

For instance, people would watch the same actors over and over again. As a result, they would build an attachment to these characters and feel they knew them personally. 

Today, the relationships are slowly shifting from having relationships with TV stars to social media influencers, Twitch streamers, YouTubers, and online personalities. 

The main difference between early parasocial relationships and today is that these relationships are becoming much more common and intense, thanks to the easy availability of online entertainment.

Streamers, YouTubers, and Parasocial Relationships

A few decades ago, parasocial relationships were the only way to have a relationship with a media figure. Today, social media has allowed fans to interact with their idols on a greater scale. 

YouTubers, Instagram influencers, and Twitch streamers are some of the most common “targets” of parasocial relationships. For example, a Twitch streamer might interact with their audience more than a TV movie actor would 20 years ago because it’s easier to respond to their fans in the chat or through messages.

However, this can also be a double-edged sword. For Twitch streamers and YouTube stars, it’s not always easy to deal with their obsessive fans. 

Watch: Asmongold on Parasocial Relationships:

Take Pokimane, the most popular female Twitch streamer in the world, as an example. In 2020, she revealed how she was stalked and harassed for years by obsessive fans to the point that she felt as though she was sexually harassed by them, even though they didn’t even meet in person.

Attractive streamers and YouTubers tend to get the most attention, and sometimes, they are overly sexual. A modern term for someone who stalks an online personality and makes sexual comments about them is “simp.” While Pokimane was a star streamer of the game Among Us, she received a lot of attention from simps around the world. 

Some fans get so engrossed by their online idols they start caring about their lives more than about what is happening in their own life. They enjoy watching for entertainment, and at the same time, they’re prepared to defend their idols by any means, even by attacking fans of other streamers or influencers, creating a toxic online environment.

The biggest problem with this is the illusion of having a friend through a parasocial relationship that you can trust. However, most viewers use Twitch to cope with difficult periods in their lives, and by watching their favorite streamers, they have a way of forgetting about their real-life problems and “trusting” in their idol.

Again, these relationships serve the purpose of replacing the missing real-life relationships and achievements, either by having friends or by having a girlfriend or boyfriend. And since these online personalities have millions of followers, the scale of parasocial relationships today is bigger than it has ever been.

Parasocial Relationships with Celebrities

The effect of growing up in a world where celebrity culture is prominent is that older generations are much more likely to have parasocial relationships with celebrities. Some adults also develop parasocial relationships, and some of these continue from their teen days when they used to watch their favorite idol in their TV show or movie.

In the past, teenage girls developed parasocial relationships with musicians like Elvis and movie stars like James Dean. They showed their attraction by constantly following these stars when they appeared outside.

Today, fans can interact with their favorite stars through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat, and other social media platforms, creating a feeling that they’re closer to their idol.

Even some of the most well-known celebrities in the world suffer from stalking and online bullyings, such as Lorde, Malik Zayn, Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, and many others. 

Who is Most Likely to Develop a Parasocial Relationship?

The most common population groups that develop parasocial relationships are teenagers and young adolescents. These relationships also happen with people who feel lonely or lack self-esteem.

It is also possible for adults to develop parasocial relationships, although it is much less common than in younger populations.

The parasocial relationships between teens and social media influencers are growing faster. In 2015, nine percent of teens aged 13 to 17 had a “media influence” online. This number increased by 12 percent in 2017. 

Young people who experience bullying are also more likely to develop parasocial relationships.

Online platforms like Twitch or Instagram offer a much friendlier environment and a lower risk of feeling rejected. Most of the interactions with their idols are passive, and if, by any chance, their hero responds, the response will be friendlier than the interactions they may experience in real life while being bullied.

Why Do People Develop Parasocial Relationships? The Psychology Behind Parasocial Relationships

Watch: The Parasocial Problem with Livestreaming:

The most common reason for developing a parasocial relationship is the need for connection and belonging.

The need for connection and belonging is one of the most crucial aspects of living. It comes right after your basic needs, such as food and water and security.

Many young adolescents have those basic needs covered, but their need for belonging is often not fulfilled. This applies even more to young people who tend to be alone and don’t have many friends in real life.

Many young people are not comfortable with establishing relationships in real life. They don’t have a social circle or a group of friends they can rely upon. Therefore, they turn to their online idols as a form of self-esteem boosting and social interaction. 

Other people use parasocial relationships to broaden their social interactions and not to replace face-to-face interactions completely. For example, a study by Rubin et al. from 1986 reveals that the degree of loneliness does not increase the intensity of parasocial relationships. 

This suggests that parasocial interactions are often a way of broadening social interactions and not replacing them entirely.

Addiction can also lead to parasocial relationships, as some unhealthy behaviors can lead to poor mental health. In this case, the parasocial relationship is simply a substitute for unhealthy behavior, such as video game addiction or social media addiction, for example. 

In China, video game players developed a relationship with the main character in Travel Frog. A study from July 2021 reveals that the main reason for this relationship is that young Chinese players wanted to replicate the perfect parent-child relationship. This again shows that parasocial relationships primarily developed because of a need for socialization.

Another big factor for developing parasocial relationships is physical attraction to the characters in question. 

Other possible reasons for parasocial relationships include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Past trauma
  • Lack of security at home
  • Negative experiences with relationships with other people

What is a Parasocial Breakup?

A parasocial breakup is the discontinuation of a relationship with a media figure. For example, the fan will move on to another person to who they can get closer. In this way, the parasocial relationship helps the person let go of the other person and start afresh.

Constant parasocial breakups create a vicious, never-ending cycle of toxic parasocial relationships, harming the person engaging in them.

Some websites collect breakup stories from fans who have been in parasocial relationships for years. Several of these sites allow people to anonymously share their experiences and then find others with similar experiences.

Some people that experience these breakups even experience negative symptoms of a breakup, such as aggression, depression, anxiety, fear, sadness, and insomnia.

This study investigating parasocial relationships between the fans of the TV series “How I Met Your Mother,” and the main protagonists of the series found the stronger the perceived relationship, the stronger and the tougher the breakup will be.

Are Parasocial Relationships Healthy?

Parasocial relationships can be toxic and unhealthy, especially if the relationship is strong. 

Many of the fans in these relationships want to have real interaction with their idols, but they will never have that. Even if they do get a response from their idol, the responses are usually shallow and impersonal. 

If the parasocial relationship replaces all other forms of social interaction, then the person is isolating others from their social world and real-life interactions. They find refuge in the parasocial relationship, which is certainly not as deep and satisfactory as the two-way, real-life social relationships.

Creating a parasocial interaction is much easier and more comfortable than going out, meeting new people, and putting yourself at risk of being scrutinized by others. With a parasocial interaction, you don’t get that risk because it’s a one-way interaction.

While this might be an advantage to those who suffer from loneliness, these parasocial interactions are not adequate replacements for real-life interactions. Instead, they create a false sense of having friends, but those friendships are imaginary in reality. This can even deepen a sense of loneliness in the real world, which might lead to depression.

On the other hand, if the parasocial interaction augments the existing real-life friendships and relationships, and if the parasocial relationship is moderate and not extreme, then it can enhance one’s social life.

Parasocial relationships can also be harmful to streamers, celebrities, and influencers. Their admirers and fans create a great deal of pressure, which can be too much for some celebrities to cope with.

Dive Deeper: The Hidden Mental Health Problem in Streaming

Do I Have a Parasocial Relationship?

Do you have a parasocial relationship? 

Here are some common signs that it is indeed the case.

  • Following your favorite celebrity or streamer all the time
  • Caring more about their life and their achievements than your achievements
  • Donating to their cause
  • Commenting on their social media accounts
  • Feeling offended, sad, or hurt if someone insults your favorite streamer or celebrity
  • Feeling as though this person is your only friend and someone who you would trust with your personal stuff
  • Always making sure you have time to watch their stream or show, no matter what other activities are happening in your life
  • Neglecting real-life relationships and tasks for following your idol
  • Following their lifestyle and making similar decisions as their decisions
  • Spending money on merch
  • Having no other meaningful connections in your life except for the parasocial relationship

Now, you might not have all of the above symptoms of having a parasocial relationship. But if you have at least a third of these symptoms, you do likely have a parasocial relationship.

If you have such a relationship with someone, it’s best to acknowledge how it impacts your life.

If this is your only way of connecting with other people and replacing other relationships in your life, then it might be time to reconsider it.

How to Stop a Parasocial Relationship?

Not all parasocial relationships are bad. A parasocial relationship can be a good addition to your social life. The key is to do it in moderation and have other meaningful interactions in your life with other people.

However, if you overindulge in this relationship and replace all other forms of social interaction, you need to do something about it.

The most important thing is to acknowledge it. You don’t have to feel bad about it, but you need to be aware that it’s happening. If you don’t have anyone to talk to about this and feel like it’s not good for you, you might want to speak to a therapist.

It might also be worth looking for ways of how to socialize with other activities. For example, you might benefit from trying a hobby that requires social interaction with other people, which will help you build real-life connections instead. Try our hobby tool to see if you can find something that helps you.

If you’re addicted to gaming, we’ve prepared a practical step-by-step program called Respawn to help you get your life back on track. You can also try our other resources, such as:

 

Video Games & Lack of Motivation – What to Do if Your Son Has Lost Motivation

As parents, one of the most challenging aspects of video games is watching your child stagnate in front of their screen.

If your child is not motivated to do anything else but play video games all day, then we understand.

We often get questions from concerned parents who say their child has no motivation for other things than gaming. Many parents think video games are making their children lazy

And it seems as though no matter what you do or say to your son, it’s a never-ending cycle that can never be broken. It’s like a spell has been cast on your child and you simply can’t remove it.

But we want you to know that there is hope. You can do something about this, you just might need to understand a few things first about video games and lack of motivation, and why it happens.

If you have a son or a child at home who doesn’t want to do anything else than play games, then this article is for you.

Why Gamers Lose Motivation in Life

We all want to feel excitement in life, and we all want to be entertained. We also have a primal need for accomplishment and friendships.

Gaming addresses all those needs at the same time.

If we take a look at Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, we’ll see that to feel fulfilled human beings seek to address all of those values – especially belonging and esteem, which come right after our most important needs like our safety and physiological needs are satisfied. 

health pyramid

As human beings, we simply need to fulfill  those needs in one way or another. 

For many gamers, video games offer a safe, easy, comfortable, and convenient solution to help them address those needs.

If you think about it, video games can help the gamer solve several challenges and address some of their most important needs, such as:

  • Friendship
  • Achievement
  • Respect of and by others
  • Entertainment
  • Excitement
  • Problem-solving
  • Creativity
The main problem for your child might be that they get all of those needs addressed by video games, so they don’t seek to fulfill them in real life. In other words their motivation is being hijacked.

Because video games are so easily accessible nowadays, it’s the most comfortable way of addressing the most important needs without risking going out in the world and doing other activities. 

  • They won’t seek new friendships in their life because they have friends when they play games
  • They don’t need a hobby where they can progress because they can do that in the video game
  • They won’t be interested in talking to your or other family members because they get a sense of belonging online
  • They don’t get bored when they play video games, so they won’t try hobbies

The key is thus limiting video game use and encouraging other activities that fulfill the same needs.

How Games Are Designed to Be Addictive

Playing video games has some benefits that have been scientifically proven. Gaming can improve cognitive abilities, problem-solving skills, hand-to-eye coordination, team-work skills,and more.

The downside?

Video games are addictive. 

Game developers create video games so that gamers stay in the game for as long as possible. They encourage gamers to keep playing and even spend their (or their parents’) hard-earned money on in-game purchases.

You might have tried getting your child to quit video games before but failed. If that’s the case, then you know how hard it is to get them to stop playing video games. They’re available everywhere: on their phone, on the console, on the computer, and that Nintendo Switch…

Video games also have several tricks that will keep your child coming back for more, such as:

  • Instant Gratification – video games provide instant satisfaction and gratification. They release large amounts of dopamine, which causes your child to feel satisfied when they consume the in-game content. 
  • Reinforcement Schedule – your child will be actively reinforced to come back to video games by allowing them to receive rewards and direct feedback for their efforts.
  • Punishment for not Playing – if you don’t play video games for some time, you may get punished. You might lose points in competitive games, or you might lose items you had on your account. 
  • Streaks and Seasons – many games today have seasons and streaks. For instance,  in the case of seasons, the content inside the game gets changed or new content gets added, so if you miss it, you’ll feel like you’re getting left behind by other players. 

How To Motivate Your Child to Do Something Else Other than Play Video Games

If you don’t know what to do to motivate your child if they only want to play video games, there are a few things you can try. We have separated these suggestions based on developmental stages and ages so you can better understand the context of your child.

Tweens

Tweens are a common age group we work with here at Game Quitters. The biggest challenge in this age group is that tweens lack self-control. because their brains haven’t developed the ability to control their impulses and actions fully.

This means that you’re going to have to take an active role in motivating your child to do anything other than play video games all day or sit in their room and scroll through social media.

There are a few things that you can do to motivate your tween. Try these steps and see how it goes.

  1. Take some time to truly understand your child. In this step, you’ll want to get into why your gamer spends so much time playing video games or on social media. Do they have nothing else to do? Or perhaps there’s an even bigger reason – such as being bullied at school, social anxiety, or even depression. Whatever it is, you’ll need to find out if there is something going on in their lives and what it is.
  2. Prepare a plan. Determine what changes you want to see in your child’s behavior. Of course, you would want them to stop playing video games so much and get them to do other things, but there might have other priorities as well such as getting your child to be more physically active, for example.
  3. Implement the plan. The last step is to gain some control over your child’s gaming behaviors.. This means limiting gaming and perhaps social media,  which you can do by setting up house rules and offering and/or finding replacement activities  (our hobby tool has a lot of great ideas).You’ll also need to actively encourage them to participate in  those activities and make sure that you give them enough support when they need it – but don’t forget about your wellbeing in the process!

Adolescents/Teens

If you have a teenager at home, then you know how difficult it can be to deal with them. This is the time when hormones start popping out, which can result in rebelliousness or even  unusual behaviors, which is sometimes reinforced by peers.

When you want to motivate your teenager, perhaps the key steps are to offer them support and let them know it is safe to open up to you. 

Teenagers can become closed off when it comes to their feelings. There might be an external reason why they resort to playing video games, such as bullying, social anxiety, problems at school or in relationships, or other problems that they keep to themselves.

Instead of working against your teenager by using punishment as a way to keep them from playing video games, a more effective strategy is to build trust and develop a better relationship with your child. You will need to talk to them and ask them about their feelings and dig a little deeper to find the real reason why they resort to video games.

If you don’t know how to do it, we will teach you how to do it in our program called RECLAIM, which is aimed specifically at parents who want to build better relationships with their teens and their family members.

Young Adults

Often when it comes to lack of motivation in young adults, we see a trend: almost all of the young adults we work with have a lack of direction in their lives.

They don’t know what to do with their lives, but they still want to feel a sense of progression. They find that in video games, so they don’t go out to find a job or develop a skill or even start a business of their own.

Young adults should be responsible for their actions, so you can’t intervene as actively as you can with teens or tweens; however, you can still help.

You will need to encourage them to stop playing video games and go out and find replacement activities that will address the same needs as video games:

  • Start a hobby or start developing a skill that allows them to progress, which will give them a purpose in life
  • Do activities that help them create new friendships
  • Get physically active

You might also want to encourage them to talk to a therapist (find one here) if talking to you doesn’t work. Therapy is one of the most effective ways of finding motivation, identifying underlying issues and reducing  video games.

We Can Help

If you struggle to motivate your child to do something else other than play video games all day, we can help you.

Our family program RECLAIM, is aimed specifically at helping parents encourage their children to develop healthier habits and get control over video games. It’s backed by science and years of research, and you’ll get constant support from us and will  be able to implement  your plan no matter what age your child is.

In RECLAIM, you’ll learn the following:

  • How to reduce arguments and conflicts
  • Why your gamer is lacking in motivation
  • How to improve communication with your child
  • How to build and implement a plan for you and your family
  • How to control gaming and screen time

Video Games and Depression: Do Video Games Cause Depression?

Video games and depression are two widely debated topics amongst academics, parents, and the media. The debate consists of a question: do video games cause depression? Or is gaming disorder a consequence of depression? 

The Chicken and Egg Problem

When we’re trying to understand the relationship between disordered gaming and depression, one of the most important things we consider with problem gamers is the following: 

Did the gaming disorder come first, or did you have depression before developing the gaming disorder?

Depression is a common comorbidity with problem gamers. When two disorders are comorbid, it means they are more than just a co-occurrence – instead, they interact and affect each other.

The most common comorbidities that occur with problem gaming include:

  • Anxiety (up to 92% of problem gamers have it)
  • Depression (89%)
  • ADHD (85%)
  • Social anxiety (75%)
  • OCD symptoms (75%)

As you can see, anxiety, depression, and ADHD are the most common comorbidities of video game addiction.

Many gamers that we interact with at Game Quitters report that they turn to gaming because they’re depressed, but this can make their depression worse as well. In addition, excessive gaming creates an environment where individuals are often isolated in the physical world, such as in their room a lot; they may have withdrawn from friends and family, and often, exercise is sparse. This environment and lifestyle can lead to feelings of depression.

From our experience, each case of gaming disorder is different; some problem gamers might not suffer from depression at all, while others turn to video games to alleviate their symptoms of depression. On the other hand, many gamers develop depression because of their unhealthy gaming habits.

Do Video Games Cause Depression?

Currently, there are not many studies that confirm that video games cause depression directly. Most studies so far, however, show us that excessive gaming can lead to depression.

You need to know that not all video games and gaming will lead to depression. For example, suppose you play video games sporadically for an hour a day or so. Still, you have other activities in your life that fulfill you, and you have an overall stable life (a safe job, healthy relationships, and hobbies). In that case, video games will probably not cause depression.

The problem with gaming, however, is that it can be addictive.

If you suffer from gaming addiction, you get stuck in a vicious cycle of gaming too much and not having time for other activities and friends. As a result, you start to neglect school or work, and your relationships begin to suffer.

The result of this is the deterioration of your quality of life, which leads to depression. And once you’re stuck in this cycle, it’s can be hard to break out of it.

It’s important to know that if you are struggling with a gaming problem and experiencing depression, you should focus on resolving both aspects of your life. Implement strategies to reduce your excessive gaming while also addressing the underlying reasons for your depression. 

Do Video Games Alleviate Depression?

Many gamers turn to playing video games because they feel stressed or depressed. They use games as a form of escapism to forget about their everyday problems and life struggles.

In moderation, this can be helpful, and video games can provide a means of relaxation or temporary escape. But it’s important to proceed with caution because although games can give temporary relief, they won’t solve the issues. And often, create new ones.

At first, you’ll feel immediate relief and pleasure. Then, you’ll release tons of dopamine, which will make you crave games more and more. The next time you face a difficult period in your life, you’ll turn to games again, and before you know it, you’ll be addicted to video games.

If you turn to video games instead of addressing your real-life problems, you become more and more isolated. As a result, you start to lose friends, your school or job performance starts to suffer, and inevitably, your depression starts to get worse, not better.

This is also what many recent studies confirm:

  • Adams et al. (2019) show us that addictive behaviors generally provide us with immediate relief but are harmful in the long term. When people turn to addictive behaviors to treat anxiety or depression, the treatment becomes maladaptive (harmful) instead.
  • Abbas 2020 examines gaming disorder and depression. The study found that gaming disorder and depression co-occurred in 526 participants of the study. It also found that most of these gamers used video games to alleviate depression, making depression even worse.
  • Ko et al. (2012) were one of the earliest studies to study the links between depression and gaming. It found that playing video games excessively was often linked with other mental health problems such as depression, and the evidence showed that gaming made the symptoms worse.

If you play games to escape from the world, then you need to be cautious. You can get addicted to video games very easily, and once that happens, you will find it hard to come out of this vicious cycle.

How Do You Define Depression?

Before you decide what to do next, you must understand whether you’re depressed or just sad.

It’s normal to feel down or sad from time to time. But depression is a more prolonged feeling of sadness or depressed feelings that causes you to lose interest in activities that you once loved. It can also cause you to turn to addictive behaviors such as gaming.

Other common symptoms of depression include:

  • Changes in appetite
  • Mood swings
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Loss of energy, fatigue
  • Mind fog
  • Feelings of worthlessness
  • Thoughts of death or suicide

If you experience suicidal thoughts, call the suicide hotline right away!

To be diagnosed with depression, these symptoms need to persist for at least two weeks. And this is the main difference between depression and sadness: depression is a long-term problem that spans several weeks, months, and even years, while sadness will be there for a few days to a few weeks.

For a proper diagnosis, please seek the help of a medical professional. You can find a therapist near you in our directory.

Types of Depression

There are also different types of depression:

  • Episodic – depressive episodes come and go, and the symptoms of this type of depression might be present for two weeks or longer at a time. These episodes may come at particular seasons or times of the year, or they might be tied to certain events in your life.
  • Repeating – repeating depression is the type of depression that occurs constantly. This is perhaps the most common type of depression, and this type of depression can last several months or even years before it is diagnosed.
  • Bipolar – bipolar depression is a part of bipolar disorder. This disorder is known for having episodes of extreme highs and episodes of extreme lows. When the episode of extreme lows kicks in, this is called bipolar depression.
  • Moderate – Severe – severe depression is linked to heavy symptoms of depression that might cause you to feel like you cannot live your life normally any longer. The most severe symptoms might include suicidal thoughts, extreme fatigue, disinterest in life, food, and other activities.

Do You Play Video Games and Are Depressed?

If you suffer from depression and use video games to treat the symptoms of depression, then the best way to address your issues is to talk to a therapist.

We have therapists that understand gaming addiction very well, and they know how to treat gaming disorder with comorbidities such as depression.

The key is to treat both comorbidities equally and not just treat depression or gaming disorder separately. Because doing that may only solve one problem while the other issues remain.

We also have a program called Respawn that will address your depression and gaming disorder directly. In our program, you’ll learn how to slowly shift from depression and gaming disorder to more healthy activities and establish a life worth living. You’ll rediscover your passion for new activities, become more productive, and get your life back on track.

We also have other resources that you can use, such as:

Do Video Games Cause Anxiety?

Anxiety is a common symptom gaming addicts experience. When mental health professionals are treating gaming disorders, they often treat underlying anxiety, which this study found 92% of all cases of gaming disorder, the patients also presented with anxiety.

This leads to a question: do video games cause anxiety?

While there has been no scientific evidence showing video games cause anxiety directly, the two are most certainly correlated. 

This means video games might not cause anxiety directly. However, many people turn to video games as a refuge from their stress and anxiety, which may worsen their anxiety.

In this article, we’ll look at the relationship between video games and anxiety and how the two work with each other.

Which Came First?

Often in the debate about video games and anxiety, the question becomes: Which came first, the gaming disorder or the anxiety?

Do you play video games to escape from the stress of anxiety, or are you so anxious because you play video games so much?

It’s a chicken and egg question that we need to solve for each case individually. For some people, gaming is one of the main reasons they experience anxiety, but for most people, we work with, video games become an escape from reality.

According to Adams et al. (2019), playing video games and other addictive behaviors are often a refuge from distressing thoughts and anxiety and offer a means of escaping having to deal with problems in your life that cause you anxiety. As a result, your problems seem to melt away.

However, the problem with that is that the underlying issues remain. You didn’t eradicate your anxiety and other issues, but you’ve numbed them temporarily.

In this case, video games can become a maladaptive coping strategy for your anxiety that makes your anxiety even worse over time.

The Correlation of Video Games and Anxiety

The correlation between video games and anxiety is much deeper than you might think.

Many people who suffer from anxiety are far more susceptible to becoming addicted gamers than others who don’t experience anxiety.

People who are genetically predisposed to anxiety and nervous behaviors often find games as a coping mechanism. Many people who have anxiety also have a personality type that is more prone to anxiety. This personality type usually has high levels of neuroticism, which is one of the five major personality traits.

People with higher levels of neuroticism are more prone to developing a gaming disorder. People who are more nervous and suffer from stress tend to gravitate towards video games more often. However, this doesn’t mean that anxious people are also more likely to play video games.

Gaming is a form of escape that might help you forget your problems, and it may help you reduce your anxiety, at least according to some studies.

However, the relief you would find from video games for your anxiety will be short-lived. The underlying reason you’re anxious will still be there, whether it’s a life situation, stressful events, high neuroticism trait, or other causes. Plus, it makes you more likely to develop gaming disorder, as well.

Do Video Games Cause Anxiety, Then?

The one lesson we can take away from all of that is: video games might not cause anxiety directly, but they may worsen it significantly if video games are used as a treatment for anxiety if played excessively.

Some of the main reasons why people suffer from anxiety include:

  • Chronic stress
  • Trauma
  • Personality and personality trait
  • Other mental health issues
  • Drugs
  • Alcohol (withdrawal from it)
  • Illness

Most commonly, many people suffer from anxiety because of their personality traits. Unfortunately, this is genetically predisposed, so this is an unpleasant life situation that they have to deal with for many people who suffer from anxiety.

For others, anxiety is caused by the buildup of life problems. For example, it may be difficult events, stressful situations, negative experiences in life, trauma, and often a combination of all that might lead to anxiety in the long term.

One of the most unfortunate things about gaming and anxiety is that video games offer an easy and comfortable exit from the difficult situation caused by anxiety. But, unfortunately, this creates other problems, such as a worsened case of anxiety and other mental health issues and problems with physical health.

As such, video games do not cause anxiety directly. Most people who have anxiety and play video games were present much earlier than the gaming problem developed. 

Can Video Games Help with Anxiety?

Video games can alleviate anxiety symptoms and might help you recover in the short term if you play video games. It’s an effective way of escaping your problems, but only in a short period.

And that is where the problems come in.

Video games can be highly addictive, and because they can effectively alleviate anxiety in the short term, they end up becoming the primary problem instead. 

Because video games are so addictive and easily accessible, you might start to turn towards them too much, which can cause video gaming addiction

And as you might already know, gaming disorder can cause further damage to your mental and physical health. Video game addiction has a bunch of negative effects on your mental and physical wellbeing, including:

  • Dehydration
  • Physical health atrophy
  • Exhaustion
  • Poor sleep
  • Obesity
  • Aggression
  • Lack of motivation
  • Social anxiety
  • Depression
  • Poor emotional regulation
  • Suicidal thoughts

To summarize, the current research body shows that video games, in moderation, can alleviate some of your anxiety symptoms. However, excessive gaming can cause all types of other mental health problems, and it may make your anxiety even worse, so it’s best to proceed with caution in using games as a treatment for your anxiety.

What To Do If I Have Anxiety?

The most effective way to reduce or try to combat your anxiety is to consider therapy. However, there are other ways that you can use, such as trying meditation or other hobbies that will keep you grounded and taking breaks while gaming.

Let’s break down each method to see which one is best for reducing your anxiety while also staying away from getting addicted to video games.

Therapy

As we’ve already mentioned, considering therapy will be your best course of action in this case. However, if you decide to speak to a therapist, you will have a plan made specifically for your case. That’s very important since not every case is the same, and your causes for anxiety might be different from someone else’s.

We have a comprehensive list of therapists that operate all around the world, and you’ll be able to find one near you if you have anxiety and want to quit your gaming habit as well.

Keep Your Gaming in Check

Another important thing you need to do if you have anxiety and like to play video games to treat it is to keep your gaming in check.

It would help if you kept yourself from getting addicted to video games, which will cause you to have other issues that come with gaming addiction.

An important thing here is to keep breaks while gaming and ensure that you don’t play too much. Try to keep your gaming to 2 hours a day or less, and ideally not every day.

Try Hobbies and Meditation

One of the most important ways to manage or reduce your anxiety is to keep yourself grounded.

This means that you should stay more connected with the world around you. The more present you are in the current moment, the better you’ll be able to manage your thoughts and feelings.

Meditation can be incredibly helpful, especially mindfulness meditation. However, you can also try other relaxing hobbies instead of gaming as your go-to method of relieving your anxiety.

We Can Help

At Game Quitters, we have a program specifically tailored to help you get your gaming under control, including managing issues such as anxiety. It’s called Respawn. Inside, you’ll learn how to cope with your anxiety while also making sure you can recover from your gaming addiction and start living your life on your terms.

We also have other programs and resources, such as:

Video Games and Mental Health: How Gaming Affects Your Mental Health

Video games have been around for more than 30 years. But only in the past 15 years have people started to pay attention to the correlation between video games and mental health.

Excessive gaming is connected to mental health problems such as:

  • Depression
  • Social anxiety
  • Lack of motivation
  • Poor emotional regulation
  • Interpersonal conflict
  • Suicidal thoughts

On the other hand, some studies show that video games can improve your mental health if you play in moderation – the keyword here is gaming in moderation.

This article analyzes the effects of video games on your mental health and offers suggestions on where you can get help if gaming is impacting your health.

Effects of Video Games on Your Mental Health

When we talk about video games and mental health, you must know that we primarily consider the mental health effects of excessive gaming.

In moderation, playing video games may not have strong negative effects on mental health.

A study by Oxford University shows that gaming in moderation and a controlled environment may improve one’s mental well-being

Some people might find the results of this study surprising, especially considering that many prior studies have linked gaming with negative effects on mental health.

However, one key thing to note here is an isolated study where gamers played the prosocial game Animal Crossing for four hours a day. The truth is that the gaming habits of most addicted gamers are much different. They play other, more addictive games that are also more toxic, and many gamers play for more than four hours a day.

The more you play, the more you may neglect other aspects of your life. And this also means that the more your mental well-being is going to suffer. Furthermore, the negative effects of excessive video gaming on mental health are supported by hundreds of anecdotal stories from our members who have suffered from gaming addiction

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the most common effects of gaming on mental health.

Video Games and Depression

Depression is one of the most common comorbidities that gamers have, according to Gonzalez-Bueso et al. from 2018.

This study found up to 89% of problem gamers are also diagnosed with depression in addition to video game addiction.

One of the main questions we have regarding video games and depression is: does gaming cause depression, or are video games the coping mechanism for depression, exacerbating the original mental health problem?

Many gamers we work with develop depression because of their gaming habits. As they start playing video games more and more, they begin to neglect other aspects of their lives. For example, they don’t have as many social relationships and ignore healthy habits such as exercise and diet.

All of that can make you depressed or worsen existing depression.

We also have many cases where gamers use video games to alleviate their symptoms of depression. They turn to gaming as an escape and way to cope with their depression, but in the end, the gaming starts to worsen their depression, not fix it.

Most studies that we have so far show us that excessive gaming can lead to depression and a clear link between the two.

If you want to learn more about video games and depression, read our article about this topic.

Gaming and Social Anxiety

Does gaming cause social anxiety?

Social anxiety is another common comorbidity to video game addiction, so video games might be responsible for your social anxiety. 

If you think about it, it makes sense – the more you play video games, the more you lose contact with your real-life friends, which can, in turn, lead to experiencing more social anxiety.

But the same can be said about social anxiety as can be told about depression. Many people turn to video games because they are socially anxious and struggle with physical world friendships. Games offer them an escape from real life; plus, they can socialize with people online with little to no risk. And when they do that, they start neglecting real-life relationships, worsening their existing social anxiety.

And that’s not a good place to be. 

If you rely on video games and online platforms for socializing, you lose out on the many benefits of having friends in real life. You don’t get to have adventures that you might have in your life, you don’t meet new people, and even if you do, the relationships online may not be as genuine as they are in real life.

Does Gaming Cause Anxiety?

Anxiety is a feeling of unease and fear that many people get because of their inability to predict what will happen in the future. 

Everyone gets anxious from time to time. For many people, this happens because of school exams, job interviews, or simply before attending an important event. As such, gaming does not cause anxiety.

It can, however, worsen it in some cases.

This can happen if you turn to video games as a form of escapism. Video games can allow you to escape from the real world to forget about the problems you have in real life. 

This can be a great thing if you come home from a long day at work or in school. Video games can allow you to jump into another world where you forget about everything that’s bothering you.

But if this happens too often and if you start neglecting those problems in real life because video games offer you an easier, more comfortable escape, then it can become a problem. Your anxiety will eventually become even worse knowing that you haven’t managed to address those nagging issues you might have in your life.

Eventually, life is going to catch up with you. And when that happens, your problems are going to start accumulating to the point where you can’t manage them successfully any longer, which will result in even more anxiety.

So gaming itself may not cause anxiety, but if you turn to play video games to escape your problems, it can significantly worsen your existing anxiety.

Read more about this in our article that talks about gaming and anxiety.

Lack of Motivation

Playing video games in excess is also responsible for lack of motivation.

We hear from many parents concerned about their child and their lack of motivation to do other things than play video games all day and wonder if gaming is making people lazy

This happens because video games address many of the needs that you would satisfy with other activities such as hobbies. For example, video games allow you to progress and level up your skills, which is one of the core needs of human existence.

Furthermore, video games also allow you to stay social, get creative, and get immersed as they act as this massive time sink. 

The result?

When you play video games too much, you don’t have the motivation to do other things because video games address all of the needs that other activities usually do. 

A good solution for this is to try as many hobbies as possible to replace your gaming habit. You could also try a 90-day detox, which might help you refocus your priorities and do healthy activities that will address the same needs as gaming does for you.

Gaming Causes Poor Emotional Regulation

One of the biggest negative effects of video games can lead you to struggle with regulating your emotions properly.

Studies show that people diagnosed with Internet gaming disorder are more likely to be aggressive, depressed, and anxious. The main mechanism that leads to those comorbidities is their inability to regulate and control their emotions, such as anger, sadness, fear, or other emotions.

That’s because video games are often seen as a way of escaping your emotions. As a result, many gamers, especially young gamers and teenagers, play video games because they may have underlying negative emotions.

However, video games don’t solve their problem and temporarily numb those negative emotions. On the contrary, playing video games excessively will make those emotions even more intense, especially if you play video games every day for several hours.

When you have good control over your emotions, you can control your actions better by controlling your emotional state. Excessive game time can cause you to develop skill deficits, such as regulating your emotions.

Interpersonal Conflict

Video games and gaming addiction are often responsible for interpersonal conflict.

This comprehensive study on the effects of video games and interpersonal relationships shows that video games can harm relationships that gamers have with other people – including family members such as siblings, parents, and other people.

The study also confirms that playing violent video games can have a more pronounced negative effect on gamers’ interpersonal relationships with other people. On the other hand, non-violent games can improve the quality of interpersonal relationships compared to violent games.

In addition, many online games that gamers play nowadays, such as League of Legends , Rocket League, Fortnite, Roblox, Genshin Impact, or Grand Theft Auto, have toxic online communities. The toxicity of these communities can translate to worse relationships with other people. All the anger and frustration gather inside like a hurricane that is released on other people.

So although games can provide social opportunities, sometimes those social opportunities can lead to worse relationships with other people, which can negatively affect other aspects of your mental health, too.

Gaming and Suicidal Thoughts

When video gaming addiction gets out of hand, some individuals may begin having suicidal thoughts.

Many addicted gamers have shared their experience with suicidal thoughts, including Cam Adair, the founder of Game Quitters, who started experiencing these thoughts due to excessive gaming.

These thoughts are common with other people who share their stories on Game Quitters, such as, for example, Jose, who was playing video games from the age of just 8.

The problem with video games and addiction to games is that they can quickly spiral out of control. You start to lose focus and track of other activities in your life and before you know it, playing video games becomes the only thing and your only priority in life. 

If you or another family member or friend experiences suicidal thoughts, contact the Suicide prevention line immediately at 1-800-273-8255.

If you experience suicidal thoughts, then your gaming addiction has already spread through other areas of your life so much that it’s heavily impacting the quality of your life. At this point, treatment is the most viable option.

Does Gaming Have Positive Effects on Mental Health?

Recent studies suggest that playing non-violent video games (in this case, Animal Crossing) can positively affect your mental health.

You may become happier, and you have better relationships with other people as a result.

However, one of the main problems with video games is that many games are violent. Many of them also have toxic communities online, so they can’t have as many positive effects.

In addition, many gamers play games excessively, so they start to experience mostly the negative effects, and they don’t get to see the positive impact that video games can cause.

If you want to experience positive effects from video games, try playing in moderation. You can also try a 90-day detox to change your relationship with video games for good.

Need Help?

If you experience any of the above-mentioned negative effects of video games on mental health, then we encourage you to speak with a therapist near you. This will be the most effective strategy for your problems since you need someone to support you and give you professional tips for coping with your mental health challenges.

In addition, we have designed an in-depth course for gamers called Respawn, where you will learn how to alleviate the negative effects of gaming on mental health and solve your problems with practical strategies.

We also have other resources that you can try, such as:

How to Delete Your Battle.Net Account

Deleting your gaming account is a big step towards overcoming your gaming addiction. It takes a big decision to do that, but you also need to know how to delete it.

One of the best ways to quit gaming is to start by uninstalling your games and deleting your accounts. This will reduce your cravings and temptations to play.

If you play games on Battle.Net, then in this guide we will show you how to delete your BattleNet account forever.

How to Delete Your Battle.Net Account

To delete your Battle.net account, you’ll need to request the deletion of your data from your account. Follow these steps to do it.

  1. Go to Blizzard.com and sign in to your Battle.net account.
  2. Once signed in, click on Support in the top right corner, and then click on the Contact Support button again on the next page, located in the top right corner.

  3. Click on the icon that says “Account, App & Shop”.

  4. Click on “I would rather categorize the issue”.
  5. Then under the category, select “Data Protection”.
  6. Click on Remove my Data, and then select Remove my Battle.net Account and game data, and select Continue.
  7. The next page will tell you what you’re going to lose if you decide to delete your account data. Once you’ve read the text, tick the box and click on Proceed.
  8. Next, you should receive a verification code to your email account that you’ve used for creating your Battle.net account. It should look something like this:

    Copy the verification code you’ve received in your email (you’ll have a different code than I had), and paste it inside the box in the next process.
  9. Lastly, click on Submit to complete your ticket. Your process will now be processed by the Blizzard team, and it might take a few days for the request to be fully completed.

In my case, it took 5 days for the deletion to be completed. On average, this process will take up to 10 days. Note that in some cases, Blizzard says that the requests might take up to 30 days, depending on whether the customer support is busy or not.

What is Battle.net?

Battle.net is a popular gaming platform created by Blizzard Entertainment. It acts as a social networking service and as a gaming platform at the same time.

This means that users can use Battle.net to manage their games, purchase them, make in-game purchases (such as loot boxes), and connect with friends by chatting to them or playing games with them.

On paper, it’s a neat concept that aims to bring gamers together.

However, one of the major problems of Battle.net is the addictive nature of the games that it offers games such as World of Warcraft (arguably the most addictive game in the world), Overwatch, Diablo, Hearthstone, Warcraft and Starcraft… all of which are fairly addictive games as well.

That’s why one of the best ways of overcoming your gaming (or gambling) addiction is to delete your BattleNet account first, and then look for ways of replacing the time you spend gaming on other activities.

Need Help with Your Gaming Addiction?

If you suffer from a gaming addiction, we offer guides and free resources to help you get your life back on track:

If you appreciate our content and what we do, feel free to share it with other people who might find this article (or other articles) helpful. Our mission is to help as many people overcome their gaming addictions and get their lives back to normal.

Note: If you’re a mental health professional and want to learn more about gaming addiction and treatment, you can do so with INTENTA’s Gaming Disorder training for professionals.

How to Delete Your Fortnite Account

Fortnite is one of the world’s most addictive and popular games. Every day, millions of players from all around the world sign in to their accounts and play Fortnite solo or with friends.

It’s a well-loved game especially among the younger population – with more than 60% of all Fortnite gamers are 24 or under, which means that a lot of children and youths of ages 18 and under play the game.

This is particularly troublesome considering that there are loot boxes and V bucks that players can purchase to get in-game cosmetic items such as skins for the player and guns.

In this article, you’ll learn how to delete your Fortnite account easily and stop your Fortnite addiction for good.

How to Delete Your Fortnite Account – Step by Step

To delete your Fortnite account, you’ll need to delete your Epic Games account as the game is only accessible through the Epic Games launcher.

Fortunately, it is pretty easy to delete the Epic Games account, so just follow these steps to get it done.

  1. Go to Epic Games on your browser and sign in to your Epic Games account.
  2. Once you’re signed in, go to the top right corner and hover over your account name. Then, once a menu pops up, click on “Account”.
  3. Inside the account page, go to the General tab, and scroll all the way to the bottom of the page.
  4. There, you will find a section named “Delete Account”. You’ll be able to request the account deletion there if you click on “Request Account Delete”.

    If you decide to delete your account, you’ll lose all of your data and information on Epic Games, including your games, purchases, in-game content, game progress, and other data that was tied to your Epic Games account.
  5. The last step is to enter the verification code you’ll receive after clicking on request account deletion. You should receive an email with the verification code, which you’ll need to enter into the box that looks like this:

    After this step, you’ll have requested the deletion of your account successfully.

Note that it will take 14 days for your account to be fully deleted. In the meantime, you’ll still have the option to reverse the deletion. After that, all of your data from your Epic Games account will be deleted permanently.

We recommend that if you want this deletion process to be fully successful, it’s better to resist the temptation of re-opening your Epic Games account, which can lead to a vicious and never-ending cycle of trying but failing to quit your Fortnite addiction.

Do You Need Help?

If you need help with deleting your Fortnite account, Fortnite addiction, or any other problems you might have regarding gaming addiction, don’t hesitate to contact us.

We have science-based guides and free resources to help you or a loved one including our Parents Guide to Fortnite Addiction.

Fortnite isn’t the only popular game these days and Genshin Impact, Valorant, Rocket League, Rainbow Six Siege are other games that capture the attention of millions of young people.

If you appreciate our content and what we do, feel free to share it with other people who might find this article (or other articles) helpful. Our mission is to help as many people overcome their gaming addictions and get their lives back to normal.

Note: If you’re a mental health professional and want to learn more about gaming addiction and treatment, you can do so with INTENTA’s Gaming Disorder training for professionals.

How to Delete Your Nintendo Account

Nintendo is one of the most popular video game companies in the world. This Japanese giant is well known for its electronics, such as Nintendo Switch, which ranks in the top 10 most sold video game consoles of all time.

In addition, Nintendo stays in gamers’ hearts thanks to the many endearing, yet addictive titles it creates. The Super Mario franchise, The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, Pokemon, Splatoon – these are all fun games designed by Nintendo.

However, these games can also be highly addictive, so many people are looking for ways to stop playing Nintendo games (and Nintendo consoles).

If you’re looking to learn how to delete your Nintendo account, read this article.

How to Delete Your Nintendo Account

Deleting your Nintendo account should be a straightforward process. Just follow these steps to delete it.

  1. Sign in to your Nintendo Account.
    delete nintendo account
  2. Click on your account’s icon in the top right corner, and then select Settings.
    delete nintendo account
  3. Now a Settings page should open in a separate tab. The next step from here is to click on Other Settings on the left-hand side of your screen under your icon.
    nintendo account
  4. On the next screen, you should see a button that says “Delete account” in the bottom portion of the content of the screen. Click on it to proceed with the deletion.
    nintendo account
  5. After clicking the Delete account button, you’ll be prompted with a page where you’ll be able to read what will happen if you delete your Nintendo account. Note that after confirming deletion, the account will enter a period of 30-day deactivation inside which you’ll be able to reverse the process of deletion. After that, your account will be deleted for good.
  6. The last step is to click on Confirm and Proceed to complete the deletion of your Nintendo account. You’ll have to re-type your password to confirm the deletion.
    nintendo account deletion

After completing the deletion process, your account will enter a period of 30-day deactivation.

Note that you can still reactivate your account in the next 30 days – you can do that by simply trying to sign in to your account, and then insert the verification code you’ll receive via the email account you’ve provided during the creation of the account.

Further Steps

As you may see, the act of deletion of your Nintendo account is a pretty simple one. It will take some mental resilience to stop yourself from accessing and reactivating your Nintendo account once you decide to delete it, though.

If you’re tempted by the reactivation, note that this is completely normal but try to resist it for 30 days until the deletion is complete.

At Game Quitters, we’re dedicated to helping gamers just like you quit gaming and fulfill their goals in life.

If you’re struggling with a Nintendo addiction or simply playing games too much, then head over to our guides and resources:

If you appreciate our content and what we do, feel free to share it with other people who might find this article (or other articles) helpful. Our mission is to help as many people overcome their gaming addictions and get their lives back to normal.

How to Delete Your Rocket League Account

Rocket League is a free-to-play game where the goal is for players to score goals in soccer using their cars.

It’s a simple concept, but one that has caught on massively in the past 6 years. It has almost 100 million users monthly, and the numbers are still going up.

In 2019, Psyonix, the company that created Rocket League, was purchased by Epic Games, which means that at the moment, the game is only available through Epic Games launcher for PC players.

However, we know many people still use Steam for Rocket League, and many people play Rocket League on PS4 and Xbox. That’s why we’ve prepared guides for all types of users in this article.

How to Delete Your Rocket League Account – Epic Games

If you use Rocket League through Epic Games, then you’ll need to delete your Epic Games account entirely if you want to proceed with the deletion.

Sadly, it’s not possible to just delete your Psyonix account as the company has merged with Epic Games, so the only way to delete the Rocket League account is to delete your Epic Games account as well.

Let’s take a look at how you can do that.

  1. Sign in to your Epic Games account.
  2. In the top right corner, hover over your account’s name and then click on Account from the drop-down menu.
  3. Go to the General tab of your account page.
  4. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page until you reach the portion named “Delete Account”.
  5. Click on Request Account Delete to request the deletion of your Epic Games account.
  6. Insert the security code you’ve received via email into the next window and click on Confirm Delete Request.

This will delete your Epic Games account for good. Note that if you decide to take this step, you’ll lose all the games you have on your account, including all purchases, in-game purchases, and all achievements that are tied to your account.

Unfortunately, this is the only way to delete your Rocket League account at the moment if you use Epic Games.

Alternative Option

There is one alternative option to deleting your Epic Games account completely – you may want to ask Psyonix Support to delete your personal data from their database, which might be sufficient to help you stop playing Rocket League.

You can try sending the customer support a message at Psyonix through this page. Ask them if it is possible to delete your Rocket League data and account and if that will stop your access to the game for good.

If You Use Steam

If you use Steam for playing Rocket League, then it’s likely that you’ve purchased or acquired Rocket League before 2019.

For deleting your Rocket League account when using Steam, you’ll have to consider deleting your Steam account.

If you want to know how to delete your Steam account, please read our full guide or watch the video below:

For Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PS Users

For those who play Rocket League on consoles, the only way to delete your Rocket League account is to follow one of the following guides:

Of course, that might not be a viable option if you also own and play other games on those accounts, so you might want to look for other ways of controling your Rocket League playtime.

Need Help to Control Your Gaming?

If you play video games too much and want to get in control, read our guides and free resources:

When you play games too much and need to delete your Rocket League account you might also own other games and play them too much too. So it’s recommended that you also delete your accounts for games you play like Fortnite, PUBG, Minecraft, Counter-Strike and Discord.

If you appreciate our content and what we do, feel free to share it with other people who might find this article (or other articles) helpful. Our mission is to help as many people overcome their gaming addictions and get their lives back to normal.

Note: If you’re a mental health professional and want to learn more about gaming addiction and treatment, you can do so with INTENTA’s Gaming Disorder training for professionals.

How to Delete Your Roblox Account

Looking to delete your Roblox account? Then you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of deleting your Roblox account in just a few simple steps.

How to Delete Your Roblox Account

To delete your Roblox account, you’ll have to contact the customer support of Roblox, as there is no dedicated way of deleting your account through the account or user page like there is on most other sites.

Luckily, this process should be simple enough to handle for everyone, as you’ll only have to go through a few simple steps.

Here are the steps you need to take to delete your Roblox account:

  1. Log in to your Roblox account at Roblox.com.
  2. After logging in to your account, scroll all the way to the bottom of the page until you see the link that says “Help”. Click on it.
  3. You’ll now be redirected to the Help page of the Roblox site. You’ll now again need to scroll all the way to the bottom where you should be able to click on the button that says “Contact Us”.
  4. A new page will open where you will need to open up the customer support form for contacting customer support. Click on the “Support form” link that is located in the text on that page to open up the form.
  5. After clicking on that link, a customer support form should open in a separate tab. You’ll now need to enter the details into the form to contact support regarding the deletion of your account.
  6. Enter your first name, email address, your username, and select the issue details. Under the device, select the device you use for playing Roblox. Note that there is no direct choice for deleting your account, so you’ll have to choose the category of “Billing & Payments”, and then under the subcategory, select “Cancel Membership”. Lastly, under the description, tell the customer support that you’d like to delete your account and thank them for their help.
  7. Lastly, click on Submit to send the contact form.
  8. After a few days, a member of customer support will contact you with further instructions and details. Note that you might have to verify your account before deleting it, so you might need to provide some additional details to complete the process.

About Roblox

Roblox is one of the most widely played games in the world. Part of the reason is that it’s so easily available on all platforms and it’s also free to use.

Roblox addiction is a serious problem especially among children and teenagers. If you or someone you know is struggling with a Roblox addiction, we’ve prepared a complete guide on how to overcome your Roblox addiction and begin living your life in a new way right now.

We also have additional articles on Roblox such as:

At Game Quitters we are dedicated to providing you with the best resources and guides possible to get gaming under control and live a great life. Our programs include:

If you appreciate our content and what we do, feel free to share it with other people who might find this article (or other articles) helpful. Our mission is to help as many people overcome their gaming addictions and get their lives back to normal.

Note: If you’re a mental health professional and want to learn more about gaming addiction and treatment, you can do so with INTENTA’s Gaming Disorder training for professionals.

How to Delete Your World of Warcraft Account

Ah yes, World of Warcraft.

Also known as WoW, World of Warcraft is one of the most addictive computer games in history. It’s a highly immersive computer game where you build a character, offering you a (seemingly) worthy escape from reality.

Millions of people around the world play WoW daily, and a small percentage of those people are addicted to World of Warcraft.

So if you’re looking to kick your WoW addiction, then a good way to start would be to delete your World of Warcraft account to prevent you from coming back.

How can you do that? Find out below in this article.

How to Delete Your World of Warcraft Account

To delete your WoW account, you will need to delete your Blizzard account completely.

Another option is to cancel the subscription to World of Warcraft inside Battle.net if you don’t want to delete your Blizzard account completely.

Let’s take a look at both options.

Option 1: Delete Your Blizzard Account

Arguably the most effective way of deleting your World of Warcraft account is to completely delete your Blizzard account.

Note that if you decide to take this step, you will lose all data, games, achievements, and items that you own on your Blizzard account, which can be a bummer. But at least you’re taking a HUGE step towards overcoming your WoW addiction.

To delete your Blizzard account, follow these steps:

    1. Sign in to your Blizzard account.
    2. In the top right corner of the page, click on Support.
    3. Next, click on Contact Support in the right top corner again.
    4. Click on I would rather categorize the issue.
    5. Click on Data Protection.
    6. Then select Remove my Data, and then select Remove my Battle.net account and game data.
    7. Then, you’ll need to read the text on the following page where you’ll learn what you will lose if you decide to delete the account. Once ready, tick the box and click on Proceed.
    8. The last step is to insert the verification code you’ve received via email into the box and complete the process for deletion.

The deletion will now take anywhere between 10 to 30 days, depending on how quickly the customer support handles your request.

Option 2: Cancel World of Warcraft Subscription

The other option is to cancel your World of Warcraft subscription inside Blizzard’s account. This is an effective step, but not as effective and complete as deleting your Blizzard account.

If you wish to cancel your WoW subscription, then follow these steps:

    1. Log in to your Blizzard account.
    2. Click on your account name in the top right corner, and then select Account Settings from the dropdown menu.
    3. On the left-hand side of the screen, select the tab that says “Games & Subscriptions”.
    4. Select the game you want to cancel the subscription for, and click on Manage.
    5. Click on Cancel Subscription to complete the process.

After this, your subscription to WoW should be canceled and you won’t be able to access your WoW account any longer.

Need Help?

If you suffer from a gaming addiction, we’ve prepared guides and free resources on Game Quitters to help you get your life back on the right track:

If you appreciate our content and what we do, feel free to share it with other people who might find this article (or other articles) helpful. Our mission is to help as many people overcome their gaming addictions and get their lives back to normal.

Note: If you’re a mental health professional and want to learn more about gaming addiction and treatment, you can do so with INTENTA’s Gaming Disorder training for professionals.

How to Delete Your Dota 2 Account

Dota 2 is one of the most popular games in the world, and arguably among the top 3 most popular Massive Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games of all time. 400,000 to 500,000 people play this game monthly, putting it high on the list of the most played games.

It’s also a very addictive game. Once you get sucked into the progression in this game and improving your skills, it’s hard to get out of it.

That’s why deleting your Dota 2 account is one of the best strategies to quit playing Dota 2 cold turkey.

To delete your Dota 2 account, you’ll have two different strategies – we’ll go over each one in this article.

How to Delete Your Dota 2 Account – Best Option

The best option for deleting your Dota 2 account is to contact Steam support and ask them if they can delete your game data and erase your Dota 2 profile.

When you do this, you’ll be able to get rid of all of your game data and you’ll have your profile deleted. This will guarantee you that you won’t be able to use your profile anymore, even though you can still have Dota 2 installed on your computer.

To do this, you’ll need to log in to your Steam account and contact customer support using a contact form that you’ll find on Steam.

Just follow these steps to complete the process:

    1. Log in to your Steam account using your credentials.
    2. Next, click on the Support tab once you’re logged in to your account.
    3. Then, you’ll find a list of games below under the “Recent Products” category. Pick Dota 2 – if it’s not there, scroll all the way to the bottom and select “Games, Software, etc.”, and type in Dota 2. Then, click on Dota 2.
    4. Next, click on “I’m having trouble with items”.
    5. Then scroll all the way to the bottom and find the “Contact Steam Support” button. Click on this button to open up a dialog box.
    6. Inside this box, type in “I’d like to delete my Dota 2 account, game data, history, and access to Dota 2.” Also, include your reason for the request of deletion, and hit send.
    7. Hit Send. You will have to wait around 72 hours for customer support to respond. Note that you might have to provide some additional details if they ask you to do so.

Alternative Option – Delete Steam Account

The second option is a bit more radical – but perhaps even more effective than the first one, especially if you’re addicted to Dota 2 and other games you have on Steam.

That option is to delete your Steam account.

Luckily, the process of deleting your Steam account is not very complicated. We’ve prepared a complete guide for deleting your Steam account.

Of course, if you decide on this option, you should know that you will lose all of your games and everything you own on your Steam account, so only take this step if you’re prepared to lose everything you own on Steam.

It’s common for people who play DOTA 2 to also play other games, such as PUBG, FIFA and even Candy Crush. If you want to stop gaming, then make sure you delete accounts for all the games you play and Discord if you are triggered by gamer friends.

Need Help?

At Game Quitters, we’re dedicated to helping gamers from everywhere to quit their toxic gaming habits and build better habits, which can help you get your life back on track.

If you suffer from a gaming addiction (or other digital addictions), we’ve also prepared many other guides and free resources on Game Quitters. These include:

If you appreciate our content and what we do, feel free to share it with other people who might find this article (or other articles) helpful. Our mission is to help as many people overcome their gaming addictions and get their lives back to normal.

Note: If you’re a mental health professional and want to learn more about gaming addiction and treatment, you can do so with INTENTA’s Gaming Disorder training for professionals.

The Ultimate Guide to a Digital Detox

Today, we are bombarded by everything digital.

From video games to emails to memes, there’s a never-ending onslaught of digital input into our lives that we no longer prioritize anything else. As a result, we are slaves to our screens, and that’s not a healthy way of living.

While technology can be helpful to improve our lives, too much of it can also be detrimental to our health, social interactions, and mental wellbeing.

While most people are conscious of this, they don’t know what to do about it. 

Digital detox is a new trend in self-care, which has been on a steady rise since 2016. There’s no clear definition of a digital detox exactly, but it typically entails a commitment to boycotting technology – or specific aspects of technology – for a certain period.

And in this article, we’re going to take a closer look at digital detox, what it is, how it works, its benefits, and how to do it. By the end of this complete guide to digital detox, you’ll (hopefully) learn the following:

  • What is a digital detox?
  • Why do a digital detox?
  • The benefits of digital detox
  • The science behind a digital detox
  • Does a digital detox work?
  • How to do a digital detox

Let’s get started. 

What is a Digital Detox?

A digital detox is an act of removing yourself from technology for some time. 

When you do a digital detox, you will go a certain period without all devices connected to the Internet, including smartphones, computers, TV, consoles, video games, and other types of technology.

The goal of the digital detox is to repair your relationship with technology and get a healthier view of it. The goal is not to completely stop using technology forever but to change how you use it in your life in a more balanced way.

The amount of time people spend with technology is increasing by the day. Many people spend hours a day on it and don’t realize that they’re addicted to it. On average, an adult would spend more than 8 hours per day with technology, according to a survey done in 2020.

That’s why many people feel the need to remove technology from their lives or at least minimize their dependence on it. Doing so will help them evaluate their usage on a deeper level and then change their digital habits.

While tempted to think it’s easier said than done, a digital detox can be simple, and it’s certainly worth a try.

It doesn’t have to be a prolonged stretch or period where you quit technology entirely. You can choose how long you feel comfortable doing a digital detox for anywhere from 24 hours to 1 week.

Some people believe that a digital detox could help them, but they’re unsure how to go about doing it. That’s why we wrote this article. We want to show you how you can detox from technology and find your way back to a healthy relationship with it.

What Do You Do on a Digital Detox?

The first step is to go cold turkey on using technology. This means don’t use it at all for the entire digital detox. Everything from your emails to cable internet should be completely off the table.

It will feel tough at first, and you may feel like you are missing out on many things during the digital detox. 

You might miss your favorite TV shows, the latest video game, or social media apps.

You will also find it difficult to concentrate and do things alone. You’ll be constantly tempted to check your Facebook account or snap a quick selfie with your smartphone because you’re bored.

But that’s the beauty of digital detox – you learn how to live and thrive without these distracting factors. 

You learn how to appreciate yourself and your company, and you also start to cherish the small things in life, such as friendships, events, nature, and the world around you as you’re not sticking your nose in your screen all the time, which distracts you from the beauty that this world has to offer.

The next step is to spend time doing things that are different from what you normally do daily. This includes anything that would help you learn new skills or enjoy yourself in a new way.

You can start by reading, writing, playing with kids, exercising, working on crafts, or even taking up a hobby. If you don’t know what hobby to try, we’ve prepared a hobby tool that can help you find new hobbies when you’re doing a digital detox.

How Long Should a Digital Detox Last?

You can start with whatever length of time you are comfortable with. For example, you can start with 24 hours, and if you see the digital detox working for you, you can continue with it.

Ideally, you’d want your digital detox to last longer. Like anything else, the longer you do it, the more you’ll see results. 

For example, if you are doing a digital detox for one week, you will start to see bigger changes than if you would only be doing it for a day. That’s because your brain will begin to change, and it will start getting rid of the dependencies created by technology.

Turning off all digital technology for a week or longer may seem like a long time, but it isn’t that difficult. You can do it during the day or at night. You can even do it while on holiday if you don’t feel like a digital detox would work in your daily life.

In our Respawn program for gamers, we offer a similar idea of detoxing from video games. In our program, the detox lasts 90 days because that is how long it will take for your brain to rewire the changes caused by gaming addiction

Once you get used to the idea of doing a digital detox, you’ll start noticing how different your life becomes when you no longer have your devices and Internet available. It might be a bit difficult at the start, but once you get into it, you’ll see that it gets easier with time.

Why Do a Digital Detox?

The following are the most common reasons why people do a digital detox. After reading these, if one of them describes you, you should strongly consider doing a digital detox.

1. To avoid distractions

Distractions are everywhere in today’s world, and they can be hard to ignore. But if there’s one thing that technology makes easier, it has to be distractions. While having devices connected to the Internet gives us quick access to information and communication, they also come with guilt feelings because of their potential for distracting us.

You stop focusing on the tasks you need to do. Instead, you turn to tasks that are more pleasurable and more comfortable, like playing your favorite video game, scrolling through social media, or watching another Youtube video.

This makes your work less productive. Technology is so fast-paced that it makes everything easier for us, except for our ability to do work.

2. To unplug from the world

The purpose of unplugging is to detach yourself completely from technology and to live in the present moment, without distractions, to live your life fully and enjoy the little things again, the ones that you didn’t even notice previously.

Additionally, a digital detox could help you get a better image of yourself. You’d stop seeing all the “happy” people on social media, and you’d focus on the things that you love doing more.

3. To set priorities

If you’re not using your time well, who knows what will happen to you? You could become unproductive and lazy. Or maybe you won’t work at all. Or you could even lose your job if you don’t take care of yourself.

But if there’s one thing that technology doesn’t provide us, it’s the ability to prioritize our tasks properly. This is one of the biggest disadvantages of technology for us.

Additionally, when you start focusing on technology too much, you forget about the people around you. The people you love and cherish, your friends – technology becomes your priority, and the relationships start to suffer.

A digital detox can help you shift your priorities towards healthy things again.

Should I do a Digital Detox?

If you think that a digital detox isn’t for you, that’s fine. You can choose to do it, you can choose not to do it, and you can decide never to try it at all. 

But before you decide, think about your relationship with technology. Think about how much time you spend with it every day and how it’s affecting your life. Maybe a digital detox could help you in some way.

Do you think a digital detox will bring positive things to your life? If so, why don’t you give it a shot? You can do it for 24 hours or even for one week. Decide to try it out for yourself and see if it brings positive changes.

Doing a digital detox has next to no negative effects, so giving it a shot surely can’t hurt. However, if you don’t feel any changes after the detox, then you can establish that it hasn’t worked for you as intended.

Here are a few signs that might help you decide that a digital detox is right for you:

  • You feel like you’re wasting too much time on social media, playing video games, apps, computers, or smartphones
  • You don’t manage to complete the tasks you’ve prioritized for the day because you’ve been distracted all the time
  • You feel like your relationships with the people that matter to you have deteriorated because of technology, and you want to repair them
  • Your confidence and mental health is suffering as a result of technology overuse
  • You don’t socialize as often as you did, and you also don’t do physical activities as much as you used to
  • You don’t feel present in conversations and real-life activities and events
  • Take some time to evaluate whether you notice any of these signs and if you do; then a digital detox could be very beneficial.

Negative Effects of Too Much Technology

There is no doubt that technology has improved certain aspects of our lives. For example, we can now order food, clothes and watch our favorite movies without ever having to leave our couch. 

But that also comes with some negative consequences. Because technology is so ingrained in our everyday lives, it’s easy for us to get too comfortable with it. And because we tend to overuse it, we get addicted to it. We begin comparing ourselves with others, and we become obsessed with our phones and social media accounts. 

We find ourselves becoming more anxious, depressed, and exhausted than we did before.

Researchers have found that there’s a strong correlation between using technology and feeling depressed. This negative effect is even more pronounced in teenagers. The Internet can make them feel lonely and insecure because of its overwhelming nature. 

In recent years, more and more people have also suffered from technology-induced anxiety. And this is because these people are glued to the screens of their devices, and they don’t even notice it.

Technology overuse can also decrease your physical health because you spend less time experiencing nature, doing physical activities in nature, or doing sports to keep yourself fit and healthy. This is why it’s very important to find a balance between working online and offline.

Some negative effects of technology overuse include:

  • Low self-esteem
  • Depression, anxiety
  • Sleep difficulties
  • Weight gain, obesity
  • Lack of exercise
  • Poor time management
  • The wrong set of priorities
  • Lack of productivity

Benefits of Digital Detox

The benefits of digital detox are clear. Researchers have found that the consequences of technology overuse can be disastrous, especially for our mental health. 

A digital detox could help us escape this trap and heal ourselves from the damage that has been done.

Here are some of the benefits that you can experience from a digital detox.

Lower Stress Levels

Research shows a strong correlation between stress and technology, especially smartphones. So if you spend a lot of time with your phone, you could be stressing yourself out. 

But if you do a digital detox, you will experience lower stress levels because technology isn’t the only thing that will occupy your time. You will also be forced to spend more time with other people, whether in person or online.

Some evidence suggests using smartphones increases our cortisol levels, which are directly linked with high-stress levels. Cortisol is your body’s main stress hormone, and too much of this hormone can lead to chronic stress.

That’s why putting down your phone and forgetting about technology for some time might help you de-stress and calm down. This benefit can be even more powerful if you practice meditation to go along with your digital detox.

Additionally, when you do a digital detox, you might find yourself spending more time outdoors and doing the activities you love, which will lower your stress levels even more. 

More Productivity

If you’re always reaching out to your phone or working on your computer, then you might not be at your peak productivity.

The truth is that technology makes it tempting to use it all the time. And because of this, people spend their time multitasking while doing other things. So they end up wasting their time online while doing other important activities.

Smartphones and computers cause the so-called “brain drain,” a term used for your smartphone and technology occupying all of your brain’s cognitive ability, which leaves you unable to focus on other tasks appropriately. 

study done by the researchers at the University of Chicago found that the mere presence of your smartphone can lower your productivity significantly. It also found that the more you use technology and smartphones, the less you can focus on other tasks at hand.

That’s why getting rid of your smartphone and other distractions for some time can be beneficial. You’ll learn to be more productive and focus on the tasks that matter even after your digital detox is done.

You’ll Be Healthier

Technology overuse can lead to a lot of problems. With this in mind, you need to find a way to reduce your overall technology use. 

The fact is that technology overuse has a strong correlation with a range of negative health issues, including obesity and poor sleep quality. Using your device right before sleep increases your melatonin levels, which will make it harder for your body to fall asleep. 

Overusing technology can also give you anxiety and depression because you spend so much time with these devices. And because your quality of sleep will suffer because of too much technology, your mental health will also suffer. 

All of these things can lead to poor physical health as well as mental health. With a digital detox, you’ll be able to avoid all of these problems. In addition, your mental and physical health will improve as you will not rely on your devices for entertainment as much. 

In this regard, replacing your technology use with valuable hobbies is important during the detox. For staying healthy, I recommend trying physically active hobbies and those that will keep you occupied mentally.

More Confidence

Social media causes you to compare yourself to others, making you feel less confident about yourself

If you spend a lot of time on social media, you will always see updates and photos from friends and other people. This might make you feel like you’re not as good as they are or that your life isn’t as great as theirs. 

But if you do a digital detox, you won’t be able to compare yourself to others in the same way anymore. Instead, you’ll be able to live your life without constantly comparing yourself to others.

Better Relationships with People Around You

The truth is that the more time you spend on your phone or computer, the less you will pay attention to the people around you. 

This can affect your relationships with family or friends. For example, if you always look at your phone or computer, you will show the people around you that you are not interested in spending time with them. 

However, if you do a digital detox, then most likely, your relationships will improve. You’ll learn to spend time with the people around you because many fun activities do not require technology at all.

A digital detox might also help you build your social skills. You will learn how to spend more time with the people around you without technology, which is very important for being a good human being.

More Awareness

When you do a digital detox, you will become more aware of the little things that make our lives beautiful. Previously, you’d be sticking your nose in your phone all the time without paying attention to the beautiful world around you.

You’ll start noticing the small things like the people around you, the beauty of nature, or the sounds around you. You will get back in touch with the world around you and develop a sense of wellbeing because of it.

Present-moment awareness that you would get from a digital detox can also help you alleviate some mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and cortisol levels. According to a 2019 study, mindfulness could help you become more present during your detox. 

To maximize the effects of your detox, you can start practicing meditation and mindfulness. Both practices can be great for your long-term relationship with technology and video games in particular.

How Does a Digital Detox Work? The Science Behind a Digital Detox

If you’re wondering how a digital detox would work for you on a deeper level, then get ready to dive deeper into the science.

Recently, we’ve published a dopamine series on GameQuitters. We analyzed how video games affect dopamine levels and how dopamine can be one of the main reasons video games are so addictive.

Games increase dopamine levels, so you get a hit of dopamine every time you play a game. As a result, you’ll need more and more to feel satisfied the next time, which can lead to an addiction. Even the structure of your brain changes. It will take weeks and even months of abstinence from video games to reverse the effects.

When you do a digital detox, something similar will happen to your brain. When you get a like on social media, you get a rush of dopamine. When you scroll through your Twitter or Facebook feed, you get a hit. The same happens when you watch your favorite series, movie or even listen to your favorite artist.

What is Dopamine?

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is released in your brain when you get rewards. It’s the thing that motivates you to seek goals and rewards. It can be released in large amounts when you get certain rewards or when you expose yourself to something that feels pleasurable to you.

For example, dopamine is released in your brain when someone likes your Facebook status, when you watch your favorite TV show, or when scrolling through your social media feed. It’s a part of your reward system and helps us find ways to motivate us to achieve our goals by providing pleasure.

When you get exposed to your favorite video game, the same thing happens. First, you get that pleasurable hit of dopamine. And then, when you’re playing the game, there’s a sort of pleasure cycle that will keep releasing dopamine in your brain and keep you motivated to play more and more. 

You will want to play games just because of the rewarding feeling you’ll experience while playing them and experiencing your favorite parts and moments in-game. The same happens with social media or other types of digital entertainment.

This creates a loop of addiction. You’ll need to experience more and more rewarding moments to get that dopamine hit, which can lead to an addiction.

Digital Detox and Dopamine

That’s where a digital detox comes in. By abstaining from video games or other digital entertainment, you’ll remove your addiction to dopamine.

This can be a great way to cure social media addiction. This is because social media not only increases dopamine levels but also activates the same reward centers in the brain that are triggered when you’re playing video games

Apps on your phone, video games, and even other types of digital entertainment are designed so that they give you hits of dopamine. Whether it’s a like, snap, chat from a friend, share, or another mechanism, most applications and video games are designed to keep you hooked, to keep you coming back, and even to get you addicted.

If you think about it, it’s similar to taking a small hit of a drug only to keep you coming back to the drug, which can get you addicted.

A digital detox helps you break this cycle and rewire your brain’s dopamine dependency. 

When you do a digital detox, you suddenly stop getting those dopamine hits, which helps you break the cycle of addiction. Instead, you are rewiring your brain to get dopamine from other sources like doing your favorite sport, working out, studying, learning a new language, enjoying nature, and other activities that you previously ignored.

A Digital Detox Rewires Your Brain

With a gaming addiction and other forms of tech addiction, your brain slowly starts to change. It becomes accustomed to the dopamine rush you get when you expose yourself to your favorite game, app, or social media.

The reward pathways in your brain start to adjust and find other ways to get that hit of dopamine that helps you keep pursuing your addiction. You don’t need it anymore since your brain found different ways to release dopamine without exposing yourself too frequently. 

The brain’s neuroplasticity allows the brain to adapt and change according to the stimuli it is exposed to.

Many studies have shown that the Internet and social media have decreased our cognitive functions (1,2). One of the most profound changes in our attention span, which has massively decreased due to social media.

Heavy social media users also do worse on tests than light or moderate social media users and require more effort to get the same tasks done. This leads to physical changes to the brain’s part responsible for attention – the prefrontal cortex. The negative effects on attention span are even more negatively pronounced on the developing brain of young people. 

A digital detox can help you rewire those changes to your brain and restore normal brain function. This will help you increase your focus and prolong your attention span, and it can also boost your memory and concentration.

Does a Digital Detox Work?

A digital detox is a great option for people suffering from addictions to video games, technology, and social media. It can be a good way to break the cycle of addiction and help you rewire your brain, and reverse some of the effects of social media and app addiction.

While there haven’t been many studies on the effectiveness of a digital detox, there have been some preliminary findings. For example, a study published in December 2018 showed that after just one week of abstaining from social media, the participants’ stress levels decreased by 68%. However, this was effective only for heavy social media users.

Another study, published in August 2020, found that a digital detox can help you alleviate or avoid the negative effects of social media use. Perhaps more importantly, a study from 2019 by Liao shows that subjects showed a better level of self-regulation after two weeks of digital detox.

All these results tell us that even though not many studies are being conducted, a digital detox can be highly effective if you stick to it strictly.

How to Do a Digital Detox?

If you feel like you’re in dire need of a digital detox, it is quite easy to get started. The most important thing to note here is that you should not compromise the quality of life just to do the detox, as you can still use certain aspects of technology that you might need for work or school, for example.

A digital detox might be as simple as putting your phone away for your meal or a few days to more complex like quitting technology altogether for a few days or even weeks.

If you’re looking to dive deep and start your digital detox, here are the steps you can take to complete it successfully.

Step 1: Break Down Your Goals for a Digital Detox

If you’re going to embark on a digital detox, then you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve from it. 

This might be something as simple as abstaining from your phone for one hour every day to be more productive. Or it might be something more complex like quitting social media and all the apps that make it possible entirely.

Based on your goals, you’ll be able to set up your digital detox more effectively. For example, if your goal is to completely quit or limit social media usage, then deleting your apps and maybe even deleting your accounts might be more effective than just turning off notifications.

Step 2: Turn off All Notifications

If you turn off your notifications, you will be able to stop receiving messages, emails, or other notifications on your phone or laptop. You can also turn off the sound of your phone’s ringtone so that you won’t be interrupted by it.

This will help you prevent getting distracted by your phone or another electronic device, even when you’re not using it. So many people tend to check notifications on their devices that they don’t get a notification from it.

Step 3 (Optional): Remove Social Media Apps From Your Phone

If you have multiple social media apps installed on your phone, you might need to remove them. After all, they can give you a dopamine hit even when you’re not using them, so they are very addictive and might cause depression if left unchecked.

Removing social media apps from your phone might seem like a radical move. Still, it’s necessary if you feel like you’re checking your Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram way too often and unnecessarily.

However, you don’t need to take this step if you don’t feel the need to. For example, if you feel like you can control your phone usage without deleting your apps, you can also detox that way.

Step 4: Be Mindful of Your Technology Usage

I have already noted that practicing mindfulness while doing your detox can be beneficial. Before you start your detox, you should aim to keep track of your technology usage and make sure that you’re aware of when you’re doing it. Only that way will you be able to control it effectively.

Once you get used to using social media constantly, you do it instinctively. As a result, you will inevitably find yourself opening up your social media apps without you even realizing it. Before you know it, you’ll be stuck on your Twitter or Facebook feed for hours daily.

If you practice mindfulness, you’ll be able to control your mind better. For example, you’ll have the ability to say no to digital entertainment when you feel a craving. 

Step 5: Track Your Usage

A good way to make sure that you’re not using your device as much as you did previously is to use apps to track your phone usage.

iPhone users already have this option built-in on their devices, but if you don’t have it, there are many great apps that you can use. Good examples of apps include Social Fever, My Addictiometer, and OffTime.

Step 6: Find New Hobbies and Activities to Fill Your Time

Now, one of the most important things during your digital detox will be to create better habits. And by this, I mainly mean replacing your digital usage with activities that are beneficial for you and the activities you love doing.

You’ll find that all of a sudden, you will be left with hours daily when you’re not using social media and other forms of digital entertainment. As a result, you might find yourself bored, which is, in fact, one of the main reasons why you might have been using your phone so much.

The activities you could add to your daily schedule include exercise, meditation, and reading. This will keep you physically fit and give you a chance to be more mindful and present in your everyday life. It will also fill your time with new experiences that you might not have thought of.

To keep yourself busy and active, you will need to find activities that you love doing. Of course, there are countless other hobbies and activities that you might like. It might be a hobby that you once did and loved but left because you didn’t have time to do it any longer.

If you’re not sure what hobby you should try, check out our hobby tool. With it, you’ll be able to find a good activity for yourself even if you’re not sure what you like doing.

Step 7: Create a Plan After Your Detox

One of the best things about a digital detox is that you’ll be able to create a life for yourself where you will be free of the need to use your phone or another device so much.

Before you just conclude your detox and start your life back again, it’s important to take some time to create an outline of how you want your life to be.

Ideally, you’d want to stay free of the overuse of social media and digital entertainment – after all, that is one of the main goals of a digital detox.

By the end of the detox (depending on how long you make it), your brain will get used to getting stimulations from other sources, and it will not be as dependent on your phone or other devices as much.

This creates an opportunity for you to create a more satisfying life without social media, video games, or phone addictions.

Additional Tips and Tricks for Your Digital Detox

Here are some additional tips and tricks that can help you during your digital detox.

  • Turn off your phone if you need to. This can be a great method if you don’t have another way of completely refraining from using your phone.
  • Set up reminders. You also might want to set up reminders on your calendar or phone not to use social media apps or other apps that you might want to refrain from.
  • Practice mindfulness. Now, this is an optional thing because not everyone will want to do it, but mindfulness can help you out during the process. The process of mindfulness will make you far more aware of your actions and your digital consumption, which can help you steer clear of it.
  • Tell your family and friends about your detox. If you use your devices to talk to your friends or family often, it might be helpful to let them know that you’re doing a detox. This will help you avoid some relationship issues that might happen if you suddenly stop responding to them if you’re not using your phone as much.
  • Have faith! Last but not least, you need to stay consistent with your detox even when things start to feel tough. Inevitably, you will feel cravings to play your favorite game or take just one look at your Twitter feed, but doing that can easily set you back to where you started.

Need Help?

A digital detox can help you with your gaming addiction or another type of digital addiction, as long as you stick to it. Some studies have proved it, and many people have had great success with it. The longer the detox is, the more successful it will be.

It’s okay if you don’t feel good along the way and you need help. However, if you don’t have anyone to talk to, consider talking to a therapist. We have a database of excellent therapists worldwide so that you can contact one close to your location.

Additionally, here at Game Quitters, we have prepared many guides and resources that you can use to help you. Most of the content is for quitting playing video games, but you’ll find many tips and tricks that you can apply during your digital detox. 

If you suffer from a gaming addiction (or other digital addictions), we’ve also prepared many other guides and free resources on Game Quitters. These include:

If you appreciate our content and what we do, feel free to share it with other people who might find this article (or other articles) helpful. Our mission is to help as many people overcome their digital addictions and get their lives back to normal.

Note: If you’re a mental health professional and want to learn more about gaming addiction and treatment, you can do so with INTENTA’s Gaming Disorder training for professionals.

How to Enable Roblox Parental Controls

If your child likes to play Roblox, then you might be worried about the game’s safety. If that’s the case, then you’re one of the hundreds of concerned parents who contact us to ask how to enable Roblox parental controls.

While the game does have some potential dangers, it can be relatively safe – but only if you make sure that it is safe for your child to play Roblox.

Luckily, Roblox includes parental controls for parents to use to make the game safer for their children.

And in this article, we’ll show you how to enable Roblox parental controls, what they are, and how to make the game safer for your child.

What are Roblox Parental Controls?

Roblox parental controls are offered inside the game to make the game safer for children, especially for children under the age of 12.

roblox parental controls

Inside your Roblox account on your computer, you will be able to access these settings in the Settings section of your account. They are known under the name of Account Controls, and these will enable you to make your Roblox account safer.

Here, you will set up a PIN, which will restrict access to these controls. Every time someone would like to access these settings, they would need to enter the PIN. This can help you restrict access to these settings to your child if you don’t want the settings to be changed.

With the account restrictions in place, you will be able to control the following things on the Roblox account:

  • What games can your child play,
  • What type of content can they see (if you turn the controls on, only the child-safe content will be shown),
  • Who your child can contact,
  • Who can contact the account in question,
  • Who can message or chat with the account,
  • Who can invite the player to new games, see their inventory, and interact with the player,
  • Who can change the account restriction settings.

With these settings in place, you will have more control of your child’s playing time with Roblox. As a result, you’ll be able to avoid the most common pitfalls of Roblox, such as overextended playing time, spending money on Robux, and other common problems that you might be experiencing.

In the next section of the article, we’ll provide you with a complete guide on how to enable Roblox parental controls, how to change them, and how to use them to make the playing experience safer for your child.

How to Enable Roblox Parental Controls

Follow these steps to enable Roblox parental controls and change them along the way as you see fit.

The key here is knowing that these controls exist and how they work, so you’ll have more control over how your child consumes Roblox.

Step 1: Log in to Your Account and Go To Settings

The first step you’ll need to take is to log into your (or your child’s) Account. 

To do that, go to the Roblox website (or the mobile phone site, if you’re using a mobile device), enter the credentials of the account, and log in.

Once logged in, you’ll want to go to Settings. You can do that by clicking on the cogwheel icon in the top right corner of your screen and click on Settings.

roblox parental controls

After you have clicked on Settings, you will be presented with the following screen:

roblox parental controls

From here, you’ll be able to change multiple settings about your Account, including the parental controls. 

The parental controls can be accessed both in the Security and Privacy tabs of this page. Follow the next step to see what changes you can make to make your child’s account safer.

Step 2: Enable 2-Step Verification and PIN

The next step you can take is to enable the 2-step verification of your Account and enable the PIN.

The first one is optional, but it is almost necessary to enable the PIN to make these settings unavailable for your child.

By activating the PIN, you’ll restrict access to the parental control settings. Every time someone would like to access these settings, they would need to enter a PIN of your choice. This way, you can disable access to these settings for your child.

To do that, go to the Security tab of the Settings screen. 

roblox parental controls

Then, toggle on the bar under Account PIN (next to Account PIN is currently disabled). Once you toggle it on, you will be presented with the following screen:

roblox parental controls

Here, you will be able to set up the 4-digit PIN that you would need to enter every time someone would like to access the parental control settings. This step is crucial because it will restrict access to the parental control settings.

For now, keep the Account Restrictions disabled, as you’ll still want to make some changes to the account’s privacy settings.

Step 3: Make Changes to the Privacy Settings

So now that you have set up the PIN that you can use to access the parental controls settings, you can start making changes to what the Account can and cannot do.

To access these settings, go to the Privacy tab on your screen.

roblox parental controls

Here, you will be able to change who your Account can contact, who can contact the Account, who your child can speak to, who can invite them to games, message them, chat with them, and join them inside the game.

This can be an important step since you’ll want to make sure that your child doesn’t contact scammers and people looking to exploit your child’s Account. Unfortunately, many people are looking to take advantage of your child’s account, so make sure you know that.

Now, if you want to make completely sure that your child doesn’t come across any dangerous people, you can keep all the contact settings to “No one.” This will make the Account impossible to reach.

However, if your child has friends on the platform, you might want to tweak these settings a little bit.

For example, you can change the settings so that only the Account’s friends can message your child, chat with them, see their inventory, and invite them to games.

roblox parental controls

A more lenient approach is to let your child contact Friends and Users I Follow, which can still be a safe option.

You will need to tweak these settings a bit and find what works for you and your child. Take some time to alter the settings and make sure you take into account how your child plays the game and how many friends (if any) they have inside the game.

Step 4: Enable Parental Controls

Once you are happy with the changes you’ve made, you can lock in the parental controls by enabling them.

To do that, go back to the Security tab of your Settings, and toggle the button next to Account Restrictions to “on.”

enable roblox parental controls

This will lock in the settings you’ve just set up, and they can now only be altered if you know the PIN of the account. So every time someone would like to make changes to these settings, they would need to enter the PIN you’ve set up.

If you would like to make further changes to the account restrictions, you’d first need to turn the Account Restrictions off and then change the settings.

Once you’re happy, you’ll need to turn the restrictions back on. To do that, you’ll need to enter your PIN again to confirm the changes. 

How to Keep Your Child Safe When Playing Roblox

Parental controls and Account Restrictions can be highly effective in controlling who your child interacts with and what kinds of games they play.

However, there are still many other potential pitfalls of Roblox along the way. Luckily, you can control most of them to ensure that your child stays safe when playing the game.

These are some tips and tricks to help you control your child’s Roblox consumption and avoid or control a potential Roblox addiction.

Limit Playing Time

If your child keeps on playing Roblox too much, the most important thing will be limiting the playing time.

It can be hard to do that; after all, the game is available on every platform conceivable. So make sure that your child is not playing the game more than two hours per day, as per the screen time recommendations.

One of the challenges will be getting your child to spend more time on their hobbies instead of playing Roblox (or other games).

If you need ideas of what hobbies your child can try, you can check out our hobby tool – this tool will help you find the right hobby based on your child’s interest.

Keep Track of Spending

One of the most important things you can do to make your child safer is controlling the spending inside the account.

Once a week, you should keep track of the spending inside Roblox. You can do that by going to the Billing section in your Account.

enable roblox parental controls

Here, you’ll be able to see all of the transactions on your child’s Account, and you’ll be able to stop them should you get unexpected charges on your card.

For example, this 11-year old girl kept spending real-life money on Robux, the in-game currency of Roblox. She spent 2400 British Pounds without her parents ever realizing it. 

You need to be vigilant with this and make sure that your child is not doing the same. Check the spending of the Account at least once a week.

Keep Track of Messages

Another important area where your child will need some guiding will be the messaging and interaction with other people inside the game.

The game is built on social interaction, and finding new friends and meeting strangers are encouraged. This can be great for meeting new friends, but you might also come across some strangers looking to take advantage.

Bullying is common, and so is the toxic nature of other players. This can affect your child, so you might want to frequently check the account’s interactions in question.

Make sure that you constantly check the following areas of the Account:

  • The Account’s messages
  • The Account’s friends

enable roblox parental controls

You can find these areas on the left-hand side of the main screen. If you see something unusual, you should immediately report the account in question and restrict your account’s access to the said account.

To block a user you want to block, click on the account in question and click the three dots next to its name. You should find an option to block the user there.

how to enable roblox parental controls

Familiarize Yourself with the Dangers of Roblox

As a parent, you must keep on top of all the latest trends and changes inside the game.

This way, you’ll be able to stay ahead and make sure that your child is playing the game safely. 

We’ve prepared an article where you can review all the potential pitfalls and dangers of Roblox. In this in-depth guide, you’ll be able to find what areas of Roblox can be dangerous and how you can avoid them.

Need Help with Roblox Addiction?

Roblox is a very addictive game. It is one of the most popular games with kids nowadays because it can be played anywhere and by anyone.

If you want to know how to overcome Roblox addiction, we’ve prepared an in-depth guide on how to do so at Game Quitters.

If you need more help as a parent to control your child’s gaming addiction, we’ve also prepared a scientifically backed program called Reclaim. In this program, you will learn how to deal with your child’s addiction, establish a healthy relationship with them, and improve other relationships in your family.

Alternatively, you can also speak to a video game addiction therapist.

We’ve also prepared many other guides and free resources on Game Quitters. These include:

If you appreciate our content and what we do, feel free to share it with other parents or people who might find this article (or other articles) helpful. Our mission is to help as many people overcome their gaming addiction and get their lives back to normal.

Note: If you’re a mental health professional and want to learn more about gaming addiction and treatment, you can do so with INTENTA’s Gaming Disorder training for professionals.

What is Roblox?

If you’re a parent of a gamer that plays Roblox, you might be wondering: what is Roblox, and how does it work? What is all the hype about it?

In this article, we’ll address all questions you might have about Roblox to get a clearer idea about this game.

What is Roblox?

Roblox is an online gaming platform that allows players to create games and play other people’s games. Roblox is not a single game but rather a collection of user-created games that happen in 3D worlds.

The main difference between Roblox is that the games inside Roblox are not created by the gaming company but rather by the game’s users.

Users of Roblox can both create their games and play the games created by other users. These games can include simple 3D worlds to more complex worlds where gamers have to solve puzzles, overcome obstacles, and solve quests to complete the games.

Gamers love this platform because it provides them with constant novelty and a good way of making friends and meeting strangers. 

Roblox is one of the most popular games currently. It has almost 200 active monthly users, which ranks it among the most played and popular games at this moment.

However, due to its addictive nature, Roblox addiction is more and more prevalent.

We constantly get an alarming amount of inquiries from parents about Roblox, so we created this article to help you better understand what Roblox is and how you can deal with it.

How Does Roblox Work?

what is roblox

Roblox requires new users to sign up and create new profiles. To do that, a new user would have to use their email and create a password with a username, which they would then use to log into their account. Some users can experience login issues which you can learn about here.

Once the user is logged in, they can start customizing their character. Character customization is one of the most appealing features of Roblox. 

Each player can create their Socialization character, which they will then use to play games on Roblox. 

Of course, kids want to have a character that stands out the most, where Robux comes in. Robux is an in-game currency in Roblox that allows users to buy cosmetic items for their character, which they can then use in games.

You can purchase Robux with real-life money, especially if children are exposed to this feature. For example, this 11-year old girl spent a whopping 2400 British Pounds on Robux without her parents knowing.

After the character is customized, players can start to play games inside Roblox. There are hundreds of games to try out, and these games are created every day. As a result, there is a never-ending supply of games, making the game always feel fresh.

Users of Roblox can also create their games. In addition, they are allowed to use various features that they can insert into the world to make it more interesting or appealing.

Why is Roblox so Popular with Kids?

Roblox is one of the most popular games in the world at the moment. It has almost 200 million monthly active users, and 67% of all users are children under 16. 

This statistic shows us that the game is most popular with children, even though it is officially branded as a 13+ game. Many children under the age of 13 play this game nonetheless, thanks to non-existing age checks.

The main reasons why Roblox is so popular with kids include the following factors.

Socialization

The biggest factor that makes Roblox so popular is socialization. If you play Roblox, you’re seen as a cool kid. There’s peer pressure to play the game, and the prospect of meeting new friends on Roblox is also very appealing. This is a common reason many people play video games

Socialization is encouraged on Roblox, which is not necessarily a bad thing, although your kid might encounter some questionable people along the way.

Many scammers and people are looking to exploit children on this platform, so you will want to be very careful who your child socializes with on Roblox.

Free to Play and Available on Most Platforms

Another big reason why this game is booming at the moment is that it’s free to play, and it’s available on almost any platform imaginable.

The base game itself is free to play, although there are various elements inside the game that need to be bought if you want to access them. This is where Robux comes in, the digital currency used inside Roblox, to purchase these elements.

Also, you can play this game almost anywhere you might be. It’s available on computers, phones, tablets, and gaming consoles (Xbox One). 

And because the restrictions for playing the game are so low, anyone can download it and start playing it.

Never-Ending Novelty

There’s always something new going on with Roblox: new games, new people to meet, new apparel to buy for your
character. 

The influx of constant new games is also appealing. The game never feels stale because users are always creating new worlds to try out.

When people play Roblox, they are hit by an immense amount of stimuli. There are so many things to do and try out that the game will never feel boring, and this is one of the main reasons children can spend hours and hours on Roblox. It’s created to be addictive.

Roblox Inspires Creativity

In addition, Roblox encourages creativity, which is not a bad thing in itself, of course. 

Each user can create their own game and world while also trying out the games created by other users. 

There is a sense of freedom with the game creation engine, which gives your child the possibility to create games and worlds using their imagination.

The problem comes when your child starts to play Roblox excessively. While it is nice that your child can have this creativity, it can also cause your child to get addicted to Roblox. In this case, Roblox starts to become a harmful activity.

It’s Customizable

Every Roblox player can create a character that they’ll use inside the game. When creating a character, they can use various features and elements to make it unique.

When players play games inside Roblox, they can use this character to play them. And having the character that stands out the most is, of course, attractive to children. This leads to many kids spending real-life money on Robux, allowing them to buy these elements for customization.

It’s Addictive

There is no denying that Roblox is designed to be addictive.

So much so that China is now banning several features of Roblox for Chinese children because they’re seen as addictive.

Some elements inside the game are also inappropriate for kids because they include sexually explicit content or inappropriate content for underage players.

Is Roblox Safe for My Child?

Roblox can be safe to play for your child, but you will need to set up a few restrictions along the way.

You need to realize that Roblox can be highly addictive. Unfortunately, there are also many other pitfalls of Roblox that your child can fall into, so you’ll need to monitor their use of Roblox closely.

If the game is played while your child is supervised and if you enable parental controls inside Roblox, then the game can be safe to play. However, it can be harmful if you let your child play the game excessively and allow them to socialize with strangers and spend money in-game.

The main reasons why Roblox can be unsafe for children include:

  • It can be addictive
  • Many scammers and strangers are waiting to take advantage of your child
  • Your child might spend money without your supervision inside the game
  • There is some explicit content that is potentially not safe for children
  • No chat filters are available, which means bullying and exposure to inappropriate content are still possible.

How to Make Roblox Safe for My Child?

Roblox can be a safe game to play, provided that you keep constant track of your child’s playing time and their behavior inside the game.

These are a few tips to keep your child safe from the negative effects of Roblox.

  1. Limit the playing time of Roblox to 2 hours at most daily
  2. Track your child’s messages and chats constantly
  3. Learn common Roblox slang words
  4. Track your child’s consumption of Robux inside the game
  5. Enable parental controls inside Roblox
  6. Set up rules of how and when your child can play Roblox
  7. If necessary, delete a Roblox account if you feel like it is harming your child’s life and development

Need Help with Your Child’s Roblox Consumption?

If you’re worried about how much your child plays Roblox, then you need to know that it’s normal to feel like that. We get many questions and requests from concerned parents who are wondering how to stop their child from playing Roblox so much.

If you feel like your child has developed a Roblox addiction, then you can try our scientifically-backed resource for parents called Reclaim. In this program, you’ll learn how to communicate with your child and set up rules so they’ll be able to stop playing Roblox so much and so often.

You can also talk to a therapist about the issues you and your family face when it comes to your kid’s Roblox addiction.

Alternatively, we also offer many other resources at Game Quitters, such as:

Is Roblox Safe for Kids?

With more than 40 million daily active users, Roblox is one of the world’s biggest and most popular gaming platforms. 

The majority of the population that plays Roblox are children aged between the ages of 6 and 16. Up to 67% of all players of Roblox belong to this age category.

Is Roblox safe for kids to play? 

This is an important question that many parents are asking. Since we get this question often from concerned parents, we will address it in as much detail as possible in this article.

What is Roblox?

is roblox safe

To begin with, let’s take some time to explain what exactly Roblox is and how it is played.

Roblox is an online entertainment platform that allows its players to create their games and share them with other users. At the same time, players can play games created by other users, adding a sense of novelty to every game.

The game is available on almost any platform imaginable – Xbox One, smartphones, computers, tablets, you name it.

So the game’s goal is to create a game that’s as fun as possible, and that gets the attention of as many other users as possible.

The games inside Roblox are always changing since they’re created by users constantly. So each day, you could play a new game. This never-ending novelty is perhaps the biggest point of attraction for kids. 

As for what kinds of games are created inside Roblox, you’ll find a lot of variety. But almost all games require players to navigate through obstacles and maps created by other users with their character, which can also be quite challenging since you’re competing against other players as well.

Why is it so Popular with Kids?

what is roblox

There are several reasons why Roblox is so popular with kids.

  • It allows you to connect with other players. Roblox is a social game where players connect, try each other’s games, and make new friends. Many kids also play because their peers play Roblox.
  • It is free to play. The base game is free to play, but there’s also an in-game currency called Robux, allowing players to spend money on in-game apparel and items. We’ll talk more about this later on.
  • Never-ending novelty. There are always new games to try because they’re created daily by other users. The game’s design never feels boring because there’s always something new for you to try. 
  • Competitive. The game can be quite competitive since you’re playing against other users to get the best score possible on a particular map.
  • You can get creative. Another reason why Roblox is so popular with kids is because it allows them to be creative when they create their games. When played in moderation, Roblox can bring some positive effects on your kid’s creativity. Also, the better the game is, the more users will play it, which gives users an incentive to keep creating new games.
  • Customization. Each player can customize their character to their liking. This allows users to use different costumes for their characters as they play the game. However, this can be a double-edged sword since many of these customizations can be paid with real-life money through Robux.

Is Roblox Safe for Kids?

Now, to the question that many parents are asking: is Roblox safe for kids?

Roblox is generally safe for kids, provided that parents do everything possible to control their child’s activity in the game. 

But we often get questions from frustrated parents that want to know how to stop their kid from playing Roblox. First, you need to know that Roblox is an addictive game for the reasons we’ve mentioned above, so as a parent, you’ll want to make sure that your kid plays Roblox as safely as possible.

The game is available on every platform imaginable so that kids will have access to the game almost anywhere. And even though the official age requirement for playing the game is 13+, there are little to no controls for checking the age of players. This allows players that are even younger than 13 to play the game.

You’ll need to make sure that your child’s consumption of Roblox doesn’t lead to an addiction. Unfortunately, children are more susceptible to becoming addicted to this game. This is why, as a parent, you’ll need to have control over your child’s usage of this game, or else it could easily become an addiction – and there are other dangers as well.

If you’re interested in how to make Roblox as safe as possible for your kid, then read on. We’ll address this later in the article.

Now, let’s take a look at how Roblox can be potentially dangerous for children. This is crucial to help you understand the potential pitfalls of this game and how you can avoid them.

How Roblox Can be Dangerous for Kids

There are many ways Roblox can potentially be dangerous to kids if you don’t control the use of the game.

  1. Social interaction with unknown people – now, you might be thinking that social interaction in an online game can not be that bad. After all, your child will be meeting new friends and meeting up with existing ones. That’s great, but sometimes, these interactions can lead to unwanted events. Many scammers, predators, and others are looking to take advantage of the naivety that some children who play these games still have.
  2. In-game currency – Robux, the in-game currency of Roblox, is used to purchase customization items and other types of features inside the game. More than $1.5 billion has been spent on Robux up until 2020, and the spending is only increasing. The need to spend real-life money on Robux is amplified by influencers and YouTubers who brag about spending thousands of dollars on Robux to get some advantages in the game. And children are more susceptible to spending Robux, so you’ll want to control your child’s spending rigorously in Roblox.
  3. Addictive nature – Roblox is addictive. We get messages from concerned parents all the time complaining about how much their children play Roblox. It’s easy to get sucked into the game for hours on end since there is a never-ending novelty. There’s always something new happening inside the game.
  4. Inappropriate content for underage kids – some of the in-game content is inappropriate for children under 16. This might be primarily because of the sexually explicit nature of the content. Even though the game is meant for children over 13, many types of content are not suitable for children.
  5. Bullying and toxic nature of the game – lastly, we must also mention the possibility of bullying in Roblox. Children experience bullying in games like Roblox, so you must report bullying immediately if you see it. 

Combine all these things, and you get a potentially dangerous mixture of unwanted features of Roblox. While the game might seem harmless on the surface, there are many hidden facets of the game that only get uncovered if the game is played consistently and for longer periods.

Not only can Roblox be addictive, but it can result in other problems, as well. First, there’s the danger of socializing with strangers, which can expose your child to scams. Second, the in-game currency might tempt your child to spend your hard-earned money on in-game purchases, which you can swiftly avoid by blocking all such transactions.

How to Make Roblox Safe for Kids

If you want your child to enjoy Roblox safely without having to worry about Roblox addiction or other pitfalls that come with this game, then you’ll want to make the gaming environment as safe as possible for your child.

These are the main techniques that you can use to make Roblox safe for kids.

Know the Dangers of Roblox

The first thing you’ll want to do is make sure that you know how Roblox can be potentially dangerous to your child.

Playing any game excessively can lead to an addiction, but Roblox is potentially even more addictive than other games for children.

Knowing how Roblox can potentially be dangerous for your child is important since you’ll be able to stay one step ahead of your child and the dangers of Roblox.

Use Parental Controls

roblox safety tips

For this, you’ll need your child’s login information to access the parental controls. The most important thing is having the login information, which will allow you to make Roblox safer for your child.

Once you know the login information, follow these steps to use the Roblox parental controls:

  1. Log in to the Roblox account in question
  2. Click on the gear icon in the top right corner
  3. Click on Settings, and then go to privacy
  4. Change the Contact and Other Settings to make your child’s usage of the game safer.

Here, you’ll be able to change who your child interacts with inside the game, who can message them and chat with them, and who your child can contact. This is important to avoid potential scammers or bullies inside the game.

You can also enable the account PIN under the Security page. This PIN will prevent your child from making changes to the account that you don’t want them to make, such as the changes to parental controls.

Monitor Your Child’s Account Regularly

Another important step is to monitor the account regularly to ensure that everything is as safe as possible.

The most important areas of the account that you want to check include:

  • Chat and friends
  • Private messages and group messages
  • Friends and followers
  • Items and transactions (Transaction history in particular)
  • Games, sounds, and other items inside the account
  • Games played recently

Check all of these areas of the account regularly to see if there’s something unusual going on. Checking this at least once a week will let you stay on top of your child’s consumption of Roblox, and you’ll be able to avoid the pitfalls of Roblox before they happen.

Alternatively, you can make sure to check these settings even more frequently, which is even more important if you notice signs of Roblox addiction in your child.

Read our guide on In-Game Spending: Tips to Keep Your Family Safe

Restrict the Playing Time

You’ll want to make sure that your kid doesn’t play Roblox too much. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children between the ages of 6-16 should not be allowed to use their screen for longer than two hours for entertainment daily.

So if you want to make sure that your child doesn’t develop a Roblox addiction, you’ll have to monitor your child’s Roblox playing time.

This means that you will have to limit Roblox usage to two hours a day at most, which can be quite tough since the game is available everywhere.

The best way to ensure this is to encourage your child to find other replacement activities such as hobbies.

With these hobbies, you will be able to fill the time for your child that they would otherwise spend playing Roblox. It’s best to encourage active hobbies where your child can get creative and meet other children simultaneously, which are all features that Roblox offers for gamers.

Need Help with Making Roblox Safe?

If you’re a concerned parent of a child that plays Roblox (or wants to play it), we can help you out. We’ve prepared a full guide on keeping your child safe from various gaming addictions, including Roblox addiction. To do that, we’ve created an in-depth program with scientifically backed resources called Reclaim.

On our site, we also offer hundreds of additional resources that you can use to help you deal with Roblox and other gaming addictions. This includes free articles, videos, and guides that you can use to help you and your family cope with the gaming addiction.

In addition, we also offer other guides, resources, and courses that might interest you:

If you’re a mental health professional and would like to learn more about gaming addiction, check out INTENTA’s gaming disorder training for professionals.

Video Game Addiction Withdrawal Symptoms

On May 25, 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) added gaming disorder to their list of diseases – ICD 11.

The WHO stated that the main reason for including the gaming disorder on their list was the ever-growing body of evidence that shows gaming disorder causes functional impairment to someone’s life

“…the exclusion of other daily activities, as well as to any changes in their physical or psychological health and social functioning that could be attributed to their pattern of gaming behavior.”

Globally, gaming disorder is estimated to impact 3% of gamers. We have put together a set of detailed video game addiction statistics for you, including how the issue affects different countries. 

For individuals struggling, there are video game addiction withdrawal symptoms you can be aware of regarding psychological health. Some of the most common ones include:

  • Irritability
  • Aggression
  • Intense cravings
  • Anxiety, depression
  • Boredom
  • Headaches

Video Game Addiction Withdrawal Symptoms

Gaming disorder is treated as a mental health condition. However, it can be a disorder of our brain’s reward system.

According to the dopamine theory of addiction, playing video games causes a quick release of dopamine. This causes our reward system to be flooded by a sudden rush of dopamine, which makes us feel pleasure and happiness.

When we play games for prolonged periods, this can create a dopamine imbalance. Other activities don’t provide us with the same amount of dopamine, which leads us to play more and more games to feel the same levels of satisfaction we once did. In this scenario a dopamine detox may be effective to reverse these challenges.

In the long-term, this creates a dependence on video games to feel pleasure. Although video game addiction is not a physical dependence, most video game addiction withdrawal symptoms will be psychological. 

Below we will share more the common symptoms you may experience when you stop gaming.

Irritability and Aggression

Irritability and aggression are two common symptoms gaming addicts experience when they stop playing games.

Because they can no longer access their favorite source of entertainment, they’ll start to feel edgy and irritable about it. In some cases, the irritability goes to such an extent that the individual gets aggressive with people around them.

“My son has been without games for one week, and he attacked me last night. He body-slammed to the floor. I hit my head and now feel like I might need to visit the hospital. This shit is out of control. It just takes their minds. He’s only 13.”

If you or your child starts to experience these symptoms, it’s important to have a safety plan. It’s normal to feel irritable and even angry, but aggression or violence should be treated seriously. Contact your local emergency department immediately if violence occurs.

Intense Cravings

When you stop doing something that you love doing, you’ll start to crave it. The same goes for video game addicts, only that the cravings can be so intense that the addicted person will be prepared to do almost anything to get another game.

These cravings are caused by the imbalance of chemicals in our brain – most importantly, dopamine. For example, when we play video games, increased amounts of dopamine are released 81 81. Evidence for striatal dopamine release during a video game × , caused by the hyperarousal of our brains.

Video game addiction causes individuals to crave games after they stop playing them. They start to seek entertainment and pleasure from these games, and if they can’t get it, they begin to feel irritated or even aggressive.

Watch: How to Stop Gaming Cravings

Anxiety, Depression

As we’ve already mentioned, most of the video game addiction withdrawal symptoms will be psychological.

Several studies 82 82. The Association Between Mobile Game Addiction and Depression, Social Anxiety, and Loneliness ×  have shown a possible link between gaming addiction and depression. In addition, they’ve established that the more intense the gaming addiction is, the higher the likelihood of severe depression will be.

Then there’s also the aspect of social isolation and gaming addiction. Because most gaming addicts are deprived of real-world social connections, they start to feel depressed 83 83. The Cognitive Psychopathology of Internet Gaming Disorder in Adolescence ×  because of this as well.

Depression and sadness are not to be confused, though. Sadness is a temporary state of mind, while depression is a clinical diagnosis and it requires treatment. Sadness should start to disappear after 2-3 weeks after quitting gaming, but if it persists and other symptoms such as irritability are present, then you should talk to a therapist.

General anxiety and social anxiety are not uncommon, too. Once the gamer stops playing video games, they’ll often start to feel depression and anxiety, which were set in stone during the addiction already. When they stop playing games, these two withdrawal symptoms begin to get amplified.

Boredom

According to members of our community, most of them tend to spend at least four hours a day on video games. Additionally, many spend four additional hours on other types of entertainment, like binge-watching Netflix or YouTube or spending too much time on Reddit.

When video games are no longer a distraction, it creates a deep hole in their schedule. All of a sudden, their main daily activity is taken away. As a result, hours of daily time are freed up, and it often happens that the person has no other activities to replace the gaming activity.

Gaming is a challenge; we like to be challenged, and suddenly, you lose your main source of challenge. As a result, you start to lose a lack of purpose, and you don’t know what to do next in life.

It’s normal to become bored because of a lack of video games. The solution for this is simple: find other activities to replace your gaming. You can use our hobby tool to find some great hobbies that you’ll enjoy doing. 

Headaches

Headaches are not as common as other symptoms, but they often happen. Many members of our community report having severe headaches after stopping gaming.

Insomnia and even nightmares are also commonly present in addition to headaches. Now, headaches after quitting gaming should not persist very long – usually, they should go away after about a week after stopping.

I know when I quit gaming, I had a bunch of nightmares about me playing, and it’s a weird experience, but they will go away eventually.

Watch: Is It Normal To Have Dreams and Nightmares About Gaming?

Other Severe Symptoms

Sometimes, the withdrawal symptoms are so severe that you might start feeling like there’s no help.

You should know that overcoming addiction is a huge process to go through. As you stop playing, big changes start to happen in your brains, which begin to cause these withdrawal symptoms.

In some cases, it might even cause thoughts of suicide. If that’s you, please talk to someone about this, whether your friend, teacher, parent or therapist. It’s best to let your feelings be known and seek help immediately.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

Call 1-800-273-8255 

Chat: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org

About Video Game Addiction Withdrawal

Regardless of how long the withdrawal symptoms last or how intense they are, it’s important to focus on embracing them as they happen.

It would be best if you learned how to navigate them instead. Some symptoms might last for much longer than just a few weeks. For example, some people still feel cravings for playing games years after quitting playing.

So the best way to cope with the withdrawal symptoms is to embrace them as they happen at the start and then learn how to navigate your life despite them.

How Long Does Video Game Withdrawal Last?

Everyone’s a bit different, and the types of withdrawal symptoms and why they’re happening will be unique for you, but there’s a few things I can share about this. 

The first is that withdrawal symptoms tend to spike initially after you stop for the first 84 hours, and then they begin to dissipate over time

Now, how long this will take is hard to say. Still, generally, boredom, for instance, usually takes about three weeks before you start to experience other activities as being engaging and fulfilling in the same way. 

Overall, the biggest gains and benefits tend to happen in the first 30 days of not gaming, and then things become just more normalized in your life.

How To Overcome Video Game Withdrawal Symptoms?

So how can you navigate the video game withdrawal symptoms?

Step 1: Give yourself some space from gaming. This means that you’ll want to uninstall all of your games and delete your accounts if necessary. You’ll also want to delete your games from your phone, unsubscribe from gaming subreddits, and use blockers to block all gaming content. It might even mean taking a step away from your gamer friends. We have a list of tutorials on deleting your accounts here.

Step 2: Create and improve your coping strategies. It would help if you learned how to cope with the withdrawal symptoms as they happen. You might want to find replacement activities and hobbies. Also, find other ways to relax: meditate, do yoga. You could also go for a walk, listen to podcasts or music you find relaxing, or read books.

To feel the sense of progress, you make in games, you should start new hobbies or learn new skills. These should keep you motivated and challenged throughout the process.

Step 3: “This too shall pass.” Know that most of these symptoms are temporary and will go away after some time. After that period, you can start enjoying the little things in life again. No matter how intense the symptoms are, they’ll be gone. Just stay focused and strong. You’ve got this!

Get Help When You Need it.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help if or when you need it! You can talk to your friends and family about your problems or someone you trust, or a therapist.

At Game Quitters, we have created a full guide on overcoming your video game addiction symptoms – it is included in our guide called Respawn, where you’ll also find other tips and strategies for overcoming your gaming addiction.

We also have other guides and content that you can use, including:

If you’re a mental health professional and would like to learn more about treating gaming addiction, visit INTENTA for more information.

Is Gaming a Waste of Time?

Gaming is hugely popular. There are over 3 billion gamers worldwide and growing every year. But, with so many hours spent playing video games, people wonder, is gaming a waste of time?

Watch: Is Gaming a Waste of Time?

It’s never been easier to play video games. You can play games pretty much everywhere – on a bus on your phone, at home on your PC or console, and even while on holiday on your Nintendo Switch.

Based on our internal statistics, members of our community spend 3-4 hours gaming daily on average while also spending another 4 hours daily on social media or other types of digital entertainment.

That’s 8 hours spent a day solely on entertainment!

Does that sound familiar?

If so, you might be asking yourself an important question: is gaming a waste of time? 

My Story

If you’re not familiar with my story, I was addicted to playing video games for ten years, and after hitting rock bottom, I decided to quit and move forward in my life. 

And since then, I started this website to bring together people who feel similar and want to get their gaming under control. We help people do that through awareness, resources, programscoaching, and advocacy.

I need to state before we begin I’m not against gaming. I don’t think that all gaming is bad, and I want to shed some light on how we can have a more productive or positive relationship with gaming if that’s something that you’re choosing to do and if you want to move on, then we can support you to do that as well. 

Why Are You Gaming?

The first question you need to ask yourself is, why are you gaming? What is the purpose of your gaming habit?

95% of gamers out there are casual gamers – and if that’s you, it’s important to ask yourself why you’re gaming and whether your gaming is aligned with your goals and the kind of person you want to be. 

Now, if you’re a casual gamer, there must be at least one reason why you’re gaming. But, of course, if your goal is becoming a professional gamer and earning a living that way, then gaming might not be such a huge waste of time.

Watch: Why People Play Video Games

Some of the most common reasons why people play games include:

  • To have fun and be entertained
  • Game mastery
  • To release the tension from stress
  • To socialize online
  • Competition
  • Progress

To answer whether gaming is a waste of time, you must take a moment to consider why you play games.

While it is impossible to be productive every single hour of the day, you must choose healthy habits to achieve your goals.

For example, if the main goal of your gaming is to relax and kill time, gaming can be a decent activity – provided you play in moderation.

However, online games can also be an additional source of stress with the toxic communities and the competitive nature of these games. In that case, is gaming helping you achieve your goal, or is it making it even worse?

Gaming Comes with Trade-Offs

So if you now have a rough idea of why you’re playing games, it’s important to know that every activity comes with trade-offs. Some activities have bigger trade-offs than others.

Gaming, for example, can have negative consequences even if you do it for relaxation, especially if you do it excessively.

  • You can become addicted
  • Gaming can be stressful if it’s competitive
  • You start neglecting your health and mental health
  • Your relationships begin to suffer
  • You start becoming toxic because of toxic online communities

“Over my life, I averaged between 40-60 hours gaming per week. Some days I gamed 16 hours a day on the weekend, and particularly during holidays. Since quitting, I’ve started multiple e-commerce businesses, made huge fitness gains, and been heaps more social. Rarely I might get a small urge to play a game, but honestly, it’s rather insignificant.” –Game Quitters Member. 

Read: The Pros and Cons of Gaming

Not every activity will be great at achieving your goals.

For instance, if your goal is to relax, you can opt to socialize in real life, play guitar, or read a book. Others like going to the gym. Of course, gaming can also work for relaxation, but it comes with far bigger trade-offs than some other activities we’ve mentioned.

When deciding if gaming is a waste of time, you need to consider your gaming habit’s ROI (Return on Investment).

The example I would give is that I love to DJ, and DJingng is an immersive activity. I get to see my skill improve. I get to have fun. I get to relax and be creative. 

But if I needed to stop DJing and go for dinner with my girlfriend, I would do that very easily and come back to it. If I’m deejaying, I’m able to do it in more moderation. I’m able to do it just a couple of hours a day or not even every day. 

Whereas with gaming, I have this feeling that I want to game more and more and more. It’s never enough. No amount of time is satisfying. I want to play more and more.

Watch: Every Hour Counts

Is YOUR Gaming a Waste of Time?

I’m not particularly eager to generalize. However, it would certainly be harsh to say that ALL gaming is a waste of time. 

It is nice to be entertained. As we’ve already mentioned, our members spend 8 hours a day on average getting entertainment from digital sources, including gaming. And that’s a lot of time to be entertained.

But consider the trade-offs of these activities, including gaming: you’re neglecting your friends, family, your mental and physical health, as well as your career. If that’s the case for you, then gaming is a waste of time – just like any other activity with the same trade-offs would be to this extent.

“I booted up my computer. It was Friday, and I had a lot of work to do, but hey, I kept the whole weekend free, so it’s okay. I can start my work tomorrow and play a game now. Before I knew it, it was 5:00 AM.

On Saturday I wouldn’t start on my university work either. I ate “brunch” at 2:00 PM and skipped dinner. I went to sleep at 7:00 AM on Sunday morning and consequentially woke up at 2:00 PM. By then, I figured that my homework wouldn’t get done anyway, so I fired up my game. At 7:00 AM on Monday “morning” I finally had a moment of clarity.” –Game Quitters Member.

It would be best if you have a sense of balance when it comes to your activities. 

Yes, it would be best if you still had entertainment, but you also need to deal with real-life and get other stuff done, like paying bills, staying independent, or staying healthy. So if you’re still living in your mom’s basement and spending four or five hours playing games every day while having nothing else going for you in life, then it’s time to take a step back and consider if this is the sort of life you want to be living. 

Is gaming helping you achieve your goals in your life? Is it aligned with your aims and your vision for life? Or is it hurting your mental health, causing you not to exercise and eat a healthy diet?

Read: I Quit Gaming For 1 Year

If that’s you, that’s okay. I’m not here to judge you or shame you but to support you and call you forward. The best way to take a break from gaming is to hit the restart button from our experience.

Start with a 90-Day Detox

If you feel like your gaming is a waste of time and you’re starting to experience more trade-offs rather than positive effects, then it’s time to turn things around.

We recommend that you start with a 90-day detox. It’s the most effective strategy you can implement today to start seeing results in just a matter of weeks. Read our success stories here.

A 90-day break from gaming gives you a chance to learn more about your relationship to gaming, including the benefits and risks of playing. In addition, without the distraction of gaming, you have more time to develop healthy habits and improve your lifestyle.

Along the way, you’ll learn that there are many other activities that you can do instead of gaming to achieve your goals. In addition, you’ll start to find love in other activities, even everyday activities that you previously took for granted, like walking.

It would be best if you did not replace gaming with mindless browsing on YouTube or binge-watching Netflix. If you want to avoid wasting time gaming, then be careful not to waste time on TV and other entertainment. Focus on being productive instead.

Watch: How to Stop Consuming Content

Instead, you have to consider other, more healthy activities that you could use to replace gaming. Ideally, these activities should still achieve the same goals as gaming did before you started the detox.

If you need ideas, we have a hobby tool that you can use to find new activities. There are a ton of new ideas you can try. The key is to keep trying new things until you find a few that stick.

Be determined and persevere through the challenges.

Need Help to Quit Gaming?

is gaming a waste of time

At Game Quitters, we help gamers like you get gaming under control, either by moderating or by stopping altogether if you feel like gaming is a waste of time.

Our programs and coaching services are proven to solve gaming problems. Gaming doesn’t need to impact your life negatively. It’s possible to get it under control.

We have a list of video game addiction therapists near you if you are looking for therapy or a professional to speak to.

If you’re a mental health professional and would like to learn more about gaming addiction and how to treat it, check out INTENTA, where you’ll find specialist training and additional resources.

How Dopamine Impacts Gaming

Have you ever wondered what draws you into playing video games every time, even if you don’t want to? Before you start blaming yourself for this happening, you need to know how dopamine impacts gaming and, thus, your behavior.

How Dopamine Impacts Gaming

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in your brain which is responsible for the feeling of pleasure. The way video games are designed, you experience feelings of excitement and stimulation. They accomplish this by giving constant rewards for your effort, which leads your brain to produce dopamine.

Because video games produce a dopamine release in your brain, they have the potential to have a similar effect on your brain as drugs and other substances.

After playing more and more games, your brain can seek to produce dopamine – but the only thing that seems to do it is playing more and more of your favorite game.

So how does dopamine impact gaming, and why is this crucial for your understanding of video game addiction? Continue reading.

What is Dopamine?

dopamine theory of addiction

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in our brain that is responsible for sending messages between nerve cells.

It used to be referred to as the “pleasure chemical.” 

However, in more recent years and with more research, we’ve learned that dopamine acts more as a motivating agent for completing certain pleasurable activities – for example, eating, having sex, playing video games.

Dopamine is closely connected to the reward center in our brains. So whenever we see a reward worth chasing, our body starts producing sufficient amounts of dopamine to motivate us to complete the task, no matter how strenuous or difficult the task might be.

The dopamine theory of addiction finds most addictions are caused by the brain’s inability to produce dopamine naturally without the drug or substance that someone is addicted to. 

Instead of feeling pleasure doing everyday activities, the addicted person will feel bored. Only the substance, video game, or the drug they take will provide enough dopamine to feel pleasure and excitement. This is especially pertinent when you are addicted to sources of cheap dopamine, like social media, gaming and porn.

Thus, the more of the substance or drug an individual takes, the more of it will take to feel the same levels of pleasure as before. Eventually, repetition leads to addiction. The same can happen with video games and social media apps like TikTok.

What Triggers Dopamine?

Almost every pleasurable activity we do will trigger dopamine.

Whenever your brain is expecting a reward from a certain activity, it will start producing dopamine, which will motivate you to complete the desired activity.

This includes everyday activities such as eating, drinking, sleep, exercising, listening to music, running, walking, and other activities that you find fun.

For instance, when you feel hungry, you will start to crave food. When you order food and you see it coming towards your table, the dopamine levels in your brain will rise. After taking the first bite, you’ve gotten your reward, so the dopamine levels start to decrease slowly.

Dopamine will also be released when we do addictive things or take addictive substances. 

And because these activities make us feel pleasure, we start to associate them with positive feelings; we see them as rewards. 

What are the Side Effects of Too Much Dopamine?

Both too much or too little dopamine can have serious consequences on the quality of our lives.

Too much dopamine in certain parts of our brain can lead to aggression, competitiveness, high libido, stress, and poor impulse control.

On a more severe level, excessive amounts of dopamine can lead to long-term conditions, such as:

  • Addictions
  • Gambling
  • ADHD
  • Binge eating

On the other hand, low levels of dopamine in your brain can also have negative side effects. Addictions are particularly responsible for leading to low levels of dopamine. That’s because our brains cannot produce sufficient amounts of dopamine without the needed substance or drug.

Low dopamine levels can lead to:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Schizophrenia
  • Psychosis

Many gamers report having problems with anxiety and depression, and low dopamine levels can be why. 

For example, Vadim from Russia, one of our members, says he was extremely anxious and exhausted when he played games excessively, yet he kept on playing them, which caused his health to decline.

Read more: The negative effects of video games.

Dopamine detox can work well to fix the addiction-induced dopamine deficiency, as we have seen in many cases with our members and clients. We’ll talk more about dopamine detox later on in the article.

Dopamine and Gaming Addiction

gamer

Now that you know what dopamine is and how it functions when exposed to over-stimulus, let’s focus on how dopamine impacts gaming and gaming addiction.

study from 1998 has shown that when you play video games, your brain starts producing dopamine. As you get excited about the potential rewards of killing the next boss or the thrill you get when you kill an enemy, your brain starts working overtime.

If you think about it for a moment, games are designed to be addictive. Some of the main addictive elements in games include:

  • Excitement
  • Instant gratification
  • Fast pace
  • Virtual goods (read: loot boxes)
  • Rewards and reinforcement for playing (and punishment for not playing)

Each time you want to kill an enemy, your brain releases dopamine. Each time you want to open the next loot box, score a goal, win a game, kill that boss in the game – you release dopamine.

And getting that dopamine spike has never been easier than now. You can pick up your phone or open up your computer or console, open your favorite game, and boom, you’re feeling great. All your attention is now on the game.

What happens when you stop playing? You want to go right back to your favorite game! You need another surge of dopamine, like a drug addict looking for the next hit. Before you know it, you’re addicted to the game, and you can’t live without it.

Gaming companies are implementing more and more of these strategies as we speak. They want you to play as much as possible so they can keep making a profit from your money and time.

The Impact of Dopamine on Gaming

When you play video games, you get a rapid rush of dopamine

This makes video games several levels more exciting than other activities, like studying or exercising. With video games, the gratification is instant – you don’t need to wait weeks or months to feel the satisfaction. This is one of the main reasons why you might prefer gaming to other activities.

Research has shown that playing video games releases the same amounts of dopamine as when you take drugs like ecstasy. Scientific studies have confirmed this as well. 84 84. Nature: Evidence for striatal dopamine release during a video game ×

These are worrisome findings; even though you might not believe it, gaming changes the structure of your brain. This is the best example of how dopamine impacts gaming.

When you play games, you’re exposed to an overwhelming number of stimuli, which all impact your brain. This is especially true if you play games daily for an extended period. The more you play, the more you want to play.

Yet even though video games can impact your brain, they still don’t get the same treatment. Instead, gaming is often dismissed as a harmless activity. Of course, not all gaming is bad, and there are pros and cons of gaming, but moderation is key.

The problem is that things can quickly spiral out of control.

Why Gaming Addiction Hurts Young People Most

screen time guidelines

Young people under the age of 25 seem to be the most affected group regarding gaming addiction.

After all, the average age of a gaming addict is just 24 years old, while around 8.5% of all children worldwide might be addicted to gaming. And the problem here is that these percentages are growing year after year.

Dive Deeper: Video Game Addiction Statistics

Why do games mostly affect younger people?

One reason is their prefrontal cortex might not yet be fully developed. This brain region is responsible for decision-making and judgment, and it only develops fully after the age of 25. 

The draw of video games and the dopamine they release might be too strong for younger people to resist. This can lead gamers to feel lazy and unmotivated.

Screens are everywhere. You can play games everywhere you might be – even in school. Video games are easily available, regardless of where you live or how powerful your device is.

Additionally, studies (12) have also shown that playing violent video games deactivates the prefrontal cortex region of the brain to a large extent. This impairs the decisions made by the individual and significantly impacts their actions, which might exacerbate the gaming addiction.

Games that Increase Dopamine

There are hundreds of thousands of different games currently out now. Some are offline; others are online; they span through different genres and have different objectives. Yet the goal of all of them is the same – to keep you engaged and spending money.

Some do a better job at this than others. Those that are more effective tend to be more popular and also potentially more addictive.

Competitive games tend to release the most dopamine because they are full of fast-paced excitement and action. Studies (1,2) show that highly competitive games release as much dopamine as psychoactive drugs – and in some cases, even more.

Some researchers also argue that online games have the potential to be more addictive than offline games.

It makes sense if you think about it: you can’t pause an online game while you can do so in an offline game. And when you play online, you can also play with friends and against others, which provides an extra layer of achievement.

Based on current research, it seems as though competitive online games tend to produce the most dopamine; however, almost any game that you play will release a certain amount of dopamine as long as the game feels rewarding to you.

Do Dopamine Detoxes Work?

Since dopamine motivates you to play more and more of your favorite game, what can you do to reverse this process? Is it even possible?

Luckily, it is possible to reverse it, and there is always time to do it with a dopamine detox.

What is a Dopamine Detox?

how to do a dopamine detox

I’ve always been a fan of the 90-day detox method

Dopamine detox means quitting gaming cold turkey – deleting all of your games and accounts and not playing them for 90 days straight.

Why 90 days? Because that is how long it can take for you to reverse the changes to your brain from excessive gaming.

With the dopamine detox, you’ll be able to feel pleasure in everyday things again. You’ll be able to enjoy hobbies and things that seem like they’re taken for granted, such as food or relationships. 

You’ll no longer need to play video games to feel pleasure again because your body will start to release enough dopamine through other activities.

Does a Dopamine Detox Work?

Yes, a dopamine detox will work, and it will be effective as long as you stick to it.

In the first two weeks, it is going to be tough. You may feel depressed and anxious, and you can feel irritated when you don’t play games. These experiences are normal, though.

Once you get through this initial period, things start turning for the better. You begin to appreciate things that you previously took for granted. You’ll start living your life again.

Need Help?

Starting a dopamine detox can be great, but inevitably, you might feel like you’re stuck along the way. That’s when you might need some extra help from someone who’s been there and done it.

If you need someone to talk to, it might be helpful to speak to a video game addiction therapist. We have a database of therapists at Game Quitters you can contact, no matter where you live.

At Game Quitters, we seek to help gamers, and people close to you cope and overcome their gaming addiction and related problems. We’ve prepared science-backed guides and content, such as:

If you’re a mental health professional and would like to learn more about gaming addiction, we offer internationally accredited gaming disorder training for professionals who want to become better at treating gaming issues.

How to Do a Dopamine Detox

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in our brains that motivates us to do activities that make us feel pleasure. When you engage in a pleasurable activity, dopamine releases in your brain.

Pleasurable activities include simple things like eating, drinking, watching your favorite movie, listening to music, to “artificial” stimuli like playing video games, binge-watching Netflix, or gambling.

Too much dopamine, however, can lead to addiction, including drug addiction and video game addiction.

The more video games you play, the more you can need to play them to satisfy your needs, leading to disordered play or addiction. 

In recent years, a new solution suggested by mental health specialists is a dopamine detox. Dopamine detox, or dopamine fasting, is a term first coined by Dr. Cameron Sepah, a Harvard psychiatrist from California.

In this article, you’ll learn how to do a dopamine detox, what dopamine detox is, and what positive effects it can have on your life.

What is the Dopamine Theory of Addiction?

gaming and dopamine

The dopamine theory of addiction suggests an imbalance in dopamine production in the brain causes addictions.

Instead of getting enough dopamine from everyday activities, individuals suffering from addiction rely on receiving dopamine from drugs, alcohol, video games, or other external stimuli instead.

The addicted individual requires more of their stimuli of choice (drugs, alcohol, video games) to feel satisfied. 

According to Mellis et al. (2005), the dopamine theory of addiction goes like this:

“Decreased DA (dopamine) function in addicted subjects results in a decreased interest to non-drug-related stimuli and increased sensitivity to the drug of choice.”

The dopamine theory of addiction suggests that dopamine is at the center of the addiction. With research suggesting that dopamine is the driver behind addictive actions, professionals have started treating addictions by addressing dopamine.

What Triggers Dopamine?

dopamine theory of addiction

Dopamine is triggered by any pleasurable or rewarding activity we do. This includes everyday activities like eating or drinking to more addictive activities like taking drugs, alcohol, sex, or playing video games.

The key difference here is that some activities release more dopamine than others.

Taking drugs and playing video games produce an instant rush of cheap dopamine. According to some studies, video games release large amounts of dopamine in our brains – comparable to when taking drugs like amphetamine. And because these activities release more dopamine than others, we feel more pleasure doing them. So, consequently, we do more of these activities.

Our brain gets used to the stimulus after some time, which means that we’ll need to take more and more of the drug or play more video games to satisfy our needs. Other activities start to feel less enjoyable compared to our desired stimulus.

In addition, playing video games is convenient and sedentary, and it doesn’t take much effort to experience pleasure. You only need to open your phone or computer and start playing the game, and you’ll almost instantly begin experiencing stimulation and pleasure.

If we compare gaming to less convenient or higher effort activities that produce dopamine like going to the gym, playing video games starts to feel more comfortable. We can justify neglecting other activities for the instant gratification of gaming.

What are the Side Effects of Too Much Dopamine?

Dopamine is one of the most important chemicals in our brain. Its presence is required for normal functioning and often affects our mood and how we feel.

Having optimal amounts of dopamine is crucial for the normal functioning of our body, and it also helps us feel satisfied. Optimal levels of dopamine can contribute to being more alert, satisfied, productive, and motivated. 

Having too much or too little dopamine can drastically change the way we live and feel.

The side effects of too much dopamine include:

  • ADHD
  • Addictions
  • Binge-eating and other binging behaviors
  • Gambling 
  • Obesity

High levels of dopamine can also be a contributing factor to many states of mind, including:

  • Mania
  • Hallucinations
  • Delusion
  • Schizophrenia

Often, these conditions can present when someone takes a drug that increases dopamine levels. If the stimulus produces too much dopamine, then you may end up feeling like you’re on top of the world to the point where your brain can go into overdrive, leading to mental health issues and the potential conditions above.

Low levels of dopamine can also be problematic. Some of the potential side effects of low levels of dopamine include:

  • Reduced alertness
  • No motivation
  • Coordination difficulties
  • Possibility of depression, Parkinson’s disease, anxiety

When doing a dopamine detox, you must keep a good balance in your dopamine levels. Since you’ll stop doing activities that produce high amounts of dopamine, you’ll need to replace them with activities that will also produce enough dopamine to satisfy you, such as exercise.

What is a Dopamine Detox?

A dopamine detox is abstaining from all addictive activities that raise your levels of dopamine too high. 

The idea behind the detox is to stop being dependent on activities like social media, video games, gambling, and other addictive behaviors. You’ll abstain from instant hits of dopamine and replace them with healthier activities that produce dopamine.

With the detox, you’ll stop doing these addictive activities for a set period, which is often recommended to be around 90 days. 

Dr. Cameron Sepah created the original concept of dopamine detox. His idea was to help tech workers and venture capitalists stop dependence on social media and phone notifications.

The detox aims to prevent addictions to external stimuli and become less dependent on the dopamine produced by social media, video games, gambling, and other similar activities.

According to Dr. Sepah, there are six key areas that the dopamine detox targets:

  1. Emotional eating
  2. Excessive internet usage and gaming
  3. Gambling and shopping
  4. Porn and masturbation
  5. Thrill and novelty seeking
  6. Recreational drugs

At Game Quitters, we offer a program for gamers called Respawn. In it, you’ll find a 90-day detox method that helps you to stop your gaming addiction.

For 90 days, you’ll stop playing video games and replace them with other activities to reverse the changes to your brain because of dopamine addiction.

Dive Deeper: How Dopamine Impacts Gaming

Even though we support the theory of video game detox, you can also choose other activities that you find addictive and start a detox for them as well.

Now, it’s impossible to do a true dopamine detox. Your body will not instantly stop producing dopamine as you enter detox, as it will still get produced by other activities you do. But the goal of dopamine detox is not to eliminate all pleasurable activities but to stop the ones that get you addicted and cause problems in your life.

The key here is that you get dopamine from activities that truly make you feel happy and satisfied and the ones that make you healthy.

So that’s what a dopamine detox is, but can it be effective?

Do Dopamine Detoxes Work?

Dopamine detoxes have been proven to work countless times for individuals worldwide, as long as you have the determination to stick to them.

Addicted people’s brains adapt to the drug or video games. They become dependent on these activities to produce dopamine to help them feel happy.

With time, the brain starts to change:

  • Your reward system becomes numb to exposure to activities that might otherwise be pleasurable. To feel pleasure, you’ll need to play video games more and more, and no other activities will be able to match the dopamine rush provided by video games.
  • The extended amygdala is also affected, which causes you to feel anxious or depressed when you don’t play games. 
  • Additionally, your prefrontal cortex may not function properly when you’re addicted to video games. This impairs your ability to think and make the right decisions, which might worsen the gaming addiction.

When you start a dopamine detox, these changes in your brain will begin to reverse. However, they will take time – and a lot of effort. 

Inevitably when you start the detox, it is going to be tough. The first two weeks will be the hardest. You might feel some withdrawal symptoms like depression, lack of motivation, anxiety, or headaches.

However, that is when you need to double down on your detox. But, again, these signs are positive, and they show that the detox is working.

Eventually, you’ll start to feel and think more positively, you’ll have more energy, and your cravings will begin to diminish. After some time, you won’t feel the need to play games anymore, and your life can change completely as long as you stick to the plan.

How to Do a Dopamine Detox – Step by Step

So now that you know dopamine detoxes do work, how do you proceed from here?

We’ve prepared a step-by-step plan on how to do a dopamine detox properly.

Step 1: Decide to do Dopamine Detox and Commit to It

The first step begins with your mindset. Make sure your mindset is one where you believe in this process and believe in yourself to be successful with it.

But you must know that starting a dopamine detox takes time and dedication. You need to know it will get tough along the way, but you MUST be willing to stick to it. It’s the only way.

Think about your current situation if you’re addicted to video games. Do you want to continue like this? No motivation or energy to do anything else but to play video games all day?

Take a moment to think about why you want to quit playing video games. Then, imagine the life you want to live without your addiction. Then, please write it down and remember it. Writing out how you want to feel, your goals, and what you dream for your life will help keep you going when things get tough. 

The detox is only going to work if you commit to it 100%. No “just one game” or “just one scroll of my Instagram feed.” 

Step 2: Delete Your Games and Accounts

Now that you’ve decided to stick to the dopamine detox, it’s time to delete your games from your computer—all of them.

It might even be helpful to delete the accounts for the games you play most. If you have a lot of stuff on your account and you don’t want to delete it, one option is to sell it.

The reason why deleting your games and accounts is effective is that after you’ve deleted them, you won’t be able to jump into the game instantly.

You’ll have to re-install the game, which can be too much of a bother for some people. But deleting your account will be even more effective since it might take you longer to create an account, so you might refrain from doing it altogether.

If you don’t know how to delete your game accounts, we’ve created a series of helpful tutorials on Game Quitters that you can check out, showing you how to delete your accounts for various platforms.

Step 3: Start the Detox

Then it’s time to start the detox.

Mark the happy day on your calendar and observe the changes that it brings to your life.

Step 4: Stick to It for 90 Days

Now you need to stick to it for 90 days.

Why 90 days? 

Because research suggests, that’s how long it may take for changes in your brain caused by addiction to begin reversing.

You might start experiencing some withdrawal symptoms, which is when it’s good to remind yourself why you started the detox in the first place. It is also a good time to develop new coping strategies and learn how to navigate challenges in your life without escaping into games.

Also, you’ll want to find replacement activities that will help you replace your gaming habit. Use our hobby tool to find a hobby that you like and try it. If you don’t like it, you can always try another hobby.

Step 5: Continue or Stop

After 90 days, you should be feeling better with your cravings and urges to play significantly reduced.

You now have two options:

  1. You can continue the detox and living a life without your gaming addiction.
  2. Or, you can start playing games in moderation, as long as you have other things going on in your life.

If you don’t know if you can’t play in moderation, then it’s up to you to try it. But it’s better to be cautious if you’re not sure, so you don’t get drawn into an addiction cycle again.

Access Our Full Guide on Dopamine Detox

Now you have the basics of the dopamine detox, but if you want to be truly successful, you’ll want to know the science behind the detox in more detail. You might also struggle to fill the void at times, and when it gets tough, you’ll want that extra bit of support.

That’s why we’ve prepared Respawn, where we feature the full guide on a 90-day detox. The vast majority of our users have great success with this method, and so could you.

“Having goals and watching yourself achieve them is the most satisfying feeling in the world. I don’t even think about gaming anymore.”
– Zachary

“Since I gave up video games I have started to learn python and begun a yoga practice.”
– Holly

“I reached 90 days and it’s the longest I’ve gone without playing video games my entire life.”
– Jack

“Yesterday I finished my 90 days!!! The first week was hard but worth it!!”
-Epicness

If you feel the need to, you can always talk to a therapist near you. We have a database of video game addiction therapists from all over the world, so contact the one near you and talk to them.

We’ve also created other pieces of content that you can check out:

If you’re a mental health professional and want to know more about gaming addiction and how to treat it, we’ve prepared a 15-hour virtual training on gaming disorder for professionals.

What is the Dopamine Theory of Addiction

The dopamine theory of addiction is the staple of modern psychology for treating addictions, including video game addiction.

The theory of dopamine addiction may provide insight into how the regulation and release of dopamine are crucial for treating and understanding why gamers develop gaming problems.

Dive Deeper: How Dopamine Impacts Gaming

It’s important to understand how our brains respond to the stimulus of video games. In many ways, the mechanism of a dopamine release when playing video games is similar to the dopamine release experienced with drugs and other addictive substances. However, more research is needed to investigate this further.

In this article, you’ll learn what we know thus far as to the following questions:

  • What is the dopamine theory of addiction?
  • How does dopamine relate to drug addiction?
  • How does dopamine relate to gaming addiction?

What is the Dopamine Theory of Addiction?

dopamine theory of addiction

According to Melis et al. 2005, the dopamine theory of addiction is classified as:

“In brief, the hypothesis contends that decreased dopamine function in addicted subjects results in a decreased interest to non-drug-related stimuli and increased sensitivity to the drug of choice, leading to propose that restoring dopamine function might be therapeutically advantageous.”

Or, if we summarize it in more simple terms:

Addictions increase dopamine to such an extent that once the drug or the stimulus is gone, our body is unable to replicate the same amount of dopamine naturally. Therefore, when someone is addicted, only the drug or the stimulus someone is addicted to can raise dopamine to the required levels.

Therefore, the key towards overcoming an addiction is to restore the ability of the body to create dopamine through different means naturally, without the drug or the stimulus someone is addicted to.

What is Dopamine?

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in our brains responsible for the feeling of pleasure. Our body produces it when we feel pleasure, and it is then transmitted to nerve cells. 

Dopamine affects different bodily functions, including learning, motivation, heart rate, blood vessel, kidney function, sleep, mood, lactation, movement, attention, and nausea.

When someone is addicted, their natural ability to produce dopamine is disturbed. They are only able to produce sufficient dopamine when they take the drug, drink another glass of alcohol, or play another round of their favorite video game – or else they suffer from withdrawal symptomsThe theory applies to all types of addiction.

History of Dopamine Theory of Addiction

Since the mid-1950s, scientists have learned that addictions are caused by the disruption of dopamine production in the affected person’s brain.

Olds, Milner & Their Rats

The first discovery of a reward system in the brain came in 1954 when Olds & Milner conducted a study on rats to determine where dopamine is produced in the brain.

Olds and Milner started the experiment by putting rats in a large-levered Skinner box. This box was set up so that it included a lever that the rats could press. When the lever was pressed, the rats would receive electrical stimulation to the septic region of the brain, which is known as the pleasure center.

The experiment included “acquisition” and “extinction” periods. The acquisition was when rats pressed the button, and they received electrical shocks. The extinction period was when the electrical current was blocked, even if the rats pressed the lever.

The results?

The overwhelming majority of lever presses happened during the acquisition phase when rats received an electrical pulse into their pleasure center.

However, when the current was turned off, the rats stopped pressing the lever. They no longer felt the need to press the lever because the reward wasn’t there. 

The rats experienced pleasure when they pressed the lever, so they kept pressing it.

What made the rats press the lever to get the electric current, even if it was stronger, was that it was hitting their reward center in their brains. It’s the same center responsible for making us feel happy when we eat or have sex.

This experiment was the first major milestone that today helps us learn how addictions work through dopamine.

Further Studies and Imaging Breakthrough of 1994

The 1954 study changed the way mental health professionals started to see and treat addictions. The focus shifted towards altering the dopamine neurotransmitter function for treating addictions.

Researchers continued right where Olds and Milner left off. Some of the more important studies and experiments dune after 1954 include:

  • A positive reinforcement study from the 1970s found that drugs provide positive reinforcement for dopamine release, which confirmed that stimulants such as drugs could increase dopamine creation.
  • Researchers also found that blocking dopamine receptors decreases the effects of some drugs.
  • Another important discovery came from Sardinia, where researchers found that addictive drugs release dopamine while non-addictive drugs do not.

However, one of the most important discoveries came in 1994 through imaging studies as technology evolved.

Through imaging studies (12), researchers found that several drugs and stimulants released dopamine in our brains, such as:

  • Alcohol
  • Tobacco
  • Ketamine
  • Cannabis
  • Amphetamine

These studies further supported the dopamine theory of addiction. As a result, more people acknowledged this theory, and mental health professionals started to shift their addiction treatment towards dopamine recovery.

The research on dopamine in addictions is still being conducted. However, there is more mounting evidence that drugs – and now digital stimulants such as video games – also produce dopamine.

More recent studies (one from 1998 and one from 2012) found that the level of dopamine release in our brains (in the ventral striatum) when playing video games is similar to when we take psycho-stimulant drugs. 

Dopamine and Drug Addiction

dopamine and drug addiction

Dopamine is crucial for the creation of addictive habits.

It has long been believed that dopamine release when taking drugs directly released the euphoria that we experience shortly after taking drugs.

However, more recent studies show that dopamine is likely a reinforcing agent for taking more of the drug. It makes an addicted person crave the drug more. Once we go through a pleasant experience, dopamine is released. 

Shortly after taking drugs, we experience intense euphoria, and the reward circuitry in our brains is activated. That is also when dopamine starts getting released, which causes neural changes that make it easier to repeat taking the drug. Unfortunately, this creates addictive habits that are hard to control.

When someone is addicted to drugs, it becomes increasingly harder for them to experience pleasure. Natural activities that produce dopamine, such as a healthy diet or sex, no longer produce the necessary amounts of dopamine, so they feel flat. Instead, only larger doses of drugs will satisfy the addicted person, ultimately leading to an overdose.

Now, you might be thinking: why are you talking about drug addictions when this site is about gaming addiction?

The answer is that many drug addictions act similar to gaming addiction in terms of dopamine production. Thus, the dopamine theory of addiction is also applicable to video game addiction, which we’ll talk about in a bit more detail later on.

Overcoming Drug Addiction

Addictions cause changes in our brains, which makes it even harder to overcome the drug addiction (or any other addiction, for that matter, including gaming addiction).

When someone stops taking drugs abruptly, the body can no longer naturally produce the same dopamine levels. This can lead to severe symptoms of drug withdrawal, such as:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Bad mood
  • Muscle cramps and spasms
  • Constipation
  • Fatigue, low energy
  • Low energy
  • And several others

Many of these symptoms are similar to symptoms of low levels of dopamine. The reason addicts experience withdrawal symptoms after not taking the drug for several days is that the body can no longer produce dopamine to the same levels as before. Also, the body is learning how to cope without these drugs physically.

To reverse these changes in our dopamine production levels, we’ll need to do strict drug detox. This can take several weeks or months, and the results will only be visible if the detox was rigorous enough. 

Caution: A drug detox should always be done with the supervision of a professional. Please seek help if you are concerned about yourself or a loved one.

You’ll see that drug addictions are quite similar to video game addiction in this regard – gaming addicts also frequently experience anxiety and depression, which might have something to do with low levels of dopamine when not playing games. However, more research still needs to be done on this topic.

Dopamine and Gaming Addiction

dopamine and gaming addiction

And now, for the crucial part: how do dopamine and gaming addiction relate to each other?

When we play video games, our brains release large amounts of dopamine. These levels are similar to the dopamine levels when we take drugs like amphetamine or methylphenidate. 

Our reward circuitry in our brains is flooded with dopamine when we play games. Of course, this is only a short burst of dopamine, but enough to make us feel pleasure and excitement when we play video games. These bursts of dopamine after a game can be comparable to the dopamine release when taking drugs.

The rush you get when you want to kill the next boss in the game or face an enemy is similar to when taking drugs. Your heart rate will increase, and your focus will stay solely on the game – everything else becomes unimportant at that moment. This can be a flow state.

Sound familiar?

The brain of a gaming addict will get used to this extra cheap dopamine that it gets from video games. Thus, it will no longer produce dopamine on its own when we don’t play video games. This can lead to all sorts of mental health problems, just like drug or alcohol addicts experience these symptoms.

Some of the most common mental health problems that gaming addicts experience when they don’t get their dose of games include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Aggression
  • Insomnia
  • Bad temper
  • Low energy and motivation

Understanding how video games alter dopamine levels in your brain is crucial for mental health professionals and the treatment for video games. Most importantly, these studies show us that video games act similarly to drugs in terms of dopamine changes and that similar strategies could be used to cope with gaming addiction (more on this later).

How Video Games Affect Our Brains

In addition to altering dopamine levels in our brains, video game addiction can also have other consequences for the brain.

One study from 2014 conducted by the Zhejiang Normal University in China shows that video games decrease gray matter in our brain. This increases problems with decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation. 

In addition, excessive screen time and gaming can affect your ability to sleep. Several studies (12) that screen time use before going to sleep can negatively affect one’s ability to fall asleep. This can have severe consequences on the life of the individual – particularly young adults and kids.

Young adults are also the most likely to get addicted to video games. This is because the prefrontal cortex is not yet fully developed until the age of between 25 and 30.

The prefrontal cortex is responsible for impulse control, judgment, and decision-making. This makes it crucial for controlling our urges when it comes to playing video games. One possible explanation for why video game addiction predominantly affects kids and young adults is that their prefrontal cortex hasn’t fully developed.

Other changes to our brain include:

  • Everyday pleasures no longer excite us because they don’t provide as much dopamine as gaming.
  • Everything else becomes boring, but games are super exciting and irreplaceable.
  • Because of changes to our frontal cortex, our willpower starts to go away.

How to Overcome Gaming Addiction

how to increase dopamine

One of the most effective strategies to overcome gaming addiction is to quit gaming cold-turkey for 90 days.

The 90-day detox from gaming is powerful enough to revert the changes to our brains because of our gaming addiction. 

When we’re addicted to video games, our dopamine production levels drop naturally. That is because video games provide enough dopamine to keep us satisfied, while other activities that would normally offer dopamine become irrelevant. 

The most important mechanism for overcoming gaming addiction is to revert this from happening. 

It can take up to 90 days or more for our brains to restore natural dopamine production

After this period, you will experience pleasure in everyday things that you didn’t when addicted to video games. You will also no longer feel the need to play video games to satisfy your cravings.

From my personal experience, the first two weeks of the detox will be the toughest. However, it gets slightly easier as time progresses, but you’ll also need to occupy yourself with hobbies. If you don’t have a hobby or things to do to replace your gaming habit, look at our hobby tool and find something that suits you.

Ideally, the hobby should be something that you like doing. For example, if you like sports and socializing, you might want to try out a team sport. However, if you prefer individual hobbies, then there are many choices on this list as well.

Video Game Addiction Withdrawal 

In the first few days and weeks of the detox, in particular, you might experience withdrawal symptoms from video games

Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms include:

  • Cravings and compulsions to play games
  • Mood swings, irritability, and other mood problems
  • Depression, anxiety, and apathy are also normal
  • Headaches
  • Lack of willpower

Most of these symptoms are linked to changes in our dopamine levels. Because our body is unable to produce sufficient amounts of dopamine on its own with the stimulus (video games), these symptoms will pop up in the first few days and weeks after starting the detox, in particular.

Know that if you experience any of these symptoms, it is completely normal. It won’t be easy at first, but it will be rewarding in the long term.

If you feel like you can’t cope with the symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact us or talk to a therapist near you

Need Help?

Overcoming gaming addiction can be as tough as overcoming another drug addiction. Video game addiction causes long-term changes in our brains, which become unable to produce sufficient dopamine levels without video games. 

If you or someone close to you is suffering from loot box addiction, help is available. We have a team of specialists who can support you to get back on the right track and improve your mental health and well-being. 

Our Game Quitters Programs can help educate you with practical strategies to overcome gaming problems:

You can also speak to a video game addiction therapist. We have therapists worldwide, including professionals trained specifically on the link between gaming and gambling and how to help someone overcome a loot box addiction or spending problem.

For professionals who want to understand better the convergence of gaming and gambling and how to treat gaming disorder, check out the INTENTA Gaming Disorder Clinical Training.

Back to School: Gaming & Screen Time Tips for Families

To help families get prepared for the academic year we put together a guide on Back to School: Gaming & Screen Time Tips for Families.

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”

This is a common chant amongst parents as summer comes to a close and the academic year is near.

Unfortunately, however, Back to School is also a high-stress time for both parents and children. Many families have relaxed gaming and screen time rules during the summer, and parents hope to regain control as their children embark on a new school year.

Before I get into practical steps, I’d like to caution parents not to underestimate the anxiety their children might be feeling about returning to school. COVID restrictions created numerous challenges in both learning and face-to-face socializing. Talk to your child and reassure them what they are feeling is normal and you are there to support them. What’s a parent to do?

Related: Screen Time Guidelines by Age.

Back to School: Gaming & Screen Time Tips for Families

back to school gaming and screen time tips for families

If you haven’t already, begin preparing yourselves and your children now for the academic year. Starting early will help to ease the transition and give your family enough time to get organized.

Find Replacement Activities

Replacement activities are critical for reducing gaming and screen time. Start researching or signing up for replacement alternative activities before after school battles begin. You can use our hobby finding tool.

What if you can’t find anything? Or none of your kid’s friends are available? Create your own.

Many of us learned the concept of “pods” during Covid. That concept can be extended to recreational activities too. Try posting in local FB groups to create interest-oriented pods. Anything can work, from establishing a regular time for kids to meet and toss a ball in a local park, to having jam sessions in the basement, to geocaching, and more; creating a pod also allows parents to share responsibilities for supervision and transportation.

One additional benefit is the opportunity for kids to practice face-to-face social skills with kids they may have never met before. Because engaging in activity provides a “focal point,” social anxiety might feel more manageable.

Related: Join our Free Parent Support Group on Facebook

Extend replacement activities into home life. Dedicate some time each week to teaching your kids practical skills (not just chores) like changing lightbulbs, tightening loose screws around the house, setting timers on outdoor lights and thermostats as the weather changes. They will thank you someday.

Introduce and practice a stress reduction activity that doesn’t involve gaming or screens (except for mindfulness and meditation apps). Learning breathing techniques is a great one because you can do them anywhere and anytime without any additional equipment. If the apps work better, find a few quick go-to’s, so no time is spent scrolling through the options. Yes- that is a thing. Mindfulness and meditation apps offer lots of options, and it is easy to get lost looking for one you like and lose track of time. You can avoid this with some planning.

Create a Media Plan

Recommended: For a full step-by-step guide on creating a realistic media plan for your family, get a copy of our signature family program RECLAIM.

Engage your kids in creating a media plan and notice and praise as often as possible when they follow it. In addition, you can guide the plan by letting them know what other things need to factor in, such as homework, exercise, family time, hygiene, etc.

Start transitioning current screen time use from less nutritive types to more nutritive. Back to school is a good time to review the types of games your kids are currently playing.

Some questions I like to consider are: How time-consuming is the game itself? Some are short bursts of entertainment and, therefore, may be easier to put down, but many can have long narratives and lots of levels. If they’ve been playing a particular game for a long time, you might ask them to consider if it is still fun? Are the games they play pro-social and age-appropriate? A great place to explore is Gamers for Good. Gamers for good is a nonprofit whose mission is to use games to build awareness of charitable opportunities.

Don’t make reading a book a requirement for screen time. It creates a negative association with reading. Yes, we all want our kids to read or read more but allowing that to be one of several acceptable non-screen activities that need to be done before digital use, such as drawing, building, phone calls, even just daydreaming, are good options.

If you have younger children get them used to the idea that you will be using parental monitoring tools and blocking inappropriate content. Even with older kids, you can establish guidelines for downloading new games and apps and for spending. You can read more about tips to keep your family safe with in-game spending.

Be Kind, Firm, Calm

Be clear about rules and expectations and consequences for infractions. But, please don’t overdo it. Kids make mistakes. A small consequence delivered consistently goes further than a big consequence that ends up not being enforceable because of something you didn’t anticipate; give them lots of chances to make a mistake, feel the pain short term and get a fresh start the following day. Watch our free webinar on Setting Effective Boundaries below:

Establish a “one device” rule during homework to minimize distractions. Turn off notifications on laptops and iPads too.

Turn off phones, tablets, and games one hour before bedtime. Parents can role model desired behaviors (as well as reap the benefits themselves) by making back to school-based use changes of their own. Some families find it less stressful to manage this by having kids turn in devices and controllers at a designated time and for everyone to charge their devices outside of the bedroom.

Need Help for a Gaming Problem?

If you need assistance, it can be helpful to speak with a professional who specializes in gaming and family issues. Our Reclaim Family Program is designed to reduce problematic gaming and conflict within the family. Alternatively, you can speak to a video game addiction therapist or apply for our coaching program.

More Helpful Articles

Loot Box Addiction: Dangers of Loot Boxes

Loot boxes are blurring the lines between gaming and gambling. In this article, you will learn what loot boxes are, the hidden dangers of loot boxes, and stories from people with loot box addiction.

Loot boxes first appeared in games in the early 2010s. Today they are featured in most games, particularly free-to-play games, as a means of monetization.

Most games use loot boxes to sell cosmetic items only, but some developers use loot boxes to give players that pay for them an advantage over other players – creating a so-called “pay-to-win” scenario.

But what exactly are loot boxes, how are they designed, and why are they dangerous for gamers?

What are Loot Boxes?

Loot boxes are virtual goods that contain items and rewards for players to enjoy. These items can be cosmetic items, which improve the player’s character or give a player an advantage to win.

Players can either buy loot boxes with virtual currency (purchased using real money) or earn loot boxes through gameplay. This mechanic encourages players to play more often and for longer periods because the more they play, the more they can get. Alternatively, if time is limited, they can spend money to bypass in-game time requirements.

Sometimes items inside these loot box chests are locked and need to be unlocked with a key, as with Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. A key is purchased with real money to open a loot box earned through gameplay.

Items within loot boxes come in different rarity levels, from basic items to rare and even legendary ones. The more rare an item, the more money you may need to spend to win the item, or the expensive it may be to purchase on third-party marketplaces. Rare items can often be sold for thousands of dollars.

steam marketplace

Some games allow you to sell or even bet items you’ve earned or purchased on third-party marketplaces for real money, leading to a toxic culture of gambling inside games that offer loot boxes through skins gambling and esports betting. Some countries, such as the UK, have called for loot boxes to be classified as gambling, which could, hopefully, help solve the problem.

Loot Box Prevalence

Loot boxes started appearing in games in the late 2000s, mostly in games that were free to play as a monetization strategy.

However, the inclusion of loot boxes elevated to a whole new level with Star Wars: Battlefront, a game developed by Electronic Arts.

Star Wars: Battlefront cost the full price for a triple-A game, yet it still included loot boxes that gave some players an advantage over other players. Of course, players soon rebelled against the game and the developer, forcing them to drop loot boxes a few years later.

This is just one of the instances where loot boxes are causing controversy. Of course, EA is at the forefront of this phenomenon, but nowadays, almost any game that comes out follows a similar strategy.

Loot boxes are present in the vast majority of modern games, including:

  • 58% of all video games on the Google Play store
  • 59% of top iPhone games
  • 36% of games on the Steam store
  • 1% of Android games aged 12+
  • 9% of iPhone games aged 12+.

Furthermore, loot boxes are in 93% of all games rated 12+, and 40% of all gamers have opened loot boxes in their gaming history at least once. These statistics show the extent of loot boxes in video games and their risk for young people vulnerable to gambling problems.

12 out of 13 studies conducted on gaming and gambling regarding loot boxes show a tangible link between the two. These studies also show that loot boxes act as a “psychological nudge” that encourages people to buy more boxes and gamble in real life.

Loot Boxes are Designed to be Addictive

The prizes that come from loot boxes are random. In this regard, they are similar to slot machines and other gambling products because players risk money for a chance of getting a reward. 

Loot boxes affect your brain similar to how slot machines do (Whyte, 2019):

  • Prizes are distributed randomly
  • Values of prizes are variable
  • Similar audio and visual cues
  • Provide uncertainty which keeps players going.

Loot boxes appeal to individuals who are psychologically vulnerable and are open to the idea of gambling and buying loot crates.

With the development of technology and social media, gaming companies have gotten better at targeting vulnerable players. This is true for tech companies who release dangerous apps as well. For example, some game developers will use social media data to detect which players are open to buying in-game content and their particular interests to cater to those interests and make them more interested in buying.

In addition, some companies like Yodo1, for instance, use algorithms to find “whales” who would spend money on loot boxes. This algorithm finds people willing to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars on loot crates, maximizing profit for the game company. Yodo1’s CEO Henry Fong shared that “the accuracy at picking potential whales after 14 days was about 87%. We think we can get it up to about 95%.”

The Link Between Gaming, Gambling & Loot Boxes

gaming and gambling

According to a study by Zendle et al. from 2020, loot boxes connect problem gaming and compulsive gambling.

The study found that while loot boxes were just one of the mechanisms that tie gambling and gaming together, it is one of the most effective ones. Out of over 1000 casual gamers who participated in the study, 18% opened loot boxes and played games compulsively, suggesting a link between the two.

Several indicators tell us that problem gamers are the ones who are also the most likely to engage in compulsive in-game gambling as well.

One indicator is that the gaming industry focuses more on individuals who play games excessively and already engage in addictive behaviors. As a result, they see them as the most likely to purchase loot boxes and other features of in-game gambling.

Industry experts see the “crucial 5% of gamers” who spend between $70 and $100 per month on loot boxes as the ideal audience to focus on. As a result, gaming companies will focus their marketing efforts on this 5% of gamers, leading to worse potential gaming and gambling problems.

However, despite many studies on this topic, it is still a new area, and more research is needed to show a definitive link between gaming and gambling.

FIFA Loot Boxes

fifa loot boxes

One of the most notorious games loot boxes is FIFA, a soccer game created by Electronic Arts.

The game contains a mode called Ultimate Team. In this mode, players compete against other players by assembling a roster of virtual players. The better players on your team, the better your chances of winning. Virtual players are obtained from card packs, which are a loot box mechanic in FIFA. 

Because you obtain players through randomized card packs, it creates a “pay-to-win” environment where players can buy top players through loot boxes, leading them to spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars on these boxes. As a result, many players will decide to keep purchasing additional card packs to try and secure better players if they have not received the players they want yet.

About 38% of all gamers have admitted to spending real-world money on gaining an advantage in FIFA – some have spent more than over $80,000, while one player has admitted to spending over $280,000 on FIFA points for loot boxes. That’s insane!

Electronic Arts have been accused of bypassing gambling laws through their loot box mechanic.

For example, countries like Belgium and Germany are banning loot boxes, and one of the main reasons they cited was FIFA’s notorious loot boxes, which these governments see as a form of gambling.

Gamers and critics often also mention Electronic Arts doesn’t focus on other modes anymore because they’re not profitable for the company, which the company is not afraid to admit. For example, FIFA Ultimate Team makes up 27% of overall company revenue for Electronic Arts – this is a staggering amount! FIFA and its Ultimate Team is thus the prime example of the negative impacts of loot boxes on games and their players.

Dangers of Loot Boxes

“My addiction was slot machines, which is regulated in my country. And after years of being addicted, I got free, and stopped. Loot boxes started it all over again. It has exactly the same dopamine trigger, and the same programing of a slot machine. The cool colors, and sound effects please the addicted.” -Mo Kalifi

Game developers will deny that loot boxes are dangerous. However, all evidence is pointing in the other direction.

Research, carried out by the University of Wolverhampton (Close & Lloyd, 2021) and the University of Plymouth in the UK, found that:

  • 93% of children regularly play games, and 25-40% have made a loot box purchase.
  • Around 5% of loot box purchasers spend more than $100 per month (or the local equivalent).
  • Almost one-third of these top 5% of spenders fall into the “problem gambler” category.
  • 12 out of 13 studies on the topic have established “unambiguous” connections to problem gambling behavior.
  • The higher a player’s involvement in loot boxes, the higher their score on problem gambling symptoms.

Game companies target loot boxes to a specific demographic, predominantly young males with a higher likelihood of gaming disorder. As a result, loot boxes are becoming an increasing problem.

Loot Box Addiction

Loot box gambling is becoming normalized through video games, and developers are exploiting gamers who are vulnerable.

Stories of individuals struggling with loot box addiction are featured often in the media and our Game Quitters email inbox.

Jonathan Peniket, a college student in England, shared that he spent money opening packs with the BBC. After he “got lucky a couple of times,” this led to him spending more and more money over four years, seeking the same buzz he felt before.

“As time went on, I was becoming increasingly secretive about it. I would buy a voucher from a High Street shop and hide it in my room, so my parents wouldn’t find out how much I was spending. I was spending £30 at a time, then £40, then £50. By the time my card began to block my transactions, I was throwing £80 into the game four or five times a night. I had blown almost £3,000.”

Another story comes from a family who discovered their kids emptied their bank accounts playing FIFA when they spent nearly £550 in three weeks buying player packs. Even after spending £550, they still never got their favorite player, Lionel Messi.

Parents should be careful and monitor in-game spending by their kids. For practical tips for your family, read our guide on In-Game Spending: Tips to Keep Your Family Safe.

Overspending on loot boxes is such a large problem that a study from the Royal Society of Public Health found over 1 in 10 young gamers get into debt by buying loot boxes. They also found 15% of young gamers had taken money from their parents without their permission to purchase loot boxes.

Loot box addiction applies to college students and young gamers, and gamers of all ages. For example, George Proud spent nearly £700 on loot boxes in a single month. He shared that “over time, you will gamble money away trying to get the item you want.”

In Singapore, stories of loot box addiction have been found, with one gamer spending $20,000 of his parents’ money on mystery boxes.

Help for Loot Box Addiction

If you or someone close to you is suffering from loot box addiction, help is available. We have a team of specialists who can support you to get back on the right track and improve your mental health and well-being. 

Our Game Quitters Programs can help educate you with practical strategies to overcome gaming problems:

You can also speak to a video game addiction therapist. We have therapists worldwide, including professionals trained specifically on the link between gaming and gambling and how to help someone overcome a loot box addiction or spending problem.

For professionals who want to understand better the convergence of gaming and gambling and how to treat gaming disorder, check out the INTENTA Gaming Disorder Clinical Training.

7 Most Addicting Mobile Games

This article will share the seven most addicting mobile games to be aware of and what makes them so addictive.

Smartphones revolutionized the gaming industry. You no longer need a console or computer to play video games, and instead, they are accessible in your pocket.

Related: 9 Most Addicting Games in the World

Mobile gaming is one of the largest platforms for gaming. Estimates say there are 2.2 billion mobile gamers globally, which amounts to roughly 28% of the entire globe’s population. A large portion of this population – up to 1.4 billion – comes from China.

We’ve seen big gaming franchises move into the field of mobile games as well – Call of Duty, PUBG, Pokemon, and several others.

Mobile games can be highly addicting. Unfortunately, some people spend too many hours playing games on their phones to the detriment of other areas of their life. Prevalence studies have found between 1.96% and 3% of gamers are impacted by gaming disorder and up to 10% are at-risk of developing problems. Learn more video game addiction statistics.

The Most Addicting Mobile Games

Garena Free Fire

garena free fire

Garena Free Fire is a battle royale game developed for mobile devices first, which is a slightly unusual approach in Battle Royale games.

In 2019, it received an award for being the most downloaded game and the most popular game on the Google Play Store, which may have been due to a lack of alternative Battle Royale games available for download.

But even with the coming of other Battle Royale games to mobile devices, this game stayed at the top, with over 1 billion downloads as of July 2021. 

Why is Garena Free Fire Addicting?

Garena Free Fire is addictive because you can compete against other people while also being friendly to your phone in terms of graphical demands.

It’s accessible to a wider audience of players due to its low system requirements while also providing good enough graphics to be fun.

It’s also a massive time-sink since you have to stay in the game for several minutes, and one game can last up to 30 minutes if you stay in the game late.

Read More: Why Are Some Games More Addictive than Others?

Candy Crush Saga

candy crush addiction

Candy Crush Saga is one of those games that seems so fun to play yet so harmless, but you still find yourself playing hours and hours without realizing it.

The game offers a quick escape from reality, which can help you “ease” the boredom of waiting for a doctor’s appointment, waiting for your bus to arrive, or simply passing the time at home.

For some individuals, their Candy Crush addiction is so extreme that playing Candy Crush leads to significant problems in their life. For example, this woman lost her job and her boyfriend because she played Candy Crush for 18 hours a day or more.

We’ve prepared a guide on how to quit playing Candy Crush Saga for good.

Why is Candy Crush Saga Addicting?

Candy Crush Saga offers three different components that make it highly addictive:

  • It provides an instant escape from reality.
  • It’s fun yet challenging.
  • It appeals to casual gamers.

Since the game aims to attract everyday gamers, many people over 35 play this game.

PUBG Mobile

pubg mobile

Now to one of the biggest and most common games we encounter when dealing with mobile gaming addiction – PUBG Mobile.

Created by Tencent, PUBG Mobile is one of the most downloaded games in history, receiving over one billion downloads. The smaller brother of PUBG – or Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds, was first released for PC but was later made available for consoles and mobile.

It’s a battle royale game where the concept is to live longer than the other players and survive by looting and finding gear to equip yourself to survive.

Why is PUBG Mobile Addicting?

PUBG Mobile is free to play, which means that gamers prefer to play the game’s mobile version instead of buying the full version.

Secondly, it’s part of the PUBG brand, which in itself is a huge appeal to all gamers around the world. 

It’s also highly competitive, as gamers report “getting the rush of adrenaline” when they face their opponents or when they’re one of the last people to survive inside the game.

Call of Duty: Mobile

call of duty most addicting mobile games

Call of Duty: Mobile is similar in a lot of ways to PUBG Mobile. 

This game is a battle royale game developed for computers and consoles and later released for mobile devices.

The game is free to play and easily accessible for gamers all over the world. Even though the game “only” has 300 million downloads as of 2021, it’s still one of the most addicting mobile games out there.

Why is Call of Duty: Mobile Addicting?

Being a part of the Call of Duty brand – one of the most popular franchises in the gaming industry – makes the game appeal to a wide and loyal fanbase.

It’s completely free to play and can be played by almost anyone, giving players the chance to taste the game without having to spend extraordinary amounts of money.

It’s addictive because it has fast-paced action and appeals to players with a desire for competition. The game offers an escape from reality while on the go, and it’s easy to play one game after another.

Clash of Clans

clash of clans

Clash of Clans advertises on social media platforms like YouTube. You might have already seen an ad for this game and wondered what the rage is all about.

Related: Follow Game Quitters on YouTube for more great content!

Besides the powerful marketing campaign, Clash of Clans is hugely addictive. It keeps players coming back because it offers a progression system meant to keep you hooked to the game.

Players build villages and attack each other, which adds a sense of socialization to the game.

Why is Clash of Clans Addicting?

Clash of Clans allows you to use your creativity. You’re able to build a village just like you want to have it, which will enable you to place traps and build defenses where you need them strategically.

It also offers progression for players, so you’ll get a sense of satisfaction after you reach a new level of progress. And if you don’t like waiting for the upgrades inside the game, you can also pay for them. 

Subway Surfers

subway surfers

Subway Surfers is another one of those games that seem to be harmless yet hugely addictive.

One of the main problems with this game is that it is played mainly by kids, yet it offers in-game purchases that lure gamers to spend money in the game to earn some advantages or visual updates.

For example, one mother complains that her child spent $250 on in-game purchases in this game, which is hugely problematic.

Why is Subway Surfers Addicting?

It offers a temporary escape from reality and is an easy game to play while you don’t have anything else.

It’s easy to spend hours playing this game, and once you can’t go over a certain level inside the game, spending money to overcome this problem seems like a good solution.

Pokemon Go

pokemon go most addicting mobile games

Lastly, let’s mention Pokemon Go, which is also one of the most downloaded games globally, with over a billion downloads worldwide.

Now, the popularity of this game stems back to 2017 and 2018, but many people still play this game regularly.

It offers a novel concept to collect new Pokemons using your GPS, so at least it forces gamers to walk while playing the game.

Why is Pokemon Go Addicting?

Pokemon Go offers a completely new concept for playing games, as it forces you to move around while collecting pokemon inside the game.

The more you collect, the better you are and the more players you can beat.

Need Help with Mobile Game Addiction?

If you or a loved one are struggling with mobile game addiction, then we are here to support you with several resources.

How to Delete Your Playstation Account

If you’re looking to stop your Playstation addiction for good, then one of the best ways to do it is to completely delete your Playstation account.

You may have tried other things to end your Playstation addiction, such as deleting games or deleting profiles, and perhaps none of it works. 

You might have even searched online to find ways of how to delete your Playstation account, but all you found was how to delete profiles – which is not the same thing.

From our experience, the first and most effective step towards stopping a gaming addiction is to completely erase an account so that you can’t come back when you feel the cravings.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of how to delete your Playstation account so that you can begin your journey towards an addiction-free life.

How to Delete Your Playstation Account – Step By Step

The process of deleting your Playstation account is fairly simple, just follow these steps.

  1. Head over to the Playstation Support site.
  2. In the search bar right in the middle, enter “Close account” and hit enter.

  3. Next, two search results will appear based on your search. Click on “How to close your account for Playstation network”.

  4. Next, click on “Contact us” on the next page that opens. Note that you’ll need your sign-in ID and your Online ID for closing your account in the next steps.

  5. After clicking on “Contact Us”, a help page will appear where you’ll need to choose the right category for your query. You’ll need to go to Account & Security > Change Online ID & Other Account Questions.
  6. Below this tab, you’ll find a list of options for contacting Playstation support. Pick Live Chat

  7. After choosing Live Chat, you’ll need to enter some details about yourself and your account, such as your Name, PSN Sign-in ID, and PSN Online ID.

  8. Enter your information and click on “Request Chat”. You should then enter a virtual waiting room, so you might need to wait a few minutes for a chat agent to become available. NOTE: Live Chat is only open between 8 AM – 7 PM PT, so make sure you access Live Chat in that time period. Some regions also don’t offer a live chat option, so you might need to call Playstation support.
  9. When an agent becomes available, tell them you want to close your account. You might need to provide some further details, but at this point, the agent should guide you through the process.

What Happens After Deleting Your Playstation Account

After you have entered all the information and the chat agent has helped you with account closure, it might take up to a few days for Playstation to delete your account.

Deleting your account is a permanent thing, so there are a few things you should know when you close your account:

  • You won’t be able to use your account’s User ID if you decide to open a new account
  • You’ll lose access to all the content you’ve purchased on the deleted account, as well as the funds on your wallet
  • You’ll also lose access to any subscriptions you’ve made on your account.

Closing your account is the first step towards overcoming your gaming addiction. Now that you don’t have a Playstation account anymore, you’ll need to find a hobby or two to replace the time you’ve spent playing Playstation games.

Although deleting your Playstation account is a good step, you also own a lot of games such as Fortnite, Minecraft, Genshin Impact and Roblox that you will want to delete your accounts for as well.

If you need further help with overcoming a gaming addiction, check out Respawn our program for Gamers, or Reclaim – our program for families. You can also speak to a video game addiction therapist near you.

For more content like this, visit the Game Quitters blog where you’ll find loads of useful information and instructional content just like this article.

How to Delete Your Candy Crush Account

In this tutorial we will help you delete your Candy Crush account and unlink Candy Crush from Facebook as well.

Candy Crush addiction is one of the most underrated addictions in the gaming industry. The game has an average of 300 million monthly users, is available for free on Facebook, through browsers, and on mobile, and is seen as a time-killing activity.

It’s the sort of game you’d play while waiting for a doctor’s appointment or on your morning commute to work. Harmless, right?

Well, not so much. Of all players, around 430.000 players play the game for six hours or longer every day, while people are spending thousands of hard-earned dollars on in-game purchases daily. 

The problem is so deep that King.com (game dev) had to testify in front of the UK Parliament because of its addictive measures.

One of the best ways to stop your Candy Crush addiction in its tracks is to delete your account completely.

Step by Step How to Delete Your Candy Crush Account

Here’s how to delete your Candy Crush (King.com) account.

  1. The only way to delete your Candy Crush account is to contact customer support and request account deletion. To start with this, log in to your King.com account.
  2. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the first page, and click on “Contact Support”.
    delete Candy Crush account
  3. Go to the bottom of the page again and click “Contact Us
  4. After clicking on that button, a new page will open where you’ll need to enter all the details into the form.
    delete Candy Crush account
  5. Enter your email, your name, choose the game (Candy Crush Saga), choose the King.com platform, select Privacy under the topic, and “Permanently delete my account” as a subtopic.
  6. Submit the request and wait for the support to contact you to complete the deletion. You might need to send a few additional documents or information if the support asks you to.

Note that it might take some time (a few hours to a few days) for the support to respond, so the deletion might also take you a few days to fully complete.

How to Delete Candy Crush from Facebook

To delete Candy Crush from Facebook, follow these steps.

  1. Log in to your Facebook account
  2. Scroll down to Settings & Privacy
  3. Click on the drop-down menu and select “Settings
  4. Open Apps and Websites
  5. Search for the Candy Crush icon from the apps, and then click on it
  6. Click on the remove button to completely remove it from your Facebook account

Need Help?

If you’re still stuck and need help with the process, feel free to contact us. If you need help with overcoming your Candy Crush addiction, feel free to try out our program for Gamers called Respawn; or for families check out our program called Reclaim. Alternatively, you can try talking to a video game addiction therapist.

How to Delete Your Call of Duty (Activision) Account

If you’re looking to delete your Call of Duty (Activision) account then congratulations on finding this tutorial and taking your first step towards a better life.

Call of Duty is one of the world’s biggest gaming franchises. Warzone, which is currently the most popular COD game, has over 100 million active players, making it one of the most played games in the world.

And with that, Call of Duty addiction is causing problems for gamers of all ages. It’s one of the most common games people reach out for help.

So in this article we will walk you through step-by-step how to delete your Call of Duty (Activision) account.

How to Delete Your Call of Duty (Activision) Account

Unfortunately, it is currently not possible to fully delete your Call of Duty (Activision) account. You can, however, delete the personal information in your account and submit a request to Activision.

How to Request Personal Information Deletion on Activision

If you decide to request personal information deletion with Activision, then you’ll be deleting the information you’ve put under your account in Activision forever.

All the personal information that’s associated with your account will be deleted forever, and this process cannot be reversed. Note that because of this, you might not be able to access some or all functions of the account.

You also won’t be able to view or download personal information in the future for your account if you decide to take this step.

Please note that Activision might also not accept your request to delete your personal information if they find that your request is unfounded or repetitive.

With that in mind, let’s get into the steps of deleting your personal information from your Activision account.

  1. Log in to your Activision account, and then click on Profile in the top right corner
  2. Then go to Preferences, and scroll all the way to the bottom of your screen
    how to delete your call of duty activision account
  3. On the bottom of your screen, you should see a small section that says “Deactivate Activision Account and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Game Data”. You can’t click on that, but you should then click on “Privacy & Data Protection”.
  4. This should open the Privacy & Data Protection page. Once you’re there, click on “Submit a New Request”.
    how to delete your call of duty activision account
  5. Select the country of residence and accept Activision’s terms, and then click on “Proceed to Privacy and Data Protection Portal”.
  6. Under Select Request Type, choose “Delete my Personal Information (Right to Erasure)”
    how to delete your call of duty activision account
  7. Next, you’ll need to select for which account you want to request the data erasure. You can choose from Activision or COD Mobile. Select Activision, and type in your email and your password to proceed.
  8. Accept Activision’s terms and confirm that you’re not a robot
  9. Lastly, a window will pop up warning you what will happen if you delete your information. To complete the process, click on “Delete my Personal Information”.
    how to delete your call of duty activision account

After that, your request will be processed and you’ll be notified by email if the process is complete. Your information will be deleted permanently if the request is granted.

That’s it! If you want more content like this, visit the Game Quittersblog, read the Game Quitters forum to talk to like-minded people, or try out our program for Gamers called Respawn, which is aimed at helping people overcome their gaming addiction. For families we have a program called Reclaim.

How to Delete Your Xbox Live Account

In this article, we’ll guide you through a step-by-step process of how to delete your Xbox Live account.

Xbox Live is one of the biggest gaming platforms in the world, with over 100 million monthly users as of December 2020 – and rising. Xbox is a popular console amongst gamers and families.

The idea of deleting your Xbox Live account might fill you with dread. After all, you’ve ground hours upon hours in games, bought new games, subscriptions, DLCs, and in-game cosmetic pieces, which makes it even harder for you to delete the account. But if you truly want to quit playing games, then you need to make a commitment – and some sacrifices along the way.

Deleting your Xbox Live account is a good place to start, especially if you or someone close to you is addicted to Xbox.

Step by Step How to Delete Your Xbox Live Account

Before Deleting Your Account

Before you completely delete your Xbox Live account, you should know that once you request deletion, it’s gone forever – and that includes all your games, funds, subscriptions, and everything you have on the account.

For this reason, it might be wise to check a few things on your account if you don’t want to lose them.

This includes:

  • Check your subscriptions and cancel them
  • Use your remaining balances on your account, including Skype balances if you have them
  • Create auto-reply messages if people want to message you saying that you’ve closed your account. You can do that in Outlook.
  • Turn off Reset Protection on all Windows devices you own, otherwise, your device might become unusable as a result.

Now you’re ready to start deleting your account.

How to Delete Your Xbox Live Account

To delete your Xbox Live account, simply follow these simple steps.

 

  1. Go to Xbox Live and sign in to your account
  2. After signing in, click on your account’s image and then select “My Microsoft Account”
    delete xbox live account
  3. After accessing your Microsoft account, select the tab at the top of the interface called “Your Info”
    delete xbox live account
  4. Under “Your Info”, scroll all the way to the bottom of the page, where you’ll need to click on a link that reads “How to close your account”
    delete xbox live account
  5. A new window will appear where you can start deleting your account. You can choose whether you want your account deleted in 30 or 60 days. Make sure you read all the information here and take the steps necessary to start the deletion.
  6. The last step will be to mark your account for closure. Read carefully through each bullet here to make sure that you know what you’re going to lose as you delete the account. You’ll also need to mark all the bullets in this tab and state your reason for account closure. To complete the process, click on “Mark account for closure” at the bottom of the page.

 

After clicking that button, you’ve now successfully closed your account. After 30 or 60 days (depending on your choice), your account will become inactive and it will get deleted completely.

That’s it! Congratulations, you’re now well on your way towards overcoming your gaming addiction.

For more content like this, read our Game Quitters blog, participate in the forum, or check out our program on how to control your gaming called Respawn. For families we have a program called Reclaim.

How to Delete Your Minecraft Account

Deleting your Minecraft account is a relatively simple process. But it will depend on what type of account you have for playing Minecraft:

  • Mojang account
  • Microsoft account

Recently, Microsoft has been pushing towards creating Microsoft accounts for new Minecraft players. 

But if you’ve bought Minecraft a few years ago, then it’s highly likely that you still use a Mojang account and its credentials to access your Minecraft account.

In this article, we’ll show you how to delete your Minecraft account – both for Mojang and Microsoft account owners.

How to Delete Your Minecraft Account Step by Step

If You Have a Mojang Account

If you still use a Mojang account for playing Minecraft, then it’s likely that you’ve owned the game for a few years now. Still, it is easily possible to delete your Mojang account to stop playing Minecraft for good.

  1. Go to Mojang.com and log in to your Mojang account using your account’s credentials
  2. Click on “My Account” in the top-right corner, and click on “Settings
  3. Scroll to the bottom of your screen where you should see “Want to delete your account? Learn how”. Click on Learn how.
  4. Next, you’ll see a new screen that will allow you to request account deletion. To do it, click on “Request account deletion” at the bottom of the page.
  5. You should then receive an email from Mojang with further instructions to complete the deletion. Click on the activation link that’s been sent through the email.
  6. Enter your requested information to complete the account deletion, and click on Delete my account.

After that, your account should be deleted fully. You won’t be able to log back in shortly after this, as the process is irreversible.

If You Have a Microsoft Account

Microsoft accounts are more common nowadays for Minecraft users, and here’s how to delete one permanently if you’re looking to quit playing Minecraft.

  1. Sign in to Minecraft using your Microsoft account
  2. Click on “Change account settings on Microsoft.com” (also found in the Profile section)
    delete minecraft account microsoft
  3. Once inside our Microsoft account, click on “Your Info” at the top of the screen
    delete minecraft account microsoft
  4. Scroll all the way to the bottom, and click on “How to close your account
    delete minecraft account microsoft
  5. Take the next steps as instructed on the next page. If you’ve already done the steps, select how long you want to wait before the account is deleted (30 or 60 days) and click on “Next
    delete minecraft account microsoft
  6. Tick all the boxes in the next step, select a reason why you want to delete your account, and then click “Mark account for closure”.
    delete minecraft account microsoft

After this, it will take 30 or 60 days (depending on what you selected) for your account to be closed. During this period, you’ll still be able to recover your account if you want, but after the 60 or 30 days are gone, the changes will be irreversible.

Read Next: How to Quit Minecraft

quit minecraft

In our guide on How to Stop Playing Minecraft. If you find yourself playing Minecraft too much, then we will show you step-by-step how to stop and start being more productive in your life.

If you’re looking to read more content like this and learn more about gaming addiction, we have a ton of resources for you. We also have two programs for a guide for gamers to stop gaming called Respawn and also a guide for families to help gain control back Reclaim.

In-Game Spending: Tips to Keep Your Family Safe

Today’s modern games include the opportunity to spend money on in-app purchases, microtransactions and loot boxes. Although spending money on or within games can be an excellent way for kids to learn money management skills, it can also be easy to go overboard.

To prevent spending problems in gaming or curb them if they have become excessive, we have put together this article to help you and your family.

Concerned about your child’s gaming? Take the Video Game Addiction Test.

Types of In-Game Spending:

  1. Subscriptions. Like a gym membership or Netflix, there is a monthly or annual fee required to keep playing. Suppose your player is interested in a specific game part of the subscription or multiple games within a game library. In that case, subscriptions can be a way to keep overall expenses down.
  2. Paid Games with Downloadable Content (DLC). Here you pay upfront for a game, but updates, new levels, or content might require additional purchases. It might be hard to know in advance, but we recommend discussing the long-term cost of a particular game and if staying up to date is affordable (or even worth it). It might be a good game, but it might be a good game to pass on if your player can’t afford the full experience.
  3. Free-to-Play with Microtransactions. A microtransaction is a transaction where a player can purchase virtual items for small (and sometimes not so small) amounts of money. They are anything you can buy inside of a game, including items like skins or costumes, upgrades and premium features that might give a player a competitive advantage, loot boxes, and more. Microtransactions often appear in free-to-play games, which have no upfront cost to download the game, making the game more accessible. Then, as the player is playing the game, they will be presented with opportunities to spend money in-game to continue playing or enhance their experience.

The Problem with Microtransactions

Problems with in-game spending and microtransactions can occur easily. Purchases tend to be for small amounts, making it easy to spend impulsively. A few dollars here and there can add up fast!

But not all microtransactions are so micro. Some microtransactions can be more than the cost of a retail game – were you to pay full price. For example, Grand Theft Auto offers a gold-plated private jet that will cost a player almost $130. In Rockstar Remastered, each song is only $2.99, but if you want the whole catalog, it will run you close to $6,500. Other microtransactions can be more expensive. It’s important to review your purchase history, which you can do as an example in Valorant.

Often games have their own in-game currency, such as V-bux in Fortnite or Roblox’s Robux. To avoid surprises, it is important always to know when you are spending real money rather than in-game points or in-game currency. If players are using real money to get more in-game currency, always think from the real money perspective. It doesn’t matter if $100 gives you 10 or 10,000 game bucks—it’s still $100 from your wallet.

The Lure to Spend

Game developers are smart. They know how to optimize offers to players to get them spending. Some games even use algorithms designed to track how much your player would spend if given the opportunity and make offerings based on that. Another example includes leveraging a player’s Facebook data to identify their favorite sports team and then offering them in-game items associated with it.

Microtransactions can also include loot box mechanics, which involve purchasing a mystery box that includes random or unspecified items. Due to the randomized chance mechanic, loot boxes resemble gambling.

RESOURCES: Learn more about the link between gaming and gambling.

What Drives Spending on Microtransactions?

If a player doesn’t know if what they purchase will have value to them or retain its value, you might be wondering why they would spend their money. There are several motivations for in-game spending:

  • Social influence and FOMO are big ones – your player may want to keep up with what their friends are doing. Spending on accessories like skins can also compensate for being a less skilled player or social status amongst peers. Emotionally driven spending can occur as an extension of the desire to avoid uncomfortable or unpleasant feelings.
  • Impulsivity, whereby one decides in the moment without considering the consequences, is also common for in-game spending. Tweens and teens are particularly vulnerable to this, as their brain wants what it wants – and the prefrontal cortex isn’t developed enough to plan and manage impulsivity. If ADHD is involved, which we see in many problematic gamers and recreational gamers, it is even more challenging to control.
  • Game design mechanics encourage repeated player spending and often without providing info about whether they will improve a player’s performance. Without critical thinking skills, it is easy to be duped, assume something good will happen, and, therefore, spend in the moment. This is one way that video games are designed to be addictive.

PARENT TIP: Younger kids are more vulnerable to thinking they are getting value for their money, meaning they don’t realize buying a skin or accessory is just that. It won’t improve their skills or performance.

What is a Parent to Do?

Knowledge is power! By understanding some of the ins and outs of microtransactions, you can address issues around spending before they arise – especially with younger kids. This type of conversation, using relatable subjects for kids, is a great opportunity to teach lessons about spending, saving, and predatory marketing. If spending problems have already arisen, what you’ve learned here today will help you with where to begin an intelligent and informed conversation. 

  • Set up a weekly or monthly in-game spending budget. Do this collaboratively. Teen and older gamers crave autonomy and will want to have a say regarding the amount they can spend. First, however, they should explain how they arrived at that number and what benefits they will derive. If they can’t, then hold off until they can. With younger players, parents have the opportunity to teach their children to think carefully about the value of what they are spending on and if it is worthwhile. These are the seeds of financial literacy.
  • Track spending. Have your gamer write down every in-game purchase on a piece of paper—even if it’s just a few cents—and keep a running total. Then, ask them to look over that paper every time they think about making another purchase to double-check it falls within their budget. Those who are more apt to do it on their phone can use the notes section or a budget tracking app.
  • Set up parental controls. Beyond agreeing on a spending limit, support your gamer by taking advantage of tools like parental controls. These should be the standard with younger gamers. For example, some platforms allow parents to control both the types of transactions and the amount, and the Google Play Store will enable parents or players to set budgets within its service. Games and social platforms have their own way ways to setup parental controls, so follow these tutorials: Reddit and Roblox as examples.
  • Set up payment notifications. If you attach your debit or credit card to a game or service, set up payment notifications to avoid surprises and monitor ongoing spending. If you see the limit reached quickly, you might want to have a conversation about balance. Older gamers should be able to explain their rationale, whereas younger gamers may need a reminder.
  • Link gift cards instead of credit cards. If you’ve agreed on a spending limit but are concerned about if your gamer will be able to stick to it, or they haven’t in the past, then you can link a gift card instead of a credit card. Doing so will protect you if your gamer loses control. 
  • Use passwords for transactions Another way to prevent unwanted purchases is to require a password for transactions to be made. Please do not share the password with your child unless you’ve agreed it requires a gamer to put in a little more effort to make a purchase, therefore providing more time to think about whether they want to make that purchase.
  • Danger Zone: Cash can be used to purchase Steam or other similar gaming gift cards. If you have a problem gamer, you may think you are giving them cash for gas or food money, but they may take that cash and buy gift cards for in-game spending.

Gaming is here to stay, and in-game monetization is increasingly exploitative. In-game spending can lead to greater attachment to gaming, increasing the number of hours spent playing. You need to have a plan, not only for the amount of time a player plays but also the amount of money they spend. These tips, along with clear and open communication, can support your family to stay safe with gaming and avoid potential problems. 

Need Help for a Gaming Problem?

If you need assistance, it can be helpful to speak with a professional who specializes in gaming and family issues. Our Reclaim Family Program is designed to reduce problematic gaming and conflict within the family. Alternatively, you can speak to a video game addiction therapist or apply for our coaching program.

More Helpful Articles

How to Stop Binge-Watching Netflix – 2 Methods

Welcome to our guide on How to Stop Binge-Watching Netflix. If you find yourself watching Netflix too much then we will show you step-by-step how to get control back.

You’re at home for the evening, and you’re bored to death. You don’t know what to do, so you log in to your Netflix account to find a series to binge. There are thousands to choose from with multiple seasons and episodes including gaming and esports documentaries.

You start watching the first episode of your new series, and you’re immediately drawn to the story and the characters of the show. The episode ends, and you decide to watch another episode and another, and now you realize it’s already 3 AM. 

How is it already 3 AM!? You’ve got to wake up in three hours for work or school!

Sound familiar?

Watching Netflix might seem like a harmless form of entertainment, but binge-watching Netflix is a rapidly rising form of tech addiction. More than 200 million people have a Netflix account worldwide, including 74 million people who regularly watch Netflix in the US and Canada.

“Netflix & Chill” has become a worldwide phenomenon and meme-worthy dating tactic. 

Are you looking to stop binge-watching Netflix? Then keep reading; we’ve got effective strategies to help you take control back.

Why People Binge-Watch Netflix

The most common reasons for binge-watching Netflix include:

  • Escape from reality. Netflix is a modern method of escapism. You can escape into a new world of your favorite show, series, or movie without having the slightest care about the natural world for just a few hours. Escaping can be a way to relieve stress or boredom.
  • Boredom. If you have nothing else to do, watching Netflix becomes your default mode of entertainment. It’s easy to use your computer, laptop, smartphone, TV, or console to open Netflix and start your show. It doesn’t require a lot of effort and can keep you busy for hours.
  • It’s seen as a positive thing. Binge-watching is seen as a positive thing by 73% of respondents in a Netflix survey. However, the truth is that the company considers binge-watching as its primary business model. It is designed to get you hooked on a show, so you keep coming back to Netflix time after time to watch again.
  • Netflix is addictive. Not many people talk about this (or don’t want to), but binge-watching Netflix can be highly addictive. For example, when an episode ends, Netflix will ‘autoplay’ the next episode in under 15 seconds. Often that 15 seconds will be faster than you can even find the remote on the couch. Thus, when a new episode starts, you may experience FOMO (fear of missing out) and justify watching “one more” because the episode has already begun. 

So what can we do to escape from the clutches of binge-watching and Netflix addiction?

Self-Control is the Key

study conducted by Brevers and Turel from 2019 analyzed strategies to control social media use and their effectiveness against excess.

The study found there are two main ways we can use self-control to stop excess social media use, and the same approach can be highly effective at stopping binge-watching and Netflix addiction:

  • Reactive
  • Proactive

Reactive methods of self-control are the methods that we can implement at the very moment when an urge is created to watch Netflix. These methods include positive self-talk or straightforward self-control you can implement in a few seconds when an urge occurs.

Proactive methods are long-term approaches to habitual change, such as changing or choosing situations for using social media or Netflix. These methods focus on changing your habits, so urges don’t present themselves as often. Strategies may include finding a new hobby, changing your lifestyle, or creating a schedule for your day.

The study found that the majority of people that try to quit social media use reactive, in-the-moment methods that are considerably more difficult to implement (due to the emotional triggers and cravings) – but this does not mean reactive strategies are not effective. It simply means that proactive methods are considered more effective, although they are also slightly more difficult to implement over a more extended period.

Strategies of Self-Control

There are two types of self-control: reactive and proactive. Within these methods are five specific strategies you can try to implement. We recommend starting with proactive approaches and then use reactive methods if urges are still showing up.

Here is a list of proactive strategies you can implement:

  • Turn off non-urgent notifications
  • Turn off autoplay
  • Block access to apps at specific times or entirely
  • Use grayscale on your phone to reduce appeal and stimulation

Here is a list of reactive strategies you can implement at the moment:

  • Prioritizing your tasks for the day (work > social media)
  • Remind yourself of the importance of tech-life balance
  • No checking social media until tasks are complete

The methods you’ll use to stop binge-watching Netflix will depend on what type of person you are, how well you can deal with self-control, and how deep your addiction is. 

To summarize, building better long-term habits and being less involved in bad habits will be far more effective than being good at stopping short-term urges

This will include replacing your binge-watching activity with other activities such as new hobbies. If you watch Netflix in the evening, then you might need to turn off your computer, phone, or internet connection altogether to try and stop your destructive habit of binge-watching.

Even though most people focus on short-term solutions, the best way to stop binge-watching Netflix is to start with long-term, proactive methods and only use reactive methods if needed.

How to Stop Binge-Watching Netflix – Step by Step

Let’s take a look at how you could stop binge-watching Netflix based on the studies and research we’ve gone through above, step by step.

Step 1.1: Delete Your Netflix Account & Apps

The first step you’ll want to take if you’re going to quit Netflix entirely is to delete your Netflix account and all the apps from your phone and other devices.

This is going to be the first step towards stopping binge-watching Netflix completely. Now, if you still want to watch some Netflix shows occasionally, then you might want to skip this step and instead focus on blocking your access during specific times of the day.

You can also try out a 90-day detox, which is highly effective for stopping a gaming addiction and proving to be highly effective for Netflix addiction.

Step 1.2: Disable Internet Access & Notifications

If you’ve decided to skip the first step, then this is where you can start your journey towards stopping binge-watching Netflix. 

You might still want to watch some shows, but you want to watch them in more moderation than before. If that’s the case, you’ll need to use reactive self-control methods, but know that this can be more ineffective than using a more proactive approach.

Here are some things that you can try in this step:

  • Turn off all Netflix notifications on your phone
  • Turn off Netflix autoplay
  • Set a daily time limit as to how long you can watch Netflix
  • Use an internet or app blocker that will disable your access to Netflix after a certain period
  • Consider using airplane mode if you use your phone for watching Netflix

Step 2: Prioritize Other Tasks Over Netflix

If you’ve been binge-watching Netflix for some time now, then you know that Netflix can eat up your valuable time that you’d otherwise use for doing other, more meaningful tasks.

A good form of self-control is to prioritize other tasks instead of watching Netflix. Then, once you have finished your tasks, you can watch Netflix without so much stress. Be sure to set a limit of how long you will watch for and stick to it.

It is essential that you keep a good balance between life and tech, so making sure that you complete your work or other tasks before watching Netflix is crucial.

Once you start watching Netflix, you fall into your comfort zone where you start to accept you’re going to binge-watch and that you’ll complete your tasks tomorrow/after. It’s best not to go down that already beaten path again because you know it’s not good for you!

Step 3: Find Out Why You Binge-Watch Netflix & Find Replacement Activities

You’ll want to find out why you watch Netflix so much, and then you’ll want to find activities that address those needs and do them instead of watching Netflix.

The most common reasons for binge-watching Netflix include:

  • Boredom
  • Escapism
  • Entertainment
  • Fear of missing out (FOMO)

You should aim to replace binge-watching Netflix with other activities that address the exact needs.

If you need a form of entertainment before you go to sleep, for example, you could try reading a book instead of binge-watching Netflix. 

If you’re looking for escapism, try a new hobby like writing, painting, listening to podcasts, or learning a new language. The possibilities are endless.

The key to overcoming your Netflix addiction is in creating long-term, better habits

You can still use in-the-moment methods to your binges, but these are not always going to be sustainable long-term. For long-term solutions, then you will need to build better habits and a more sustainable lifestyle.

Need Help?

If you still feel like you’re stuck with binge-watching Netflix, then we can help you out. Here at Game Quitters, we have many great resources that you can check out if you feel like you’re not making any progress:

10 Best Gaming and Esports Documentaries

Interest in esports and gaming is rising rapidly each year. 

Just over a decade ago, it seemed impossible there would be a job titled “professional gamer.” Today thousands of gamers earn a career in esports, and people worldwide have jobs in the industry at large. Professional gamers achieve stardom by showing their skills as they paint their personality through their playing style, like modern Michelangelos.

As esports and gaming are increasingly popular, filmmakers and investigative journalists have begun covering the phenomenon in documentaries.

This article will showcase the best esports documentaries, the best gaming documentaries, and also documentaries covering video game addiction.

Best Gaming and Esports Documentaries

Free to Play

“Follow three professional video game players as they overcome personal adversity, family pressures, and the realities of life to compete in a $1,000,000 tournament that could change their lives forever.”

Free to Play is perhaps the most popular gaming documentary Netflix has to offer. The documentary covers the lives of three professional gamers and paints a more detailed picture of how it is to be a professional gamer these days.

You’ll learn about the stories behind these players and how they became popular as pro gamers. You’ll also discover that life isn’t always easy for them, especially since there’s still a stigma towards professional gamers.

The documentary focuses on the game Dota, but even if you don’t follow the game, it’s still one of the best gaming documentaries out there.

Watch Free to Play here or on Netflix.

State of Play

“Steven Dhoedt’s documentary on professional Starcraft: Brood War has three different areas of focus: The life of the game’s most successful competitors, the aspiring pro gamer, and the culture of fandom surrounding the top players.”

Gaming in South Korea is blowing up. Every year, thousands of Koreans flock to Seoul to watch the best professional gamers from South Korea compete against each other in esports tournaments.

One of the more popular titles for pro gamers in Korea is Starcraft. State of Play documentary dives deeper into the lives of some of the top South Korean professional gamers. It also portrays nicely how professional gaming teams operate and what it takes to become a top professional player these days.

The documentary also covers the struggles professional gamers go through, especially their mental health. You will also learn more about individual players at the top of their field. 

Watch State of Play here.

The Smash Brothers

“Offering an intricate, unfiltered look into seven of the game’s most defining players at the time.”

The Smash Brothers is a 9-episode gaming documentary series that focuses on the world’s most popular and most successful Super Smash Brothers gamers during specific periods of the game’s history.

The documentary is an unfiltered look into one of the most popular esports. While the documentary is entertaining, it also provides valuable insights into the lifestyle of professional gamers while they are competing against each other. 

With nine episodes to watch, you will certainly enjoy one of the best gaming documentaries out there.

Watch The Smash Brothers here.

League of Legends Origins

“Academy Award-nominated Director Leslie Iwerks explores the history of the community that has made League of Legends one of the most-played PC games in history.”

Are you a big fan of League of Legends? Then watching this documentary is almost a must.

In the documentary, you will learn how League of Legends went from being a development project by a small team to becoming one of the most popular games in the world loved by millions.

You will also learn how the developers created the original characters of the game, how new champions ones born, and the thinking process behind the map and aesthetics of the game.

Watch League of Legends Origins on Netflix.

High Score

“Traces the history of classic video games, featuring insights from the innovators who brought these worlds and characters to life.”

Want to know what it took for the game developers to create the first video games ever to exist? Then Netflix’s High Score documentary could be a great one to watch for you to binge watch.

In the documentary, you will learn about problems developers faced to create functional games meant to entertain. Game development hasn’t always been a straightforward process, even though we take much of it for granted today.

You will also learn more about classic games like Pac Man and Doom, which were the earliest best-selling games. Both games are still revered today as two of the most iconic game titles in gaming history.

Watch High Score on Netflix.

GameChangers: Dreams of BlizzCon

“In 1998, a single video game forever changed the world. The game was StarCraft. It would go on to become the foundation of esports and the force behind the online streaming medium Twitch.”

StarCraft is one of the game titles that changed the gaming industry forever. It was one of the first games to start competitive gaming via BattleNet, and the release of StarCraft II in 2010 kicked things up a few levels higher.

BlizzCon is today one of the most significant gaming events in the world. Every professional player, including StarCraft players, dreams of playing in this competition, where they get a chance to earn millions of dollars in prize money.

The documentary mainly focuses on South Korean players and their need to change the gaming world before it’s too late.

Watch GameChangers: Dreams of BlizzCon here.

All Work All Play

“This is a documentary about the life and struggle of people for becoming professional gamers.”

It might seem as though the life of an average professional gamer is easy, but it doesn’t come without struggles.

Even the best players in the world have their problems in their personal lives. This documentary offers a fascinating insight into the life of an average professional gamer.

Watch All Work All Play on Netflix. 

Best Video Game Addiction Documentaries

If you’re interested in watching documentaries about video game addiction, then these titles might interest you.

Game Over: The Story of Cam Adair

In 2018, the World Health Organization recognized Gaming Disorder as a mental health disorder. 

In the documentary called Game Over, you’ll learn about the story of Cam Adair, the founder of Game Quitters. It’s an inspirational story of overcoming gaming addiction that will give you hope that anyone can succeed.

You’ll see that there is life beyond just gaming, and discovering a life that’s worth living is entirely possible. Even if you play 12-16 hours a day as Cam did at one point in his life, it’s possible to stop this destructive behavior with a little bit of effort.

Hooked: A W5 Investigation by CTV

Video games are so compelling because they are designed to hook players. Unfortunately, even though there are benefits of playing video games, the potential negative consequences far outweigh them.

Video game addiction is impacting millions of young people around the world. And with the pandemic, the number of people addicted to video games has risen to new heights. The documentary examines video game addiction and its consequences on people and communities.

Silent Addiction

This video game addiction documentary focuses on the need to recognize gaming addiction as a global mental health problem.

One of the main concerns about video gaming addiction is that it’s brushed away and not taking seriously, even by mental health professionals. Many addicted players also don’t want to talk about it. That’s why it’s called a silent addiction.

Silent Addiction is a documentary that will open your eyes to the importance of talking about gaming addiction and dealing with it as openly as possible.

Learn more about how gaming impacts the lives of people worldwide by reading our video game addiction stories.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Video Games?

Video games have become one of the world’s favorite pastimes. There are almost 3 billion gamers worldwide in 2021, with gaming prevalence continuing to grow every year.

Gaming is not without controversy, though. Critics of video games will stress that the cons of video games outweigh the pros, while those who support video games will say the opposite.

Objectively, there can be positive effects of video games when played in moderation. However, there can also be negative effects when played excessively.

It’s best to look at the pros and cons of video games through your personal experience and remember that the key is gaming in moderation.

Pros of Gaming

Although research is still ongoing on the pros and cons of video games, some studies thus far have shown the following benefits when an individual plays video games:

  1. Improved cognitive functions
  2. Problem-solving skills and the use of logic
  3. Hand-to-eye coordination
  4. Faster and more accurate decision-making
  5. Improved eye for details
  6. Social activity and teamwork

These pros of video games might help you with tasks that you do every day, but they might also be applicable for jobs where you require a great deal of attention and concentration, such as working as a surgeon, driver, or programmer.

On the surface, these pros of video games look appealing. Still, it’s important to remember that these positive effects of video games come with a catch: they can be far outweighed by the cons if gaming becomes an addiction.

These are the pros of gaming. You can read our full article about the positive effects of video games here.

Games Improve Cognitive Functions

Video games have shown to improve your cognitive abilities, such as:

  • Visuospatial ability (the ability to recognize objects around you and estimate the distances between them)
  • Increased processing speed
  • Deductive reasoning
  • Mathematical intelligence

For example, a study from 2018 included 170 participants. In the study, one group was made up of gamers, while the other group was non-gamers.

Both groups received the same questionnaire with questions and assignments that would test their cognitive abilities. The group of gamers showed better results in almost every field of the test.

Games Improve Problem-Solving Skills and Logic

Video games involve a lot of critical thinking, problem-solving, and the use of logic. 

As a gamer, you have to work your way through the game by using specific skills to achieve the game’s goals.

Gamers have more grey matter and better brain connectivity than non-gamers, resulting from extensive playtime requiring problem-solving skills.

Developing these skills in video games may translate into better job performance or improved performance in school.

Improved Hand-to-Eye Coordination

Playing video games improves your hand-to-eye coordination, making you more capable of performing tasks that involve coordination of your eyes and your hands.

These tasks can include everything from everyday tasks such as driving, typing, or performing manual tasks with your hands to professional skills like performing surgeries.

These improvements were confirmed by a study from 2007, which involved laparoscopic surgery trainees that also played video games. The study found that surgeons who played video games regularly had higher accuracy and could complete tasks faster than non-gamers. 

Faster and More Accurate Decision-Making

Another pro of gaming is the ability to make more accurate decisions in a much quicker fashion.

Players of video games will tell you that several games prompt you to make your decisions quickly based on the information you receive from the game itself. Fast-paced games, in particular, contributed to a gamer’s ability to make quick decisions.

Some games, especially competitive ones where you play against other players, can be punishing if you make a wrong decision. For example, the game Call of Duty involves fast-paced action, and you need to make the right decisions at the right time to win.

Again, this skill can be crucial in several fields of work, such as in the army or in the hospital, where you need to make fast and accurate decisions based on the facts and information you have, especially when you have limited time.

You See More Detail

Video games and eyesight quality is still a hotly debated topic. Some studies tell us that excessive screen time causes eyestrain and might even hurt your eyes. In contrast, other studies show us that video games can improve your ability to see details in your sight, especially in your periphery.

Studies that show excessive screen time is harmful find you may experience negative effects such as eye strain, headaches, loss of focus flexibility, nearsightedness, and even retinal damage.

On the other hand, playing video games might improve your ability to see more details in your eyesight, especially in your periphery. This development of your eyes might help you drive better and perform various tasks that include driving.

It’s essential to stay within the recommended screen time guidelines for all ages since too much screen time may cause damage to your eyes. However, if you play games in moderation, you might even be able to see some positive effects on your eyesight.

Games Promote Social Activity and Teamwork

Video games can promote teamwork and social engagement with other players, making it a modern form of socialization for kids and young adults.

Some games can force you to cooperate with other players, making video games a beneficial exercise for team-building and establishing social connections with other players.

Also, several games present the opportunity to make new friends and connect to them in ways that no other medium does, including the chance to meet people from all over the world.

However, excessive playtime can lead to increased isolation and loneliness, which are linked to mental health problems like depression and social anxiety. Although gaming is a social outlet for many individuals, and making new friends from different cultures is possible, a balance of in-game contacts and real-life friendships is crucial.

Cons of Video Games

Despite several benefits of playing video games, there are also many disadvantages of video games that might impact the quality of your life.

These are the most common cons of video games:

  1. Video games can make you addicted
  2. Elevated risk of aggression
  3. Games replace real-world problems
  4. Some games promote gambling
  5. Decreased physical and mental health
  6. Lack of focus and concentration

As good as the positive effects of games might be, the negative effects of video games can outweigh the pros if you develop a gaming addiction. 

Video Games Can Make You Addicted

The first and the biggest problem with video games is that they can make you addicted.

Video game addiction is a rising problem and likely to increase in the future. The World Health Organization has recognized gaming disorder as an actual mental health condition, and global prevalence is around 3-4% of gamers. Considering that there are about 3 billion gamers globally, the number of addicted gamers is estimated to be between 90 – 100 million.

One of the main reasons behind the pandemic of video game addiction is that video games are designed to be addictive. They provide instant gratification and encourage gamers to keep playing every day. Players who play every day may even receive bonuses and special rewards in encouraging them to play even more.

But the concept of addictive video games is even more complicated. They manipulate several aspects of our psychology, such as:

  • Progression of our in-game character, which replaces real-life personal development
  • Loot boxes, microtransactions, and in-app purchases encourage you to keep spending more money 
  • Socializing virtually with other players replaces real-world friendships and connections
  • In-game mechanics that link gaming to gambling

Once a video game becomes an addiction, it will far outweigh all the pros of video games. It will impact your professional life, personal development, and interpersonal relations.

If you feel like you or someone you know is addicted to video games, feel free to try some of the programs and resources we have on Game Quitters:

Elevated Risk of Aggression

Several studies (123) have shown that video games are a risk factor behind aggression. 

However, the studies also found that video games are not the only factor behind this aggression. Video games might increase the risk of aggression in an individual in combination with other factors.

There’s also a stigma around video games promoted by the media, which says that video games are violent and promote violence. But it’s far too easy to pin this problem down solely to video games, although they can be a contributing factor.

Although the link between video games and violence is still hotly contested, many parents report increased aggression in their children when playing excessively, including damaging property. Therefore, parents should be mindful to ensure their children play age-appropriate games and seek professional support if they experience increasingly aggressive behavior.

Games Can Replace Real-World Problems

One of the main problems with playing video games too much is that they neglect other key areas of one’s life, such as one’s personal or professional life.

It’s a safe place to fail, and it presents an easy way to escape real-world problems. Although escaping from stress is not necessarily bad, the problem occurs when gamers start to neglect other critical aspects of their real life.

When that happens, it might be time to consider limiting your playtime, replacing it with other activities, and dealing with your life problems.

Some Games Promote Gambling

Modern video games are linked to gambling through loot boxes and microtransactions that promote compulsive spending.

Gamers who suffer from gaming addiction can also develop a gambling addiction, exacerbated by the seeming ease of access to gambling-like mechanics inside modern games. Many of these games are played by kids, meaning that children have access to gambling mechanics using real-life money. Parents report discovering hundreds or even thousands of dollars spent on their credit cards without their knowledge.

Gamers Can Develop Physical or Mental Health Issues

Excessive game time can lead to physical and mental health issues, which include:

  • Depression and social anxiety
  • Lack of motivation
  • Poor emotional regulation
  • Poor sleep hygiene
  • Muscle loss and fat gain
  • Dehydration
  • Exhaustion

It’s important to take a closer look if you develop any of these symptoms; you may want to consider video game addiction therapy if you do.

Lack of Concentration

Spending a long time in front of a screen playing games can impact a gamer’s ability to focus and concentrate on other tasks such as school, work, college, or study.

Games demand a lot of attention to detail and concentration. But, unfortunately, we’re only able to focus for a certain amount of time daily, and the more time you spend gaming, the less attention you will have for other tasks.

Conclusion

The pros and cons of video games are interlinked and will differ from one gamer to another. There are some positive benefits of games when played in moderation. However, there are also negative effects if played excessively.

You should always be aware of the cons of games, and if you notice the first signs of these cons developing, you should consider moderating your gaming or seek help to prevent further problems with gaming addiction.

11 Positive Effects of Video Games

Playing video games can have positive effects and benefits, when played in moderation.

The most notable positive effects of gaming include:

  • Improved cognitive abilities
  • Improved problem-solving skills and logic
  • Increased hand-to-eye coordination
  • Greater multi-tasking ability
  • Faster and more accurate decision-making
  • Enhanced prosocial behaviors
  • Better eyesight (attention to detail)
  • More physical activity with games that promote physical activity (VR, mobile games)
  • And other benefits.

The Top Positive Effects of Video Games

These are the main benefits of playing video games that you should know about.

Improved Cognitive Abilities

Video games improve some of your cognitive abilities – especially your visuospatial skills and concentration.

Visuospatial ability is your ability to recognize and remember objects and the relations between those objects. This skill can be essential for everyday tasks such as driving, finding your way in a city, or making sense of a map or objects around you.

Spatial ability is also important in several fields of study, including mathematics, natural sciences, engineering, meteorology, and architecture.

This is one of the key positive effects of video games that might be beneficial for students and professionals, but will also serve gamers well in everyday life.

Enhanced Problem Solving and Logic

A recent study from 2015 from Australian and Chinese research teams showed that gaming improves problem-solving skills and logic.

Researchers performed fMRI scans on 27 professional gamers and found they had more grey matter and “heightened connectivity between certain subregions in the insular cortex”. In practice, this translates to enhanced cognitive abilities, which include improved problem-solving skills and logic.

Many gamers play games that require a great deal of planning, strategic thinking and using logic to achieve goals within the game, so it makes sense that they will have enhanced development in areas of the brain dedicated to problem solving and logic.

Increased Hand-to-Eye Coordination

Another positive effect of gaming is increased hand-to-eye coordination.

A study from the University of Toronto in 2014 found that people who play games regularly have better sensorimotor skills than those who don’t play video games.

These skills are key for faster learning and adoption of tasks that require hand-to-eye coordination, such as bike riding, typing, or other tasks that require you to coordinate the movement of your hands with the movement of your eyes.

The study included 18 gamers and 18 non-gamers; both groups had to perform a simple task on their screens that involved following green dots with the mouse. At first, there seemed to be no major differences between the two groups.

However, as the test carried on and it got repetitive, the tests showed that gamers performed with more speed and more accuracy than non-gamers.

Games allow you to develop an ability to learn sensorimotor patterns and movements faster and more efficiently, which may help you with tasks in the physical world.

Greater Multi-Tasking Ability

Games have shown to improve your multitasking ability.

This is one of the most notable benefits of gaming because it provides you with the ability to perform your daily tasks better and more efficiently, and also complete many tasks at the same time.

Many games force players to perform several tasks at the same time – especially action games. For example, you have to look at the enemy on the screen, keep track of your health, ammo, and other stats, as well as move your character. You might also be speaking on a microphone with your teammates and friends.

With all of the fast paced action and hyper-stimulation that modern games provide, gamer’s may improve their multi-tasking ability.

Faster and More Accurate Decision-Making

Researchers from the University of Rochester found that video games can help you make decisions faster and more accurately, which can translate into better decision-making ability in real life.

The study also found that if you play action games, in particular, you’re more likely to make faster and more accurate decisions over non-gamers, and even over players that play slow-paced games.

When presented with a problem, action game players were up to 25 percent faster than players of slow-paced games, and their decisions were also more accurate.

This skill can be valuable in areas of work where fast decision-making is crucial such as on the battlefield, or in a hospital, and gamers are primed to make these decisions faster and more accurately.

Enhanced Prosocial Behaviors

Even though excessive gaming can make you antisocial, there are many games out there that promote the social aspect of gaming.

Some games involve cooperating with other players and talking with them through text or voice chat, which can improve your ability to work with other people and have better social interactions, even when playing games.

The social aspect of gaming has also grown beyond just playing prosocial games. For example, gaming may be a popular conversation topic amongst students at school. There are also scholastic esports teams and clubs being formed, along with a convergence between gaming and social media platforms such as Twitch and Discord.

Although gaming is increasingly social, it is important to maintain a balance of face-to-face interactions and physical world friendships.

Better Eyesight

A study from 2012 conducted by Timothy J Wright and Daniel P Blakely found that people who play games are able to see more detail, especially in the periphery of their eyesight.

This is especially true for gamers of first-person shooter games where extracting information from your visual periphery is crucial for spotting enemies or dangers.

This ability to see more detail in your eyesight and in the periphery of your eyesight translates to better performance in everyday tasks such as driving.

With that said, it is important to give your eyes a break from screens, ideally for a few minutes every hour of use, as excessive screen time may cause eye irritation and eye strain.

Higher Accuracy and Faster Completion of Tasks

Video games may improve one’s ability to perform tasks that require accuracy quicker and with higher accuracy.

A study by James C Rosser Jr et. al. from 2007 examined laparoscopic (abdomen) surgeon training and included young surgeons that play video games to see what effects gaming would have on their ability to perform surgeries and other medical tasks.

The study found that surgeons who played video games in the past or recently had 37% fewer errors and completed the task 27% faster than non-gamers. Their accuracy also improved with more playtime. The study found that even with more modest playing time (3 hours a week), gamers performed better than non-gamers.

This study, along with others we have shared, suggests gamers do better at tasks that require speed, accuracy, and hand-to-eye coordination.

Some Video Games Promote Teamwork

Video game players play many games that include cooperating with other members of the team to achieve the goal of the game. Some of the more popular games include Team Fortress 2, Roblox , League of Legends, Dota 2, Counter Strike, Rocket League and several others.

In a study conducted by Brigham Young University, teams that played video games together for 45 minutes performed up to 20% better than teams that were involved in other forms of team-building exercises.

This suggests gaming may be a good way to develop chemistry amongst team members when used as a team-building exercise. The study also shows that some games do have the potential to improve an individual’s ability to cooperate with other team members, which is a valuable skill to have in today’s job marketplace.

More Physical Activity

Playing games that promote you to stay active might improve your physical health, especially when compared to games where you remain sedentary the whole time.

Take VR games as an example. The vast majority of these games will have you moving around or at least standing up, which is already better for your health than playing games where you remain seated.

Gamers also find VR gaming more immersive and satisfactory than traditional gaming, so it’s only a matter of time before VR games become the norm in the next few years or decades.

Other Benefits

In addition to all the main positive effects of video games, there are also some other effects that many gamers report, including:

  • Non-native English speakers are able to learn English faster using video games,
  • Games require you to persevere with your task to complete the goal of the game, which means they build up your perseverance,
  • Video game players are also able to concentrate better and for longer periods than non-gamers,
  • Other benefits include better pattern recognition, strategic thinking, risk-taking abilities, and management.

The Bottom Line

Gaming can be a positive and beneficial experience, when played in moderation. To experience the positive effects of video games, it can be helpful to identify your motivation to play.

If you play games in moderation, for fun and recreation, you may experience many benefits. However, if you play games excessively to escape real-life problems, then you may begin to experience problems from your play, and in extreme cases, develop a gaming disorder.

Playing games can have both negative and positive implications on your quality of life so it’s important to be aware of your play and keep it in balance.

If you, or any of your loved ones, are experiencing any negative effects of gaming, we have several resources at Game Quitters to help you out:

The Negative Effects of Video Games – 12 Symptoms

In 2020, there were an estimated 2.7 billion gamers worldwide, and the number is still rising. This rise in the popularity of video games has led to a significant increase in people experiencing the negative effects of video games. 

Although not all gamers experience negative effects from gaming, and those effects vary from person to person, many do. Video game addiction statistics find roughly 2-3% of gamers can become clinically disordered. 

Some of the most common negative effects of video games include:

  • Poor sleep hygiene
  • Physical health atrophy
  • Exhaustion
  • Dehydration
  • Obesity and heart problems
  • Aggression
  • Lack of motivation
  • Depression
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Social anxiety
  • Poor emotional regulation
  • Interpersonal conflict

Negative Effects of Video Games

The bad effects of video games can impact your physical and mental health, or often times both. It’s essential to understand that each person may experience symptoms differently but nonetheless gaming disorder is known to produce a range of symptoms as described here.

As with most addictions, excessive use of video games is often the reason you experience these symptoms. The more you play, the more you neglect other key aspects of your life: your social life, your career, your family, your mental well-being, and your physical health.

We can split the harmful effects of playing hours and hours of video games every day into two main categories: negative physical effects and negative mental/emotional effects.

How Gaming Affects Physical Health 

Spending hours every day sitting in front of a computer playing video games can have severe implications for your physical health.

When you spend most of your time sitting in front of a screen absorbed in games, it is easy to forget to eat regular meals, drink water, exercise, and take care of your overall health.

As Matt, a sufferer of gaming disorder who overcame it, shares:

I was tired of playing games for 18-24 hours straight from Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon and then 16 hours on Sundays. I was tired of going home after work and playing for 6 hours, and not sleeping. I was tired of feeling numb afterward and turning to porn to feel a little more alive. I was tired of not eating three meals each day.”

Some of the most common negative physical effects of gaming addiction include:

  • Poor sleep hygiene
  • Dehydration
  • Physical health atrophy
  • Poor concentration
  • Heart problems
  • Obesity

And these negative physical consequences symptoms of gaming will also start affecting your mental health. It’s important to note that both are interconnected.

Poor Sleep Hygiene

Inadequate sleep is a common phenomenon for gamers. For example, take Jack from Michigan, who said the following of his sleep habits:

“Looking back, it’s pretty clear I had a problem. I started sleeping less and found myself not enjoying life as much. As a result, I became depressed and anxious.”

If you neglect sleep every day, it will eventually carry over to other parts of your life. You won’t be able to stay focused in other areas of your life like school, work, or even everyday life, which will inevitably affect your performance in those areas of your life.

Hours of gaming daily often result in less sleep, especially if you play later at night or with gamer friends from different time zones. It’s easy to play “just one more game,” which results in “just one less hour of sleep.” Excessive gaming can lead to poor sleep hygiene and other adverse physical health effects.

Sleep deprivation also leads to impaired memory and relationship stress, significantly diminishing your overall quality of life.

Adequate sleep is essential for overall health. Depending on your age, at a minimum, experts advise you to sleep between 7 to 9 hours per day, but if you play games well into the night, this is nearly impossible. It can be challenging to function normally when you only sleep a couple of hours or do not sleep at all.

Dehydration and Poor Diet

When you play games for several hours straight, you forget to eat, drink, and keep yourself healthy. Without the proper nutrients and water, your body will not be able to function correctly. 

You’ll experience headaches from dehydration, and a poor diet will lead to muscle loss. Long-term, a poor diet may even lead to more profound negative health consequences, such as irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease, and in extreme cases, cancer.

If you forget to eat three meals a day or drink at least 2-3 liters of water due to your gaming habits, you will experience harmful side effects.

Physical Health Atrophy, Muscle Atrophy, Obesity, Heart Problems

The less you move and exercise, the more your body will start to suffer. Typical examples are weight gain, muscle loss, stiff joints, and poor posture.

Regularly sitting in the same position for the entire day can have other severe consequences for your physical well-being, such as chronic headaches and neck and back problems.

And while video gaming has a relatively low correlation with obesity, it’s also important to note that around 1% of all gamers will suffer from it due to excessive gaming. Obesity can also lead to heart problems and heart-related disorders.

For example, one of the most well-known professional League of Legends players, Jian Zihao (also known as Mad-Dog or Uzi), has recently quit video games due to his diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and other health-related problems from a fatty diet and lack of exercise. He attributed these health consequences to excessive gaming.

“I regret to inform you all that I am making the decision to retire. The doctor has told me that if I continue, there could be serious complications. Thank you to my fans for your support and companionship all these years.”

Poor Concentration

Gaming demands focus and concentration; it demands your full attention. However, the more you play or become preoccupied with gaming, the more difficult it is to concentrate on other tasks such as your schoolwork or career.

A symptom of gaming disorder is called “pre-occupation,” which means you find yourself constantly thinking about games when you’re not playing and experience difficulty focusing on other tasks. 

As Jason shares in How Quitting Gaming Helped Me Get Into Grad School, “When I was not gaming, I was thinking about gaming, and when my girlfriend was talking to me, it was getting harder and harder to focus. After 20 hours of gaming in a weekend, I knew that I had become addicted again.” 

Since he stopped gaming, Jason has found it easier to focus and be productive. We have a limited amount of energy, focus, and concentration to use each day. Use yours wisely.

How Gaming Affects Mental Health

Physical and mental negative effects of video games go hand-in-hand. When your physical well-being suffers, so does your mental well-being.

As Vadim, a gaming addiction sufferer for 22 years, describes how his physical and mental symptoms were connected:

“At some point, it got so bad I needed to quit university so that I could recover. But I couldn’t do it for very long. I wasn’t healthy, I had almost no friends, and gaming became my coping mechanism. As a result, I was very depressed and lonely.”

Aggression

Playing violent video games does not increase an individual’s levels of hostility. 

Several studies have shown that when we play video games, our amygdala calms down, which leads to the suppression of our feelings.

After excess use and gaming addiction, you can feel restless and aggressive, and aggression is also one of the withdrawal symptoms of gaming disorder. 

Poor Emotional Regulation 

Emotional regulation is the ability to be in control of your emotional state. Although you don’t always have control over the emotions you experience, you do have control over how you respond to them. When you have good emotional regulation, you can exert influence over your actions despite your present emotional state.

Studies show that excessive gaming can lead to poor emotional regulation. Poor emotional regulation contributes to mood problems such as anxiety, depression, and aggression. 

Depression, Social Anxiety

There is debate on whether gaming directly causes depression and social anxiety, as the studies on this matter are not yet fully complete.

However, research such as Tortolero et al. from 2014 found a link between video games and depression. The study found that playing video games for more than 2 hours daily significantly increased the risk of depressive symptoms in gamers.

Participants in our case studies report the link between gaming disorder, depression, and social anxiety. They share significant improvements to their overall mental health once they stopped gaming excessively and overcame their addiction. 

For example, Matt says this about his battle with gaming-induced depression:

“Shame and regret are two of the biggest negative emotions you can feel, and they often contribute to relapse and emotional spirals into deeper depression and anxiety.”

Other studies have also found that excessive gaming can lead to lower self-esteem, which can also be a contributing factor in depression and social anxiety.

Although we can not state that gaming causes depression or depressive symptoms, it is well established that neglecting one’s physical and mental well-being for prolonged periods, as gamers often do, leads to mental health issues.

Lack of Motivation and Dopamine Addiction

Lack of motivation to engage in activities other than gaming is a common problem that gaming addicts report. Gaming is a hyper-stimulating activity that can be more engaging than activities you can find in the physical world.

This issue may connect to how your brain responds to the dopamine rush you experience playing games. When you play games, your brain starts to produce significant amounts of dopamine, which is the neurotransmitter that induces the feeling of pleasure.

Thus, when you play for prolonged periods, your brain may get used to the rush of dopamine and high levels of stimulation, leading to no longer finding less stimulating activities interesting. When gaming becomes the only activity your brain finds pleasurable, a lack of motivation to participate in other activities is a natural outcome.

Unfortunately, even when you stop playing games, it may take time for your brain to re-calibrate and for you to enjoy experiences that include less excitement.

Suicidal Thoughts and Other Comorbidities

In more severe cases, gaming addiction can result in suicidal thoughts and other comorbidities. 

Cam Adair, the founder of Game Quitters, found himself having suicidal thoughts during his gaming addiction. They began due to bullying and depression but were exasperated when playing video games for up to 16 hours a day. Although gaming provided an escape initially, it eventually led to further withdrawal from life. When hope for “real life” was lost, his suicidal thoughts became more common.

Cam’s experiences are shared by other gaming addicts as well.

José began gaming at 8-years-old with free-to-play MMOs. When he became a teenager, he would wake up late, skip classes, skip showers, and play video games. They were like a literal drug he’d take to numb himself. “I was ashamed to be seen (and smelled) in my state, so I went out of my room less and less. I became a shut-in, and the only thing I did was gaming.”

Individuals and families of people suffering from gaming disorder should take suicidal thoughts and ideation seriously. Treatment is required.

If you start to have suicidal thoughts, speak to a professional therapist or someone you trust, such as friends or relatives. Contact the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Anthony from Philadelphia also started to have suicidal thoughts, and that’s when he decided to turn things around:

“I felt I had been wasting my life in a virtual world while the real world was out there waiting for me. So when I started to experience suicidal feelings, I knew I needed help.”

Read his story of how he overcame gaming addiction after having suicidal thoughts, and you’ll see that there’s hope for you if you have similar feelings. Never give up!

If you are experiencing these negative physical and mental effects, you might be suffering from gaming addiction. Here are some ideas for how to conquer it.

How Can I Overcome My Gaming Addiction?

If you feel like you’re experiencing the effects or symptoms of gaming addiction, then the best place to start is acknowledging that you have a problem.

Although overcoming gaming addiction takes time and a lot of dedication, the reward is that you’ll get your life back. Think of all the possibilities and improvements that would occur once you remove gaming’s harmful effects in your life.

  • If you need inspiration, read some of the case studies of gamers that have successfully quit gaming.
  • Take this short quiz to see if you have a gaming addiction or are experiencing negative effects of video games.
  • If you need a step-by-step guide on quitting video games, we have an in-depth guide for gamers called Respawn. For families, we offer Reclaim, a step-by-step guide for helping your loved one reduce negative aspects of gaming.
  • If you want personalized attention, you can supplement Respawn and Reclaim by working with a therapist or a coach. Working with a therapist or coach is an effective way to overcome gaming addiction and reduce the negative impact on physical and mental health. 
  • Game Quitters is an educational resource, support community, and advocacy organization for those who want to quit playing video games or learn healthier gaming habits. We work with parents, gamers, teachers, and professionals worldwide to promote research and provide evidence-based programming oriented towards the prevention and treatment of gaming disorder.
  • Game Quitters offers access to an online community of gamers that have been through it all. We have hundreds of free videos and a community forum where like-minded gamers come together and discuss their issues.
  • If you are a mental health professional who needs training, get started today in the INTENTA Gaming Disorder Clinical Training.

Screen Time Guidelines for All Ages

We live in a tech-centric world. As a result, it is becoming harder and harder to go about our daily tasks without looking at a screen.

For example, you send messages and communicate using your mobile phone, you do most of your work or school on your computer, and then spend time on your phone, tablet, or computer to unwind. 

Technology can be great when we use it to complete tasks, communicate, or for leisure. It can aid us greatly in several aspects. However, as with most things in life, too much of something is never good. 

Negative effects of excessive screen use include sleeping problems, behavior and educational problems, obesity, and trouble concentrating. People of all ages (including the youngest) are affected and need limits regarding screen use. 

That’s why we’ve prepared screen time guidelines by age. Our recommendations will equip you to manage screen time use in your family.

How to Define Screen Time

When evaluating your family’s screen time, you’ll have to consider that not all of the screen usage will be negative, and some of it will be necessary.

In general, we split screen time usage into two main categories:

  • Active – this is the time we spend using our screens to learn, do creative tasks, video calls, or tasks that involve using our brains extensively. This type of screen time can be highly productive and can replace some of the previously done activities without screens.
  • Passive – passive screen time is “vegetative” time in front of our screens. It’s the absent-minded scrolling on social media or Google, watching videos on YouTube, playing repetitive games, binge-watching shows on Netflix, and so on. It’s the low-effort type of screen usage that doesn’t benefit our brains.

When it comes to screen time guidelines, the most important thing is to have a healthy balance between active and passive screen time. Ideally, active screen time should be a priority over passive screen time.

Suppose you’re finding it tough to cut down on your child’s time using screens. In that case, a good tip is to encourage them to do more active tasks using their screens, such as learning new things such as a new language, watching educational videos, or completing activities that involve creativity and thinking. They could also socialize with friends through video calls.

Screen Time Guidelines by Age

screen time guidelines by age

Here are the screen time recommendations by age chart.

Limiting screen time should start early in your child’s development. In early childhood, a child’s brain is rapidly changing. So pay close attention to how much screen time you are providing your child.

For children up to 6, you must teach them about mindful technology use as a parent. Start this education early, including teaching them about the dangers of excessive screen use and how to keep a balance. As a family, you should have reasonable screen time limits.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), these are the following screen time guidelines for children:

  1. Age 2 and under – avoid media use, except for video calls. Early childhood is an important time for ensuring that your child grows up into a healthy child later on. Their brain structure is changing rapidly, and using too much technology can have adverse effects later on. That’s why minimal to no screen time is recommended for this group age, except for video calls.
  2. Age 2 to 5 – one hour or less of active screen time. Ensure that your child gets quality, active screen time and little-to-no passive screen time at this stage. Also, limit screen use to one hour at most and ideally not at the same time.
  3. Age 6 to 12 – limit screen use to a healthy amount, no more than two hours of screen time at most. Establish positive habits and encourage active screen time. Adequate sleep time (8-12 hours), unplugged downtime, and activities that involve socialization should be encouraged.
  4. Teens – limits should be set up for passive screen time such as playing games, social media use, and watching videos repeatedly. As a parent, you need to make sure that your teen(s) are physically active and do other activities offline, especially social activities. Here is a list of 50 screen-free activities.
  5. Adults – less than two hours of screen time for recreation. The more you use screens for work, the less you want to use them for entertainment. 

Remember, these are rough guidelines that you should prioritize at an early age. As your child grows older, it will be harder to control media use. You’ll need to set up routines and strict rules for screen use and encourage a healthy lifestyle. 

Screen Time Guidelines for Teens

screen time guidelines for teens

The statistics about the screen time use of teens in the US are alarming. On average, teens spend around 9 hours a day on their screens for entertainment, which is well over the recommended limit of about 2 hours of screen use for entertainment, excluding school use.

The amount of screen use has also been increased due to the pandemic when social interaction possibilities and other types of leisure were limited. In addition, teens, and children, were forced to do school from home, increasing the amount of screen time required every day. As a result, maintaining screen time balance became harder.

To avoid adverse effects associated with excessive screen time, develop screen time limits in your household. These limits should include where, when, and how much screen time is allowed, including reasonable limits on passive screen time, such as video games or YouTube watching.

Additionally, it’s crucial to monitor screen use for school or homework and ensure during that time, no other types of on-screen activities are occurring.

Screen Time Guidelines for Adults

screen time guidelines for adults

The screen time recommendation for adults is two hours for entertainment and leisure activities, such as watching videos, social media use, and other passive screen time activities.

This recommendation excludes the time you spend on your screen for work or school. In the UK, the average screen time for adults is around 6 hours and 30 minutes, which is also consistent for the US and the rest of the developed world.

Weekly, this translates to around 45 hours per week. Of course, we have to consider that many people use their screens for work, leading to more hours of screen time use.

However, most people included in the survey report using their screens (mobile, laptops, tablets) for entertainment, which means there are more opportunities to reduce screen time than people may think.

Excessive screen time will also have adverse effects for adults, just like it does for children and adults. For example, it can result in obesity, eyesight problems, sleeping problems, anxiety, depression, neck and back problems, and more.

But perhaps even more importantly, if you use your screen excessively as a parent, it will also impact your child’s screen useResearch shows excessive screen time use in parents drastically increases the likelihood their children will use their screens excessively.

As a parent, you set the example for your child, even when it comes to screen time. If you spend too much time with your screen, your child will see it as something normal, resulting in excessive screen time use in children.

If you’re a parent who wants to reduce the time your child spends on their screens, then you’ll need to address your screen time use first

You’ll need to set a good example for your child and set expectations on balancing their screen use. For instance, encourage healthy, physical activities and diet, enough sleep, and active types of screen use that we’ve discussed above.

Screen Time Guidelines During Covid-19

screen time guidelines for covid19

During Covid-19, the recommended screen time for entertainment is two hours at most.

Covid-19 has increased screen use among people of all ages, including adults. For example, 44% of parents of children of all ages report that their child has spent more than four hours of their time on their screens, which is significantly more than they did before the pandemic.

But too much screen time has also become a problem for adults during Covid-19. Many people work from home – up to 30% more than before the pandemic. And when we work from home, it gets increasingly harder to control our screen time. Switching from your work to check social media or news is easier than it is at work, which can make you less productive and increase your screen time significantly.

So, how can we combat the excess screen time during Covid-19?

  • Set up a working schedule. When you work, set boundaries and limits to avoid distractions, such as social media, video games, or other types of passive screen use.
  • Put away your phone. It can be a good idea to have your phone far away in another room while you work, or even have it turned off. 
  • Take short breaks. If you’re finding it hard to concentrate and your mind seems to wander away as you work, set up short five-minute breaks every 30-50 minutes to improve your focus.
  • Accept that you’re going to have to use technology. If you’re working from home, you’re going to have to use your screen for work. Just make sure you get the most out of it as possible.

How Much Screen Time is Too Much?

It’s hard to give a straightforward answer on how much screen time is too much for adults; the only clear way to observe this is to watch the effects of screen time on you and your health.

Excess screen time (six hours and more) puts you at a higher risk of depression, this study finds. On the other side of the spectrum, limiting social media use to only 30 minutes per day can decrease loneliness and depression. 

An excellent way to find a balance between quality screen time and passive screen time is to listen to your body; is too much screen time affecting you negatively regarding your mental and physical health? Some of the most common negative effects of excessive screen time include:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Loneliness
  • Insomnia and poor sleeping habits
  • Eye strain and headaches
  • Neck and back pain
  • Reduced physical activity levels and obesity
  • Addictive behaviors (video games, gambling)

Aim for less than two hours of entertainment using your devices. This limit can be beneficial if you do your work on your computer, which is when you’ll want to limit the time you spend on your screen passively and increase the time you spend using your screen actively, such as for work.

How to Limit Screen Time?

Limiting screen time is essential. It is crucial to avoid gaming addiction, depression, anxiety, poor sleep habits, and other adverse effects connected to excessive screen use.

Whether it’s for you or your child, there are specific measures you can take to decrease the time you spend on your screen. Remember the earlier you start implementing these measures, the more likely you will avoid problems associated with excessive screen time or poor screen time habits later in a child’s development.

  • Set up rules for screen time use in your home. You’ll need to define when, where, and how screens are allowed. For example, you could set up a rule to disallow screen use during meals, such as dinner or lunch. 
  • Limit activities that involve using a screen. Make sure you and your child limit activities that include screens unless they are essential. You’ll want to replace these activities with other activities that promote physical and mental health. For example, provide physical copies of books for your child instead of using digital ones.
  • Promote active screen use and limit passive use. Begin by replacing passive activities on the phone, such as social media use or watching videos, with active learning and creative activities.
  • Teach your child early. You have to accept that some technology will always be present, and you can’t get away from it. Instead, provide early education about managing technology and screen time. Teach your child that phones and tablets are not toys and should be used with intention.
  • Ensure you or your child gets enough sleep. Sleeping habits often get compromised because of excess screen time. Make sure that you get 7-8 hours of sleep every day and that your child also gets 8-12 hours of sleep at least. It can be helpful to have screen time limits, such as no screen time two hours before bedtime and no phones in their bedroom.
  • Encourage physical world friendships and social activities. Another important aspect of limiting screen use will be to promote social activities that involve seeing friends in physical life, not just through screens. While video chats can help foster new friendships, we still need a level of physical connection with other people.
  • Stay on top of trends. New apps are coming out all the time, whether it’s TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, or others. Be aware of which apps are popular and which apps are dangerous which encourage your child to spend more time on screens than they should.

Find help. If you need assistance, it can be helpful to speak with a therapist or licensed professional who specializes in gaming and screen time issues. Alternatively, try our Reclaim program for families, where we help your family manage excessive gaming and screen time, including setting up a Family Screen Time Agreement.

Video Game Addiction Statistics 2023 – How Many Addicted Gamers Are There?

Video game addiction is a growing problem in modern society. While some people are not aware of it, others call video games “the new drug.”

In 2019, the World Health Organization recognized “Gaming Disorder” as a mental health condition. It will be officially added to the International Classification of Diseases, ICD-11, in 2022.

Unfortunately, video game addiction hasn’t always got the attention it deserves with mental health experts and research funding focused on other disorders – such as gambling and substance abuse.

Even though the field of video game addiction research and treatment is not yet fully understood and developed, there are many high-quality papers and studies into video game addiction statistics, demographics, and prevalence rates that provide us with valuable insight into the depth of the problem.

Let’s take a look at the most interesting video game addiction statistics.

General Video Game Addiction Statistics

Here are some key video game addiction statistics:

If you take a look at the general video game addiction statistics, you can see that millions of people worldwide suffer from gaming disorders. The conservative estimate of addicted gamers is around 60 million. How do you know if you or a loved one are addicted to gaming? Take the video game addiction test.

Gaming as an activity is continuing to grow every year. In 2015, there were 1.9 billion gamers; in 2021, there are an estimated 2.81 billion gamers, and the number is anticipated to surpass 3 billion by the year 2023. This tells us the number of gamers suffering from gaming disorder is also going to grow each year.

Over the last ten years, we have heard from thousands of gamers worldwide sharing their stories of video game addiction and supporting each other to get better. If you are reading this you need to know, you are not alone!

Statistics by Age

gaming stats by age

Let’s take a closer look at video game addiction statistics by age.

Statistics tell us that video gaming addiction is by far the most problematic in people aged 34 and younger, with the average age of a gaming addict being 24 years of age. This is cause for concern because the percentage of American children that play video games is now 90% or more of all children. More young people are playing video games than ever before, and they are exposed to the risks of video game addiction.

Although young adults between 18 and 24 years old tend to be the ones experiencing the most harm from their gaming, such as struggling with college or university, they often develop the problem in adolescence.

One of the crucial challenges we face for the future is preventing and treating gaming and tech addiction in children, which, despite all the efforts from governments worldwide, seems to still be on the rise.

Statistics by Demographics

gaming stats by ethinicity

Distribution of gamers by ethnicity in the United States:

We can see that there is a clear prevalence of Caucasian gamers in the United States, with 67% of all gamers. 15% are Hispanic, while 12% are African American, and 5% are Asian.

If you take a look at the distribution of gamers suffering from gaming disorder by ethnicity, you’ll find that 69% of all addicts are Caucasian, 13% are Asian, and 18% percent belong to the category of Other.

Statistics by Gender

gaming stats by gender

According to a study from 2015 done by the Pew Research Center, the distribution of gamers between the two genders is almost even – 50% of all gamers are male, while 48% are female. 93 93. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2015/12/15/gaming-and-gamers/ ×

This distribution by gender might surprise some, as gaming is primarily seen as something that only boys do. 

However, taking a look at gaming disorder statistics by gender, and you’ll find that 94% of all gaming addicts are males, while only 6% are females. These numbers tell us that while the number of male and female gamers might be the same on a general level, the number of gaming addicts is currently more male-heavy. 

But why does this happen? Why are there more male gaming addicts than female addicts?

This issue might be closely related to how males perceive gaming cues in their brains.

According to this study from 2018, “gaming-related cues elicit higher cravings in male subjects than female subjects.” 94 94. https://academic.oup.com/scan/article/13/11/1203/5110390 × The study found that males had greater activation in the striatum before gaming and great activation in the medial frontal gyrus after gaming. This tells us male gamers are more likely to get addicted to video games.

Another reason for statistics showing males are more likely to be gaming addicts may be due to selective sampling in research studies. Similar to conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), where females have often been under-diagnosed as they do not display the “typical hyperactivity” symptoms, female gamers may be under-represented in gaming literature as well. 

Statistics by Geographical Location

video game addiction statistics

According to Vladimir Poznyak, a researcher for the WHO (World Health Organization) who focuses on gaming disorder, geographical location has little to no impact on an individual’s likelihood of getting addicted to gaming. 95 95. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334746050_Sharpening_the_focus_on_gaming_disorder ×

Still, the numbers of gaming addicts will vary by country. In less developed countries of Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America, the number of gaming addicts may be lower than in Europe, North America, and parts of Asia such as Japan, China, and South Korea due to greater access to technology.

However, less developed countries are quickly catching up with global smartphone penetration estimated to be 78% or higher. 96 96. https://www.statista.com/statistics/203734/global-smartphone-penetration-per-capita-since-2005/ × With technology continuing to accelerate globally, we may see a boom of gaming addicts in the coming years and decades.

There aren’t many statistics that tell us more about gaming disorder and its correlation to location, but these are some of the more interesting ones that are available:

The bottom line is that gaming addiction is present worldwide. In developing countries, mobile gaming addiction is likely to be higher than computer or console game addiction, and the number of gaming addicts in developing countries is anticipated to grow in the years to come.

Video Game Addiction Statistics: United States

how many people play video games usa

The most popular games for American gamers 97 97. https://today.yougov.com/ratings/technology/fame/video-games/all × include Super Mario Bros, Angry Birds, Grand Theft Auto series, Call of Duty, Minecraft, Fortnite, Mortal Kombat, and Roblox.

The number of total gamers in the United States is still unclear. Some sources say there are more than 150 million gamers in the US 98 98. https://www.afjv.com/news/5038_more-than-150-million-americans-play-video-games.htm × , although that source goes back to 2015. A more recent report from 2020 states that between 64-66% of the general American population play video games to some extent 99 99. https://www.theesa.com/resource/2020-essential-facts/ × .

With an estimated 150 million to 231 million active gamers in the United States and global prevalence of gaming disorder between 1.96% and 3%, we estimate there are between 3 million and 6.5 million disordered gamers in the United States.

Video Game Addiction Statistics: Canada

how many people play video games canada

The video gaming industry continues to grow in Canada, contributing $4.5 billion to Canada’s GDP in 2019. The vast majority of Canadians (94%) aged between 18 and 34 play video games, including 64% of the entire Canadian population – 23 million Canadians – who play video games regularly. 100 100. https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/canada-is-a-nation-of-video-game-lovers-despite-worries-of-addiction-and-online-insults-827292822.html ×

In 2015, around 19 million Canadians admitted to playing video games regularly or identified themselves as gamers. That number has grown to around 24 million Canadians in 2020, showing that more and more Canadians are playing video games each year. However, in a CAMH study from 2017 101 101. https://www.camh.ca/-/media/files/pdf---osduhs/mental-health-and-well-being-of-ontario-students-1991-2017---detailed-osduhs-findings-pdf.pdf × , almost 12% of all Ontario University students exhibit signs of video game addiction so gaming disorder is also on the rise.

Video game addiction in Canada is estimated to impact between 470,400 and 720,000 people, with gamers at risk of unhealthy play as high as 3 million Canadian gamers.

Video Game Addiction Statistics: United Kingdom (UK)

who plays video games uk

In 2020, around 36 million Britons played video games regularly. 102 102. https://www.statista.com/topics/1763/gaming-in-the-united-kingdom/ × In terms of the percentage of the entire population, that amounts to just slightly less than 50%. 18% of UK gamers spent 6 hours or longer playing video games daily 103 103. https://cybercrew.uk/blog/video-gaming-addiction-statistics-uk/ × , and about 30% skipped showers to play games. The most represented age group is gamers aged between 13 and 25, and the second most represented group is for people aged between 25 and 34.

Alarmingly, up to 93% of UK children play video games in some shape or form. 104 104. https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/report/gaming-the-system/ × FIFA, Fortnite, World of Warcraft, and Call of Duty are UK’s most addictive games.

However, reports indicate the number of addicted gamers in the UK has tripled because of the pandemic. 105 105. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jun/20/gaming-disorders-triple-among-young-during-year-of-uk-lockdowns ×

With 36 million Britons playing video games regularly, we estimate between 700,000 and 1 million UK gamers struggle with a video game addiction.

Video Game Addiction Statistics: Australia

6 out of 10 Australians play video games regularly

6 in 10 Australians play video games regularly 106 106. https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/research/youth-online-gaming-state-of-play/youth-online-gaming × , which is close to 67% of the entire Australian population. 107 107. https://www.igea.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Digital-Australia-2018-DA18-Final-1.pdf ×

The prevalence of playing video games is much higher in the younger population. 98% of households with children have a device to play video games on – 9/10 of those households have a child that plays video games regularly, meaning that up to 90% of Australian children play video games.

For all gamers in Australia, the average playing daily time is 89 minutes 108 108. https://www.igea.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Digital-Australia-2018-DA18-Final-1.pdf × , which is higher than the recommended limit of 30-60 minutes that are in place for children. The playing time seems to be longer for males, who play video games for 98 minutes daily on average, while females play for 77 minutes on average daily.

A recent study done by the Department of Psychological Medicine at the Nepean hospital in Sydney revealed that up to 10% of all Australian gamers were addicted to video games. 109 109. https://www.generationnext.com.au/2010/03/teenagers-now-addicted-to-computer-games/ ×

The age group that is the most likely to be addicted to video games is between 18-34. However, Australia has also seen a rise of video game addicts that are under the age of 18 – around 78,000 Australian children are estimated to be addicted to video games.

In the general population, we estimate between 328,300 and 502,500 Australian gamers struggle with gaming addiction, with up to 1,675,000 at risk of developing a gaming problem.

Video Game Addiction Statistics: United Arab Emirates (UAE)

uae gaming stats

In recent years, the video gaming addiction problem is a growing concern for the UAE health authorities. The Department of Health in Abu Dhabi (DoH) released a statement where it recommended that children’s gaming time should be kept to under two hours daily. 110 110. https://www.tahawultech.com/industry/healthcare/video-game-addiction-serious-health-issues-uae/ ×

This recommendation comes as no surprise. Reports of children spending more than four hours a day gaming are cropping up throughout the whole country, which means that stricter measures for controlling video game addiction need to be put in place. 111 111. https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/addicts-spending-at-least-15-hours-a-day-gaming-say-uae-psychologists-1.742776 ×

One of the more alarming statistics comes from 2015 when the researchers found that between 56-63% of all children in UAE spend three hours or more daily gaming 112 112. https://www.tahawultech.com/industry/healthcare/video-game-addiction-serious-health-issues-uae/ × or doing other activities on their screens.

In fact, 50% of all UAE gamers admitted that they have spent more time playing video games because of the pandemic. 113 113. https://gulfbusiness.com/half-of-all-saudi-uae-gamers-spent-more-time-playing-during-lockdowns-study/ × In UAE, there is also a sharp increase of at least 15% of new gamers, of which 40% are female gamers.

The vast majority of gamers in the UAE (70-74%) are mobile gamers 114 114. https://newzoo.com/insights/infographics/consumer-insights-and-data-united-arab-emirates-uae-games-market/ × , while many gamers also play console and PC games. An even more problematic statistic is that up to 91% of all UAE gamers have spent money on in-game purchases in the last six months, which shows an alarming correlation between gaming and gambling.

We all know about the negative consequences of Covid lockdowns and the mental health of people all over the world. More people spend more time in front of screens, which also includes more people playing video games.

And this trend is also visible in UAE. Up to 50% of people spend more time gaming during the lockdowns – of which, the majority of them are mobile and console gamers.

There are also more people watching gaming streams in UAE. Up to 68% of all gamers also watch live streams of other people playing video games, which leads to other potential mental health problems and an increase in the likelihood of playing video games again.

UAE continues to be one of the top 100 markets for the video gaming industry, and the number of gamers is still on the rise, especially after covid lockdowns. Mental health experts from UAE are warning about the increase in video game addiction in the country.

One of the biggest obstacles to mental health professionals in the UAE is a lack of awareness when it comes to gaming addiction. More needs to be done in spreading the word about the pitfalls and dangers of this addiction, especially among parents of children who play games regularly.

With over 7 million gamers in the UAE, we estimate between 137,200 and 210,000 Emiratis are struggling with gaming addiction.

If you are passionate about supporting the UAE with its gaming problem, please contact us for details on INTENTA’s initiatives in the UAE.

Covid-19 Video Game Addiction Statistics

Covid-19 and Gaming

We know that Covid-19 and its lockdowns have had a profound effect on the number of gamers around the world. The gaming industry has seen a 63% increase in games sold because of the pandemic.

These are the official numbers for video game addiction during Covid-19:

The pandemic has had a huge impact on the number of people addicted to video games. Gaming, gambling, loot boxes, mobile gaming, and excess use of screen time have soared sharply over the course of the pandemic.

Video Game Addiction Help

help for gaming issues

Want to know more about gaming addiction and how to overcome it? Then join us here at Game Quitters, where we provide video game addiction articles every week, along with additional resources for gamers, families, and loved ones.

How to Stop Playing PUBG (PlayersUnknown Battleground)

Welcome to our guide on How to Stop Playing PUBG (PlayersUnknown Battleground). If you find yourself playing PUBG too much, or you are concerned about a loved one, then we will show you step-by-step how to get control back.

PUBG, also known as PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, is one of the most popular Battle Royale games. For many, it was the game that started the craze around the Battle Royale genre, which includes popular games like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends.

PUBG is one of the most popular games on Steam, with 500,000 monthly active users. Its mobile version, called PUBG Mobile, has close to 1 billion downloads across mobile platforms. The desktop and console versions of PUBG are available to be bought for a low price of $30. The free-to-play PUBG Mobile version of the game, which includes in-app purchases, has been addictive to some players.

The problem became so bad that PUBG Mobile was banned temporarily in India and Bangladesh amid all the concerns regarding PUBG addiction.

If you’re looking for ways on how to stop playing PUBG, or if your child is struggling with it, then you’ve come to the right place. You’ll find practical steps to stop playing PUBG in this article.

What is PUBG, and How Does It Work?

pubg addiction

PUBG (Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds) is a Battle Royale game that pits 100 players against each other. The game’s goal is to outlive your competitors. 

You start the game on an isolated island without any equipment. Then you collect as many weapons, gear, loot, and resources as possible to help you survive and defeat the other players.

In addition, there is a “zone of survival,” which shrinks every few minutes, bringing other players closer to your position, making it more difficult to survive.

What Makes PUBG So Addictive?

Although PUBG is a game that appears harmless at first, there are specific game design features that can cause addiction and negative effects to some players. 

  1. It’s competitive. The biggest attraction of PUBG is its immersive nature. Competing in a Battle Royale mode against 100 other players creates a rush and thrill to win. When you come close to winning, you want to try again, creating a “just one more game” mentality. The challenge and competition are a big reason why PUBG attracts players.
  2. It’s social. There’s also the team mode in the game where you can play with other players. You can make new friends and play with them on the team, working together to win. Although playing with friends can be a benefit of gaming, it also increases the amount of time you play, leading to negative consequences in other areas of your life.
  3. It has loot boxesLoot boxes are standard in modern games, and they’re a primary reason for gamers developing gambling problems. For example, one 15-year old Indian player stole his father’s credit card to purchase $700 worth of in-game loot.
  4. You can progress. In addition to building up your skills to win more games, you also have levels within the game. With each increasing level, you earn new rewards, encouraging new and existing players to keep playing and collect those rewards. The game appeals to skilled players differently than novice ones. “For example, PUBG mobile has crates with rich resources land every cycle. It is easy to pick if it lands on the flat land, while difficult to pick when landing on the roof. The novice players miss it, while experienced players use strategies to jump on the roof to get it.”

Signs & Symptoms of PUBG Addiction

If you or someone you know is addicted to PUBG, you might be experiencing PUBG addiction symptoms and signs. 

Some of the most common signs of this addiction include:

  • No control over gameplay
  • Loss of interest in other activities
  • Continuing to play despite the negative impact
  • Withdrawal symptoms when not playing
  • Neglect of other areas of life
  • Mental and physical health problems

If you experience these symptoms, it might be appropriate to consider talking to a therapist. Alternatively, you can use the following steps to stop playing PUBG.

PUBG Addiction Questionnaire

Concerned about your gaming? Take the Video Game Addiction Test.

The following nine questions can help you better understand if you are experiencing a PUBG addiction or if you should stop playing so much. For each question, answer Yes or No, and keep track of your answers. 

  1. Do you spend a lot of time thinking about PUBG even when you’re not playing or planning when you can play next?
  2. Do you feel restless, irritable, moody, angry, anxious, bored, or sad when you try to cut down or stop playing PUBG or when you are unable to play?
  3. Do you feel the need to play for increasing amounts of time, or to spend increasing amounts of money to get the same amount of excitement you used to get?
  4. Have you felt you should play PUBG less but cannot cut back on the amount of time you spend playing?
  5. Have you lost interest—or reduced participation—in other recreational activities due to PUBG?
  6. Have you continued to play PUBG even though you experienced negative consequences? Common negative effects of gaming include not getting enough sleep, arguing with others, and neglecting essential duties?
  7. Have you been deceptive or lied to family, friends, or others about how much you play PUBG? 
  8. Do you play PUBG to escape from or forget about personal problems or to relieve uncomfortable feelings such as guilt, anxiety, helplessness, or depression?
  9. Have you risked or lost a significant relationship, job, educational, or career opportunity because of PUBG?

Now it’s time to add up your answers. For every question, you answered, “Yes,” add a score of 1. If you answered yes to three or four questions, you might be at risk of a gaming problem. If you answered yes to five or more questions, you might have a problem, and we recommend seeking professional support.

How to Stop Playing PUBG

how to quit pubg

Here are practical steps on how you can stop playing PUBG and get your life back on track.

Step 1: Find Your Root Cause

There are many reasons why people play video games.

If you can find out exactly why it is that you keep coming back to PUBG, what the root cause is, then it will be much easier to address that and stop playing PUBG so much. From our experience, some of the most common reasons for playing PUBG include:

  • Temporary escape
  • Novelty
  • Competitiveness
  • Mastery
  • Risk-taking
  • Socialization
  • Measurable progress

What are your gaming motivations? What are the primary reasons why you play PUBG? The more clear you can be about this, the more you can redirect your motivations in other areas. For example, if you play PUBG to escape from personal problems, you can find new ways to manage stress.

Step 2: Find Replacement Activities

Now that you know why you play PUBG, you’ll want to find replacement activities for the reasons why you play. It is also essential to fill the time you usually play PUBG with new hobbies.

For example, if you play PUBG for the sense of competitiveness and achievement, then finding an activity such as playing a sport or developing a new skill may be beneficial. Or, if you play PUBG as a social outlet, consider activities to help you socialize, such as after-school programs and group classes.

If you need help to find new hobbies to help you stay away from PUBG, we’ve prepared a list of hobbies for you. Using our new hobby tool, you can filter activities based on achievement, creativity, social, low cost, and offline. 

Step 3: Delete PUBG or Steam

The next step is simple: To help you quit playing PUBG, delete it from your computer and phone. You can also find it helpful to delete Steam altogether.

Deleting the game from your computer or phone will not be enough to stop you from playing, but it will make it easier and reduce your cravings to play.

If you’ve tried to quit before and been unsuccessful, you know how easy it is to install the game and start playing again. The key is finding replacement activities that you’ll do after you quit playing PUBG so that you won’t feel the need to come back to the game.

You don’t have to commit to quitting forever. We suggest starting with a 90-day detox and then re-evaluating whether you want to go back and play in moderation or if you want to quit for good.

Step 4: Stay Strong!

Quitting PUBG will not be an easy task, especially if you’ve been playing for a long time. You’ll need to find the mental resilience to stay away from even installing PUBG on your computer or mobile phone, even if you get urges.

Here are great tips for coping with the tough times that may come your way:

  1. Know that overcoming your PUBG addiction or gaming addiction is possible. If you need proof or some encouragement, read our success stories of former gaming addicts who have created a better life for themselves.
  2. When you feel an urge, be patient. Cravings will come and go like the waves of the ocean. If you can, try and get out of the house, go for a walk, get some fresh air, and reconnect with nature. You can also try to turn your time into something productive, whether it is a hobby or maybe a business you’ve been considering for some time. 
  3. Don’t be afraid to seek help! Talk to your friends, parents, or relatives about your struggles. You can also join our forum, where you can connect with other like-minded peers on a similar journey as you. 

Need Help? PUBG Addiction Treatment

If you feel like you need help with your PUBG addiction, then we’ve designed a program called Respawn. It will help you with the correct steps to overcome your gaming addiction and regain control of your life. Thousands of gamers just like you have successfully quit gaming with the help of the program. Imagine what you can achieve by being more productive instead of wasting your time playing video games. 

Concerned about a family member that suffers from PUBG addiction? Our Reclaim Family Program will help you and your family regain control over gaming.

For professional help and treatment, speak to a video game addiction therapist.

How to Stop Roblox Addiction

Welcome to our guide on How to Stop Roblox Addiction. If you find yourself playing Roblox too much, or you are concerned about a loved one, then we will show you step-by-step how to stop playing Roblox and get control back.

Roblox is available on most platforms, including PC, tablets, mobile, and consoles. Roblox is rated E10+ by the ESRB, which standards for Everyone 10 years and older. Although the game contains Fantasy Violence, most gameplay should be suitable for kids. In the U.K., Roblox is rated PEGI-7 despite its occasional bloody themes.

More than 40 million people play Roblox daily, and 67% of players are under 16. Roblox appeals to a younger audience, yet over five million daily players are over 25. 

Although millions of people play Roblox for fun, some players develop a problem. Excessive gaming has caused parents to look for answers on how to stop their children from playing Roblox so much. 

Suppose you have tried to stop your son or daughter from playing Roblox or implemented account restrictions without success. In that case, this article will help you.

What does it take for the Roblox addiction to go away?

  1. Understand and recognize why your child plays Roblox so much
  2. Rebuild trust and rapport between you and your child
  3. Create a practical plan for your family, including new activities
  4. Find support from peers and professionals

Below we will detail each step to stop your child from playing Roblox and turn their attention to other, more productive activities instead.

Why Roblox is So Addictive to Children

roblox game design

Addiction to Roblox (and other similar games like Fornite or Minecraft) is most common with children, especially those under 16. Teens and adolescents are at risk of developing gaming problems because they lack brain development for executive functioning and self-control.

Although Roblox appears to be a harmless game where kids can use their creativity, there is also a lot of adult content inside the game that is inappropriate for children. Parents need to set up parental controls and monitor their gameplay to keep them safe.

Roblox also contains specific game design features that can make Roblox more engaging and addictive for some players. Here are some of the common motivations for play:

Creativity

Children need creative tasks to help them with their personal and mental development. Video games do have a role to play in that aspect.

When played moderately, video games can foster creativity in children, which will be beneficial for their development.

Roblox has an abundance of creative tasks. From creating new maps to finding ways to overcome obstacles inside the game, you’ll need creativity to beat the levels in the game.

Roblox appeals to players who want to have fun and be creative at the same time.

Challenge and Novelty

In Roblox, each player can create games and maps for other people to try and play, making it a challenge in and of its own.

When you play games and complete challenges like this, your brain releases dopamine, which is the neurotransmitter in your brain that enables you to feel happiness and pleasure.

Beating challenges (and other players) can become addictive quickly, especially for players who enjoy achievement and competition.

In addition, gamers experience constant levels of novelty inside the game, fulfilling our need for variety. There are always new games, maps, and characters to try, making the game feel like an ever-evolving entity that never stops providing entertainment.

The Social Aspect

Children need regular socialization to grow and develop.

In Roblox, players can find shared areas inside the game to hang out, complete challenges, and form relationships with other players.

In addition, Roblox can be a place to hang out with others without the danger of being bullied or mistreated. That’s why games like Roblox can provide a safe alternative to socialize and find new friends for children.

Let’s not forget the impact Covid-19 has had on our younger generation and the socialization of children. Games like Roblox are now one of the primary spaces for young people to socialize.

Warning: Roblox is known as a dream playground for child predators. Make sure your child’s avatar does not include any identifying information and that you discuss safety precautions with them.

In-Game Purchases

Lastly, we cannot ignore the in-game purchases in Roblox.

Roblox is free to download; however, it contains in-game purchases using their virtual currency Robux which you obtain with real money.

“Players can use Robux to obtain new clothes, accessories, and gear for their avatar. They can also purchase special abilities, bonus in-game content, and access to certain user-created games.” -Patricia E. Vance.

The developers of Roblox make spending inside the game as easy as possible. Due to the game’s social nature, players can feel peer pressure to spend money when their friends do.

Children can spend insane amounts of money inside the game quickly, often using their parents’ credit cards. Recently we received an email from a concerned parent whose child spent $3500 on in-app purchases in Roblox. We’ve heard hundreds of similar cases over the years.

Roblox Addiction Test – Signs & Symptoms

roblox addiction test

If you’re worried about your child’s addiction to Roblox, these are some of the main signs and symptoms you should be looking out for:

  • Nagging to play more Roblox
  • Unable to moderate or limit play
  • Prioritizing Roblox over regular life responsibilities
  • Poor performance at school or work
  • Reduced attention span and difficulty with focus
  • Lack of motivation for other activities
  • Anger, fear, anxiety, and other negative emotions
  • Neglected physical health
  • Conflict with family

Suppose you are experiencing five or more of the signs or symptoms above. In that case, you may have a problem with Roblox and should seek professional help.

Concerned about your gaming? Take the Video Game Addiction Test.

How to Stop Roblox Addiction

how to quit roblox

Son addicted to Roblox? Try these steps to stop their Roblox addiction for good.

Step 1: Understand Why Your Child Plays Roblox So Much

Often when we work with families and their children with gaming addictions, the first step we’ll go through is understanding their child and why they play Roblox so much.

Some of the most common reasons we’ve found include:

  • Negative emotions such as sadness, depression, fear, anger
  • Bullying – games can give a sense of belonging to your child, especially if they are bullied in school
  • Boredom
  • Lack of replacement activities to challenge your child
  • No friends or their only friends are virtual
  • Identity and cultural reasons

Of course, these are just some of the main reasons we often see when parents contact us about their children and their gaming problems.

Related: 15 Reasons Why People Play Video Games

You’ll need to talk to your child to find out more specifically what is causing your child to play Roblox so much. This information will provide invaluable insight into any of their unmet needs or underlying issues.

Tips to prepare for your conversation:

  • Find the right time to ask these questions (ideally not during a gaming session) 
  • Convey genuine interest and curiosity
  • No judgment! Remember, gamers often feel stigmatized and shamed
  • Be an active listener and consider taking notes

Questions you can ask:

  1. What games do you play? What platforms do you play on?
  2. Which games do you like best? What is the difference between them? 
  3. What do you like about them? (e.g., competition, social, exploration)
  4. How do they feel while they’re playing?

Step 2: Rebuild Your Relationship with Your Child

Gaming issues often lead to increased conflict between parent and child. To help your child stop gaming so much, you will need to rebuild rapport and trust. 

As a parent, you need to be the person your child can trust and speak to about the problems they are experiencing. Although their gaming may be excessive, it is happening for specific reasons. Being a safe space for your children to be open about it will help a lot.

Yes, you might want to delete Roblox from your child’s computer, phone, or console, but this may only be a temporary fix. You’ll need to go deeper and address the underlying issues causing your child to resort to playing Roblox so much.

Is it because they experience bullying at school? Or it might be because they’re bored and they have nothing else to do? Or is it because their friends play the game, and your child needs to play it to stay “in” their group of friends?

Suppose you want to know how to improve your relationship with your gamer and get them to trust you. In that case, we have an excellent resource for families and parents called Reclaim

Step 3: Create a Practical Plan

After you’ve identified the underlying problems behind your child’s Roblox addiction, it’s time to create a plan towards a better life for your child.

Your plan must be practical for your family and realistic for you to implement. Otherwise, your plan is doomed to fail from the start.

In this plan, you’ll need to cover the following:

  • What are the “Targets of Change” you want to see? How will you know your plan is successful? Do you want improvements to their behavior and attitude? A greater focus on schoolwork? More help around the house?
  • What support and resources do you have available? Who’s responsibility is it to monitor?
  • Are you reducing problematic play or eliminating Roblox completely? What are the limits, and are you setting up parental controls?
  • What replacement activities can you set up to help address the void created by not playing Roblox so much?
  • Optional: Delete Roblox from all devices and set up restrictions in the Roblox account.
  • Also, be aware and limit the use of platforms that might be encouraging your child to play Roblox or other games, such as Discord, YouTube, or Twitch.

The plan will depend on whether you want to stop your child from playing Roblox entirely or limit and reduce negative behaviors associated with it.

You must include your child’s perspective in the plan, as their involvement and participation will have a significant impact on whether your plan is successful or not. Sometimes parents forget to ask, “What do you think you need for this to work?”

The next step will also be to implement and stick to the plan. We encourage you to evaluate your plan every three weeks and make adjustments as needed. It may be emotionally draining at times, so make sure you also take care of yourself in the process.

We recommend including self-care habits such as mindfulness/ meditation, practicing gratitude, spending time in nature, regular exercise, creative hobbies, and positive self-talk and affirmations.

Step 4: Find Support!

Don’t be afraid to reach out to other people such as friends, family members and find communities online, such as the Game Quitters Parent Support Group.

You can also start working with a video game addiction therapist near you. 

At Game Quitters, we’ve created a signature program for families to reduce gaming problems called Reclaim. Inside the program, you’ll learn how to implement the strategies we’ve talked about in this article in more detail and use proven methods that have worked with hundreds of other clients we’ve worked with before.

How to Stop Playing Candy Crush for Good

Welcome to our guide on How to Stop Playing Candy Crush. If you find yourself playing Minecraft too much, then we will show you step-by-step how to stop and start being more productive in your life.

Candy Crush Saga is one of the most popular mobile games of all time. Over 250 million people play the game on their phones while commuting or just killing time at home after work.

Candy Crush addiction is a problem that is often overlooked and not spoken about openly. Perhaps that’s because Candy Crush seems like such a harmless app at first glance – but it can quickly become a big problem without you even noticing. Candy Crush is, in fact, a dangerous app, especially for kids.

The game is a mix of Tetris and a Las Vegas slot machine. Completing levels feels satisfying, so you keep going until you realize you’ve spent HOURS playing the game.

This mum was so addicted to Candy Crush she played 18 hours a day. Her play was so excessive that it led to losing her boyfriend, job, and thousands of dollars: “It’s broken up our family, pushed my son’s dad away, and, even then, I couldn’t stop.”

So how do you stop playing Candy Crush and do better things with your time? Keep reading.

The Psychology Behind Why Candy Crush Is so Addictive

candy crush addictive design

Credit: King

Candy Crush Saga is the fifth highest-grossing app on App Store and the third highest-grossing app on Google Play Store. In terms of monthly active users, Candy Crush “crushes it,” placing in the top 10 in almost every possible category.

But why is it so popular and addictive?

Many people play Candy Crush as a temporary escape from reality. The game is simple, easy to learn, and easy to play. This simplicity is also why the game appeals to older demographics who grew up with games such as Tetris and Bejeweled.

Candy Crush is designed to be easy to win at the beginning while becoming more challenging with each new level. Hours seem to pass by as you get so immersed into the game and its progression system that you start to neglect other aspects of your life you should be addressing. Instead of Candy Crush being a fun game to get a break from the day, it’s become a distraction.

There is always another level to complete. And the more you progress, the more difficult it can become to resist the next challenge.

Another problem with Candy Crush addiction is that it seems to afflict young adults and adults of the age over 35 most. So most Candy Crush players see themselves as casual gamers or not even gamers at all. Yet, they may be addicted to the game.

Symptoms of Candy Crush Addiction

candy crush addiction symptoms

So how do you know if you have a Candy Crush addiction? Here are the most common symptoms that you may be seeing or experiencing:

  • Preoccupation with Candy Crush – you find it difficult to focus on anything other than the game, including school or work.
  • You have withdrawal symptoms when you don’t play, including boredom, mood swings, irritability, and cravings.
  • Higher tolerance – you need to play more and more or spend more and more money to satisfy your needs.
  • Unsuccessful attempts to stop playing Candy Crush or to moderate your play
  • Lying to loved ones or family members
  • Loss of interest in other hobbies or activities
  • Neglecting relationships with other people or family members
  • Playing the game to escape negative feelings

In extreme cases of Candy Crush addiction, you may even experience a severe physical injury. For example, this 29-year-old Candy Crush addict experienced chronic left thumb pain and loss of active motion from playing Candy Crush too much. He had to undergo surgery to repair his thumb!

Suppose you are experiencing five or more of the symptoms above. In that case, you might be suffering from Candy Crush addiction and should seek professional help.

Concerned about your gaming? Take the Video Game Addiction Test.

How to Stop Playing Candy Crush

quit candy crush

Follow these steps to gain control of your Candy Crush addiction.

Step 1: Identify Why You Play

Why do you play Candy Crush so much?

Is it because you have nothing else to do and you are bored? Is it because you’re escaping real-life problems and neglecting them? Or it might be because you need the sense of achievement and progress that you get with the game?

Candy Crush addiction (or any video game addiction) is a complex problem that might consist of several reasons why gaming addiction develops in the first place.

The first step is discovering why you play so much and then find replacement activities in your life that help you feel the same (we’ll talk about this later on).

Step 2: Delete Candy Crush

The next step is to delete all instances of Candy Crush (or Candy Crush Saga) from your mobile devices and your social media accounts. Deleting your accounts can feel intimidating, but it will make it much easier to stop playing so much.

  • Delete the game from your phone.
  • Delete all instances of the game you have on your computer or social media accounts such as Facebook.
  • Deactivate your Candy Crush account (if you have one). Here’s how you can do it.

If your partner or child has a problem with Candy Crush, we do not advise deleting it from their mobile devices or social media accounts. However, we can provide you with personalized guidance on speaking to your partner or child about your concerns and working with them to end their problematic playing.

Although deleting the game from your phone and computer will be helpful to stop your Candy Crush addiction, it might not be enough for you to stop playing it.

Step 3: Find Replacement Activities

If you previously spent hours of your day playing Candy Crush, you’ll now need to find a way of how to replace that playtime with real-life activities. New hobbies will help you avoid boredom and cravings. 

To complete this step, you’ll need to go back to step one and consider why you play the game in the first place.

Then, you’ll want to find replacement activities that address the needs of your Candy Crush addiction addressed.

For example, if you play Candy Crush because of its progression system, replace it with a skill-based activity such as learning a new language or musical instrument.

If you can’t think of what to do if you get bored, we’ve prepared an extensive list of hobbies to try out. Alternatively, you can try out our hobby tool and see if you can find something that fits you.

Step 4: Stick to It!

The next step is to stay committed. It might sound easy, and it will probably get tough at some point, but you’ll have to remember why you want to quit playing Candy Crush in the first place.

It might be a bit easier if you stick to a carefully designed program to help gamers just like you quit gaming. You can try a 90-day detox and see how it goes. Ninety days is usually enough to rewire your brain and stop a bad gaming habit.

If you are a parent reading this, a 90-day detox may not be practical for your circumstances or your child. Please book a consultation with our team to build a personalized plan for your family.

Another strategy you may benefit from is creating a schedule for your day to lay the foundation for your recovery. Focus particularly on the times you typically spend playing Candy Crush and make sure you have other things to occupy your time. For example, if you play on a work commute, you will want to be conscious of what you will do instead during that time.

Having a structure can provide you with a way of spending your valuable time sensibly without indulging in activities that lead nowhere, such as playing Candy Crush. 

Need Help to Stop Playing Candy Crush?

If you need help to quit your Candy Crush addiction, we have designed an exceptional program called Respawn. With the help of this program, you will get an actionable step-by-step program to stop gaming and take back control of your life.

How to Stop Playing Minecraft

Welcome to our guide on How to Stop Playing Minecraft. If you find yourself playing Minecraft too much, then we will show you step-by-step how to stop and start being more productive in your life.

Back in 2011, when Minecraft was first released, I tried the game for the first time. I was impressed by the simplicity, how it made me think out of the box and how different it was from any other game I had tried before.

After spending a couple of hours with the game, I realized just how deep it was and how creative I could get with it. Creating a base, fighting off creepers, and collecting resources felt so novel. I spent several hours playing the game without realizing it. Before I knew it, I became a Minecraft addict.

And I’m not the only player who developed a problem. This gaming addict who stole from his parents was also addicted to Minecraft: “I got really into Minecraft because all my friends were playing it. The idea of multiplayer games was so attractive. All of us could play at the same time and have fun together! Even now, I associate Minecraft with happy memories.”

Minecraft addiction is a serious problem. It is one of the most addictive video games globally, and it’s particularly problematic for parents of children who suffer from this type of addiction.

Why Minecraft is so Popular – Stats & Figures

minecraft viewership

SullyGnome: Minecraft average/peak daily viewers, between Tuesday 4th December and Saturday 5th June

Minecraft is one of the most accessible video games in the world. The game is available on all gaming consoles and devices. It is popular amongst children and adults, especially those with ADHD and Autism. Educational institutions also use the game for teaching purposes. 

There’s no surprise the game took off so quickly. From 2016 to 2020, the monthly player count for Minecraft increased from 40 million to a whopping 131 million, making it one of the most popular games in the world. It’s also the best-selling game of all time, with more than 200 million sales since 2011.

At first sight, this game seems so harmless. You’re just building your base and mining some resources. 

However, it is a huge time sink, and its design can be addictive. Forum users report their average length of a Minecraft session is 5-6 hours.

The game involves several features that can make it addictive, including:

  • The social aspect of the game allows you to play with other people and make new friends
  • The game is very immersive
  • It provides you with a platform to grow (in the game)
  • It’s easily accessible thanks to low age restrictions
  • It inspires creativity

The biggest problem with Minecraft addiction is that it has a low age requirement of 10+, which means that children play this game and get addicted to it.

It’s also available on many platforms, including PC, Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo Switch, and mobile devices.

Parents from all over the world are voicing their concerns about Minecraft addiction. It seems as though the game affects children between the ages of 12 and 16 in particular. Perhaps, surprisingly, the average age of a Minecraft player is 24 years old, meaning Minecraft addiction can affect players of all ages.

Minecraft is also a popular game to watch on streaming platforms YouTube and Twitch. According to SullyGnome, Twitch Minecraft streams were watched over 774 million hours in the past year, increasing by 495 million. Streamers and YouTubers such as TommyInnit, GeorgeNotFound, Dream, Tubbo, RanbooLive, and PewDiePie make new content regularly for players to watch and follow.

Minecraft is a community to be a part of that extends beyond just playing the game. This sense of community can lead to an increased desire or need to play Minecraft.

Addicted to Minecraft? 7 Symptoms

minecraft dead

So how do you know if you are addicted to Minecraft? Reflect and see if you can spot any of the following symptoms of gaming addiction:

  • Gaming is the main activity in your life, and you lack motivation for anything else
  • You experience withdrawal symptoms when you are not playing, such as boredom, depression, anxiety, cravings, and irritation
  • You want to play more and more, and it seems like no amount of Minecraft is enough
  • You lie to friends or family members about your games
  • You have no interest in other hobbies, especially sports
  • You struggle to limit or control the amount of Minecraft you play
  • Your mood is poor and negative

If you have five or more symptoms, you may suffer from gaming addiction and should seek support. 

Concerned about your gaming? Take the Video Game Addiction Test.

Here’s what a former Minecraft player experienced when he stopped playing: “I got hooked on Minecraft. I dropped my major and three more classes. I had spent two years in college and passed only seven classes. After two weeks of being free from gaming, I had my mind back. I had clarity.”

Below you will learn how to stop playing Minecraft, but if you play other games, then it’s best if you quit them, too. Respawn is a program that will help you stop gaming and get your life back on track. Alternatively, consider speaking to a video game addiction therapist.

How to Stop Playing Minecraft – A Guide

quit minecraft

When deciding to stop playing Minecraft, you can stop playing entirely or start playing in moderation. If you are going to play in moderation you may want to consider changing to a game like Among Us or Overwatch 2

If three or more of the symptoms above are present, we suggest you stop playing for 90 days. Use this time to break bad habits and build new ones. 

Here are the steps that you can take to stop playing Minecraft.

Step 1: What is Your Motivation?

Take some time to think about why you play Minecraft and why you want to stop. The more clarity you have on why you are doing what you are doing, the easier it will be to take positive action to change it.

These are the four main reasons why people play video games:

  • Temporary Escape
  • Measurable Progress
  • Challenge
  • Socialization

Minecraft offers all of those aspects. You can escape into a virtual world, you can grow your character, the game is challenging, and you can spend time with your friends, as well.

So why do you want to stop playing Minecraft? Are you spending too much time with the game? Do you want more real-life interactions? Are other areas of your life being neglected because of Minecraft?

Understanding how Minecraft affects your life is a strong motivating factor in stopping playing when it gets challenging.

Step 2: Start a 90-Day Detox

The next step is to quit Minecraft and other games for a 90-day detox. Taking a 90-day break from gaming will help you break bad habits caused by gaming. 

You may find it helpful to delete Minecraft from your computer, along with other games that have caused problems for you in the past. Although this can be intimidating, it will be worth it if you commit yourself fully to improving your life.

90-days without Minecraft may be challenging, especially during the first few days. You might experience withdrawal symptoms like boredom, anxiety, and depression – but don’t give up. Withdrawal symptoms are a normal part of the process, and it will get easier over time.

Remember why you want to quit playing Minecraft and think about the opportunity to change your life. Instead of wasting your time in Minecraft, build skills in the real world.

And the 90-day detox challenge can be very effective. Just take a look at James’ example, who is a 40-year old dad who struggled with gaming addiction and found the detox helpful:

“It becomes easy to forget that the real world is, in fact, a massive multiplayer open-world sandbox. And one where you’ll find much more meaning and value than you will on a hard drive. Since finishing the 90 days, I have gone back and played a few games. And you know what? They don’t do it for me anymore. I’m much happier spending my precious time on other pursuits these days.”

If you’re a parent reading this, a 90-day detox may not be feasible for your circumstances, or your child. Speak with a professional who can help you make that decision. Book a consultation today.

Step 3: Find Replacement Activities

You must replace your time playing Minecraft with activities that address the needs Minecraft did. If you enjoy Minecraft for its creativity, find hobbies that allow you to get creative.

We have created a comprehensive list of 60+ hobby ideas that you can try out. Alternatively, you can try out our hobby tool, which will help you find activities that you’ll love doing.

Tip: Be patient. When you are trying new activities, you may not find your passion right away. But hang in there, and over time, you will find many activities you love.

Step 4: Don’t Be Afraid to Find Help

Many people like you struggle with playing too many hours of Minecraft. You are not alone, and support is available. 

Here are a few more things you can try:

  • Join an online community like the Game Quitters Forum or the StopGaming community on Reddit.
  • Find a therapist who specializes in gaming issues in our directory.
  • For players, get a copy of our guide, Respawn. It will walk you through step-by-step exactly how to quit playing video games in even more detail.
  • For families, our signature family program, Reclaim, will help you reduce arguments at home and build a plan for your family to get gaming under control.

How to Stop Playing Call of Duty – A Step-by-Step Guide

Welcome to our guide on How to Stop Playing Call of Duty. Learn step-by-step exactly what you need to do to quit the game so you can spend more time being productive and improving the quality of your life.

Call of Duty is one of the biggest gaming franchises in the world.

The game is a first-person shooter released in 2003. It offers a Battle Royale mode called Call of Duty: Warzone and free-to-play version Call of Duty: Mobile. The latter was released on October 1st, 2019, and saw one of the largest mobile game launches in history, generating over US$480 million with 270 million downloads within a year. Today the game has over 100 million players and is one of the most popular games in the world.

However, Call of Duty can be addictive for some players thanks to its fast-paced gameplay, in-game loot boxes, and competitive nature. 

That’s why Call of Duty addiction is such a big problem today. With an increasing number of players, more and more people are looking for strategies on how to stop playing Call of Duty.

What Makes Call of Duty so Popular?

call of duty addiction

Call of Duty has a long tradition as a video game.

If you started playing video games in the early 2000s, then the first versions of Call of Duty games might have shaped you as a gamer. Games such as COD 2, COD 4, Black Ops, and Modern Warfare II remain nostalgic for gamers. Many people play Call of Duty because of brand loyalty and may have played the franchise for a decade or longer.

After all, Call of Duty is the third most profitable gaming franchise, behind Pokemon and Mario.

Spoko, a recovered gamer shares, “Call of Duty was so in-depth compared to the other games I had played. Players took losing seriously and were adamant about becoming the greatest gamer they could be. Clan after clan existed throughout the community, and I was excited to become a part of it. If I were able to go back in time and stop myself from becoming addicted to games, this would’ve been the point where I would’ve tried to convince myself that there was more to life than gaming.”

The second reason why Call of Duty is so popular is that it offers a perfect combination of engaging (and potentially addictive) elements of game design:

  • Fast-paced gameplay
  • Social interaction
  • Competitiveness
  • Loot boxes and in-game rewards
  • The potential to improve as a player 

In addition, Call of Duty: Warzone, the most popular Call of Duty game, offers a free-to-play Battle Royale mode.

Lastly, we must not ignore the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. From the start of the pandemic in March 2020 to April 2021, the player count has risen from 30 million to 100 million for Call of Duty Warzone.

Related: 9 Most Addicting Games in the World

Addicted to Call of Duty?

Some players who play Call of Duty report it affecting their lives in negative ways. Common negative effects of gaming include poor grades , low motivation, lack of productivity, poor relationships, or struggles with employment or work performance.

So how do you know if you might be addicted to Call of Duty?

Concerned about your gaming? Take the Video Game Addiction Test.

First, notice if you are playing more and more and neglecting regular life responsibilities such as school or work. Often someone who is developing a gaming problem will withdraw from activities such as sports to create more time to play games, such as this recovered gamer in the Netherlands:

“I had stopped playing soccer, tennis, and piano because I could play Call of Duty with my friends. Those were the first things I started giving up to play more games, the games I loved so much toy would constantly challenge me mentally.”

Next, notice if you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you can’t play, such as becoming more irritable and moody. Do you find yourself feeling frustrated or arguing with people in your life when you can’t play? Are you having trouble focusing at school or work because you want to be at home gaming? 

Finally, notice if you continue to play even though it is harming your life. Do you find yourself justifying why you should continue to play, even though you know you have played enough? Are you staying up too late, causing you to be tired to play? Do you find yourself becoming more apathetic about the quality of your life?

If you are resonating with this, then you want to follow the advice below. Call of Duty addiction is a big problem, but it is possible to stop it or learn to moderate it.

Austin struggled with a Call of Duty addiction (among other games) and managed to moderate his gaming and use his valuable time for other things, so he became an entrepreneur.

Improving Your Life is Possible

call of duty victory

First of all, you should realize that quitting Call of Duty is not going to be easy. You will struggle at times and might even relapse, but that’s okay, as long as you realize it and try to stay on the path.

Whenever it gets challenging, try to remember why you want to quit playing Call of Duty.

Is it limiting your real-world chances of meeting new people? Is it getting in your way towards better grades, having a job, friends, or a life worth living? Or are you just tired of being unable to resist the urge of playing another Warzone or CoD game at 3 am?

Here are some additional tips to remember before we get started with strategies on how to stop playing Call of Duty for good:

  • Quitting Call of Duty (like any other game) is a marathon, not a sprint. Be patient and take it one day at a time.
  • Commit 100%. Don’t allow yourself to play “just one more game.” Before you know it, it will be another one, and another one, until you’re caught up in the same old cycle again.
  • Ask for help. Don’t be afraid to tell your friends, parents, or anyone you trust. If you don’t have anyone you trust, try speaking with a video game addiction therapist.
  • Start today, not tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, or next week. Today.

How to Stop Playing Call of Duty – Step By Step

call of duty quit

Follow these steps to stop your Call of Duty addiction.

Step 1: Find Out The Reason Why You Play Call of Duty So Much

The first step will happen in your mind, but it’s essential to stop for a moment and think about the reasons why you play so much.

In our experience, there are four main reasons why people play games excessively:

  • Temporary escape
  • Social connection
  • Measurable growth
  • Challenge

These four reasons are basic needs we have. There’s nothing wrong with wanting an escape from stress, or to socially connect with friends, or to experience progress, or to challenge yourself and achieve. The key is to be intentional in how you fulfill these needs.

So why do you play Call of Duty? What do you enjoy about it? How does it fulfill your life? The more clarity you can find in why you play Call of Duty, the easier it will be for you to stop playing.

It’s an important step, so you should not skip it. Take some time to think about why you play, and it will make it easier for you later on as you’ll look to find new activities that address the needs that gaming covers for you.

Step 2: Start a 90-Day Call of Duty Detox.

The next step is to start a 90-day Call of Duty detox

What does this mean? 

Essentially, you should spend 90 days without playing Call of Duty (or any other game), period. 

Why 90 days?

Because that’s how long it will take for your brain to rewire from the dopamine you get while playing games.

As you play games, your brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for how we feel pleasure. Gaming is hyper-stimulating, so the more you play, the more your brain will require the same level of dopamine to feel satisfaction.

After 90-days, you will be able to decide whether you want to play Call of Duty in moderation or quit gaming forever. You can also delete all of your Call of Duty accounts and games from your computer if you want to stop right now.

It will be challenging, especially in the first few days, but the next step will help you.

If you’re a parent reading this, a 90-day detox may not be feasible for your circumstances, or your child. Speak with a professional who can help you make that decision. Book a consultation today.

Step 3: Find Replacement Activities

When you stop playing Call of Duty for 90 days, you will have several hours of free time. You’ll need to replace the time you spent playing Call of Duty with new activities.

To be successful, we recommend finding new activities that fulfill the needs that gaming fulfilled. To help you do this, we have prepared a list of 60+ hobby ideas that you can consider trying to replace Call of Duty. 

To start this step, you’ll have to think again about why you played Call of Duty – what did it fulfill in your life?

For instance, if you played CoD because of social interaction, find hobbies that bring social interaction. It could be playing basketball with friends or if you don’t like sports, maybe joining a club or a community with like-minded people. You can also join the Game Quitters Forum to connect with new peers.

If you’re still unsure which replacement activity is for you, try out our hobby tool. It will provide you with hobby ideas for your specific needs, including screen-free activities and summertime hobbies as well.

Step 4: Structure Your Time

During the 90-day detox, there will be times when you will be bored, especially during the times that you would typically have spent playing Call of Duty.

What to do if that happens? Well, first, chill. Although boredom can feel frustrating, it will pass. It’s also helpful to structure your schedule, so you never run out of activities to do.

Use a calendar or plan and write down your schedule for the day. Pay close attention to the times you usually play games, such as after school or work. Fill that time with activities and hobbies that you’ve picked previously. It can also be helpful to have multiple new activities to replace gaming instead of just one.

The rewards of doing this will be huge. Never forget why you want to quit Call of Duty in the first place.

Step 5: Join a Support Community

Quitting Call of Duty will be easier with the help of a support community. There are many great communities, both online and offline. Here is a list of online support communities:

You can also try joining communities in your local area. You can also organize a group of friends who support each other to quit Call of Duty at the same time and be each other’s motivation.

Need Help to Quit Gaming?

Reading this and still don’t know where to start? Check out Respawn, our proven step-by-step system designed to help you quit gaming and take control of your life once again.

Guide to Quit Gaming

How to Delete Your Blizzard Account

Ready to delete your Blizzard account? Then we’ve got you covered.

Blizzard is one of the most popular game development companies having published games such as Warcraft, Starcraft, Overwatch, Hearthstone and Diablo, amongst many others.

Although many of these games are popular, they can also be addictive and cause some gamers to experience negative impact in their life.

So what if you are one of these gamers and you want to delete your Blizzard account for good? Then follow our step-by-step guide below:

Delete Your Blizzard Account

Step 1: Login to Your Blizzard Account

Click here to login to your Blizzard account.

delete blizzard account

Step 2: Confirm your Request to Remove Personal Information

delete blizzard account

Once logged in, follow the prompt that asks you to confirm your request to remove personal information. Check the box at the bottom and click Proceed.

Request to Remove Personal Information

WARNING: PROCEEDING WITH THIS REQUEST WILL PERMANENTLY REMOVE ALL PERSONAL INFORMATION FROM YOUR BLIZZARD ACCOUNT.

This includes your:

– Name, contact information, and security details
– Payment methods and purchase history
– Purchased games, codes, promotions, and in-game items
– Game accounts and all game progress
– Communications with Blizzard support
– Any remaining Blizzard Balance

ONCE THIS PROCESS IS COMPLETE, BLIZZARD WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO RECOVER THIS INFORMATION OR RESTORE THE ACCOUNT TO YOU UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE.

This request only includes personal information on game accounts currently linked to this Blizzard Account. If you have a World of Warcraft, Hearthstone, or console game account that’s not attached to this email address, it will NOT be included in this process unless you link it before submitting this request.

Requests may take up to 30 days to complete.

I understand that I am requesting to have all of my data removed. I UNDERSTAND THAT NEITHER BLIZZARD NOR I WILL EVER BE ABLE TO RECOVER THIS INFORMATION.

Step 3: Enter Your Verification Code

delete blizzard account

Next, you will receive a verification code to your account’s email address. Open the email and find the code. Enter the code in the prompt on Blizzard’s website and click Submit.

Step 4: That’s it. You’re done!

delete blizzard account

Blizzard states that requests to delete your blizzard account may take up to 30 days to complete. Although it’s a bit annoying to have to wait up to 30 days, once the process is finished the deletion is permanent.

My Blizzard account was deleted after 9 days and I received an email from them confirming this.

Information that will be removed includes your name, contact information (email, phone number, etc), security details and saved payment methods, along with the deletion of your purchase history, purchased games, codes, promotions, and in-game items, game accounts and all game progress, communications with Blizzard Customer Support, and any remaining Blizzard Balance.

During the account deletion process Blizzard may ask you for further verification during the intake process so be sure to keep an eye on your email in case that occurs.

Now that you have deleted your Blizzard account, you can find a new hobby and level up your life.

What is Esports Betting?


Esports betting is a relatively new form of entertainment that millions of people enjoy.

In this video we will explain what esports betting is, how it works, and what the risks are that you need to be aware of.

What are Esports?

Esports is a term for competitive gaming. In many ways it’s the same as traditional sports with fans following teams, watching matches and placing bets on who will win.

Esports are streamed live, with millions of viewers around the world watching contests at any given time, leading to esports becoming a billion-dollar industry in recent years. There are two main types of esports, the simulation of real-life sports (FIFA, NBA and MLS have their own esports teams, for example) and classic esports games like League of Legends, DOTA 2 and CS:GO.

Streaming platforms like YouTube and Twitch have made watching players accessible to anyone with an internet connection. Like in traditional sports, successful players can earn large salaries. Some of the biggest esports tournaments involve teams and players competing for millions of dollars in prize money.

fortnite world cup

Read More: What is Esports?

How Does Esports Betting Work?

esports betting

Although you can gamble before an esports event, live betting during the match has become hugely popular.

The three most common types of esports betting are:

  • Real-money, fixed-odds betting through an online betting site
  • Social betting between individuals arranged privately
  • Skins gambling and loot boxes, which often take place in-game

Some esports bets are specific to a particular game like CSGO , League of Legends, FIFA and DOTA2. For example, someone might place a wager on who makes the ‘first kill’ within a particular match.

Others bets can be placed on:

  • Who wins the match
  • Who wins the tournament
  • The final score
  • Odd/Evens bets – this is where you guess whether there will be an odd or even number of games won, players killed, or rounds played.
  • And Over/Under bets – you bet on whether an esports team will score more or less than an amount set by the online betting site.

Esports Betting Risks

Since esports has become increasingly mainstream and esports betting is widely accessible, it’s important to understand the potential risks, especially for younger people.

One concern is that because esports betting may not look like traditional gambling, parents of gamers or young people may not realize that esports betting and loot box purchasing can be, in fact, gambling.

While traditional gambling is illegal for minors, esports betting and other in-game gambling mechanics are not regulated, thus people under 18, or in some areas, under 21 can easily gamble, often on their parents’ credit cards.

Social media also plays a big part in encouraging young gamers to bet, by making it seem like a normal part of gaming. Esports betting sites advertise using social media posts that are funny and relatable, with memes deliberately targeting a younger audience. This is different than advertising aimed at an older demographic who places bets on traditional sports.

gambling meme

Another concern when betting in esports can be a person’s lack of knowledge of all the intricacies of the sport. Some games like DOTA2 or League of Legends are quite complex and hard to understand without an in-depth personal knowledge of the game. This is different from traditional sports, like soccer, for example, where the rules of the game are generally widely available and understood by spectators.

A further concern with esports betting is match fixing, and the lack of proper anti-fraud and cheating mechanisms in place.

Finally, as more young people engage in esports betting, or gambling within video games, there are concerns that some may develop a serious problem or even an addiction. Consequences of these can include negative impacts in their physical health, anxiety, depression, lost work or school opportunities, conflicts in their relationships with friends or family, and more.

Where to Get Help

If you think esports betting is causing you or a family member problems, emotional distress, or financial harm, there is help and resources available for you.

Kindbridge Logo

Mental health support for individuals and families experiencing problems associated with gaming or gambling. Get started with Kindbridge today!

Book a free consultation

This article is part of Mind Your Game, a campaign brought to you by Game Quitters, Kindbridge and the Entain Foundation US to reduce gaming and gambling-related harm in esports.

What is Skins Gambling?

Skins gambling is a new form of gambling in video games. It is an increasingly common activity for young people to engage in and has risks involved.

Parent Zone found 27% of children aged 13-18 have heard of skins gambling, with 10% who have gambled skins in some form.

What Are “Skins”?

Skins are virtual items that you can accumulate inside a video game to decorate weapons or characters. Skins sometimes give the player an advantage in the game, but most skins are just cosmetic items to customize the look of the character.

A gamer either earns skins as rewards when they get to new levels, or they can buy skins from a store within the game, often through loot boxes. Some skins are harder to get in a game, while others are more common. Some skins are bought and sold for thousands of real-life dollars.

skins gambling

In the past few years, skins have become a form of virtual currency. That is, players trade skins with each other in exchange for virtual or real-life money. Steam is the main online marketplace where players can buy, trade and sell skins, but in the past few years other smaller websites have been launched as well including crypto sites.

steam marketplace

By making certain skins rarer than others, Valve and other publishers have generated a strong demand, with some skins worth thousands of dollars. As a result, skin gambling has exploded – and vulnerable young people have become exposed to its risks.

What is Skins Gambling?

skins gambling

Gaming has reached a global audience through esports – that is, organized competitive video game competitions that millions of people watch as they are being played.

Like with other sports, people want to bet on the outcomes of these matches. Some people will use real cash while others can bet their skins on third-party websites. Some of which allow you to exchange your skins for cash, so placing a bet with a virtual skin can be the same as gambling with actual money.

That’s skins gambling.

Skins and Loot Boxes

loot boxes

Loot boxes are another area of concern that have been introduced into games in recent years when it comes to potential gambling behavior. Loot boxes are virtual items in video games that contain rewards.

You either earn or purchase a sealed mystery box that contains a randomized reward, meaning, there is no guarantee of what may be inside. The rareness of certain prizes and the random aspect of the reward can be compelling to hook players to buy more.

Often, the odds of winning are not clearly shown, so young people can be drawn in without understanding their relatively low chance of success.

Skins Gambling Risks

First, the biggest risk is the blurred line between gaming and gambling.

Gambling is illegal for people under 18, and in some areas under 21, in part because the adolescent brain is not fully developed to accurately weigh the associated risks and financial costs of a gambling action.

Second, as with any form of gambling, there’s a risk of developing problems or an addiction. This is especially true for youth. Research shows that the younger a person is when they start gambling, the higher the risk for developing later gambling problems, even if they don’t think of themselves as a gambler.

Gambling or gaming problems may have serious negative impacts on a young person’s physical and mental health. Problems can show up as anxiety, depression, financial debt, poor school or work performance, and conflicts in relationships with family and friends.

Third, there are less legal barriers for young gamers to engage in skins gambling. Unlike traditional gambling where there are many laws in place to prevent young people from accessing casinos or official gambling websites, many skins gambling websites are unlicensed with no safeguarding in place – they don’t operate under any gambling licensing or regulatory bodies.

Finally, there is the risk of influencers on social media platforms, such as YouTube and Twitch, where they promote and glamorize skins gambling in videos. For example, YouTuber Mr Beast recently posted a video of himself opening loot boxes, ranging from $100 to $250,000, with a total value of $500,000.

Seeing famous gaming influencers win big prizes normalizes gambling behavior – it creates the impression that spending real-world money or their parents’ real-world money on a risky outcome is normal and desirable.

Gaming can be super fun. But there can be risks also. Skins gambling is an increasingly normalized part of gaming that can hook vulnerable players into a form of gambling. This can put young people at risk for experiencing negative impacts or even addiction.

Where to Get Help

For some people, skins gambling may become a problem. If you, or a loved one, think you might have a problem with skins gambling, there is help available.

Kindbridge Logo

Mental health support for individuals and families experiencing problems associated with gaming or gambling. Get started with Kindbridge today!

Book a free consultation

This article is part of Mind Your Game, a campaign brought to you by Game Quitters, Kindbridge and the Entain Foundation US to reduce gaming and gambling-related harm in esports.

New video campaign to reduce gaming and gambling-related harm in esports

The ‘Mind Your Game’ campaign will help players and their loved ones identify problematic behaviors, and provide a support pathway for gamers and gamblers at-risk or currently experiencing harm.

Entain Foundation US has partnered with Game Quitters and Kindbridge to launch a series of educational videos to reduce gaming and gambling-related harm in esports. The video campaign will launch the week of May 24 2021 as part of Mental Health Awareness Month. The collaboration is the beginning of an exciting partnership between these three innovative organizations.

The COVID-19 pandemic has fueled a significant increase in esports gaming, and an associated rise in disordered gaming and mental health issues. An estimated 3% of gamers are at-risk of exhibiting problematic gaming behavior; this represents over 6 million vulnerable gamers in the US. The number of online conversations around mental health has increased dramatically since the outbreak of COVID-19, so tools to help players during the crisis and beyond are essential.

The ‘Mind Your Game’ campaign will give players and their families facts about the mental health challenges faced by gamers. It will feature specific issues to be aware of, tips and strategies to reduce potential harm, and advice on how to find support. A series of four educational videos will be available on YouTube: Skin Gambling, Esports Betting, Spot the Problem and Seek Help.

Entain Foundation US is dedicated to promoting responsible gambling and sports integrity. It recognizes the importance of gamblers enjoying a healthy and sustainable relationship with esports gaming and has chosen Game Quitters and Kindbridge to be its partners in educating and supporting gamers and their families around positive mental health and wellness.

Game Quitters is the leading support community for people struggling with gaming disorder. It works with parents, gamers, teachers and professionals to provide specialist information and resources. Kindbridge is the world’s first teletherapy company focused specifically on the successful treatment of gamblers and gamers struggling with their mental health. The video campaign will involve Cam Adair – Founder of Game Quitters and global expert on gaming addiction – kickstarting conversations about problematic gaming and gambling behaviors, with Kindbridge providing a support pathway for mental health services.

Cam Adair, Founder of Game Quitters, says: “Imagine a world where a player or loved one can quickly find specialist advice and support for problematic gaming or gambling. That’s the world I imagine and that’s the world I’m excited to help build in collaboration with Kindbridge and Entain Foundation US.”

Martin Lycka, Trustee of Entain Foundation US, says: “We are committed to supporting initiatives that encourage responsible gambling and gaming. That’s why we’ve chosen to partner with Game Quitters and Kindbridge on the ‘Mind Your Game’ video campaign. Encouraging our players to actively manage their mental health is precisely the type of project we are proud to support.”

Daniel Umfleet, CEO of Kindbridge, says: “We are excited to link up with Game Quitters and Entain Foundation US to help drive the conversation about the necessity of mental health support for gamers and gamblers. Together we can build a stronger support pathway for players and their loved ones.”

The three partners have unique expertise to make this initiative a success. Together, they will provide a trusted route to accessible and effective educational prevention treatment and a support pathway for gamers and gamblers who are at-risk or currently experiencing harm in esports.

Editor’s Notes

Game Quitters

The world’s largest support community for video game addiction, serving 75,000 members in 95 countries. It provides educational content; online products; and community support for gamers, concerned parents and mental health professionals to better understand how to solve compulsive gaming and video game addiction. Visit: GameQuitters

Entain Foundation US

The non-profit subsidiary of Entain, one of the world’s largest sports betting and gaming groups operating in the online and retail sector. The Entain Foundation US is committed to men’s health, with a particular focus on mental health. It supports responsible gambling; sports integrity; and gambling regulation research, education and treatment. Visit: Entain Foundation

Kindbridge

The world’s first teletherapy company dedicated to the successful treatment of gamblers and gamers struggling with their mental health. Its mission is to build the largest network of mental health treatment providers in the US who focus on high-quality specialist care for these communities. Visit: Kindbridge

Caregiver Stress: Excessive Gaming

When a child is struggling to regulate the time they dedicate to playing video games, a caregiver needs to step in and try to help the child control their problematic obsession. This role is often taken on by one or both parents. There may also be a therapist or coach supporting the child and/or family with harm reduction.

Regardless of the form in which these caregivers show up, there can be enormous stressors that come with this task.

I am a caregiver of a recovered problematic gamer.

In my son’s worst days, as a gaming addict trying to move towards recovery, I had to show up as the best version of myself.

He needed constant monitoring, healthy food, a physical fitness accountability buddy, someone he could vent to, someone who could be stronger for him on his weakest days, a trusted listener, and a life saver.

Read: How I Saved My Son From His Gaming Addiction

What is Caregiver Stress?

A caregiver is anyone who provides help or care to someone in need. With technology becoming central in our lives, normal parental responsibilities and caregiving now include supporting healthy tech and video game habits.

During the times that my son couldn’t manage or regulate his gaming, it was up to me to instill strict rules and guidelines for him to follow. And although I knew it was right to be firm with my strategies for recovery, it didn’t come easy for me. I had a list of concerns for his health and safety, as well as my own.

For any caregiver, there is also great fear for the problematic gamer, surrounding the addiction and recovery journey.

  • Fear of increased anxiety and depression of the gamer
  • Fear that the gamer will turn on and hate their caregiver
  • Fear of suicide
  • Fear that the gamer will never mature and become a capable independent adult
  • Fear the gamer will fail in school or lose their job
  • Fear the gamer will become physically ill due to poor diet, excessive consumption of caffeinated drinks , consumption of alcohol or drugs, poor grooming, lack of exercise, and no fresh air and sunshine
  • Fear of volatile and violent behaviour towards the caregiver/parents
  • Fear that the gamer will never be free of their addiction
  • Fear of a long term severed relationship from the gamer’s family
  • Fear of caregiver burnout

Caregiver stress can also come in other forms including physical, mental and emotional exhaustion. Did you know that 40-70% of family caregivers have clinically significant symptoms of depression? And a quarter-to-half of these caregivers meet the diagnostic criteria for major depression.

Other signs of caregiving stress include depression, withdrawal, anxiety, anger, difficulty concentrating, a change in your eating habits, insomnia, and other health-related problems. If you are caregiving in any way it is important that you have support and ask for help.

How to Cope with Caregiver Stress?

What is most important for a caregiver is that they also have a support system helping them to self-nurture. I definitely needed these supports as a parent, but also now, as a coach, I need to be sure my needs are met. By taking care of me, I am able to show up for the gamer as a stronger support system.

  • A supervisor, friend, or partner is needed as an ally to check in with a caregiver
  • Proper rest, exercise, and a healthy diet is necessary
  • A spiritual practice of faith can help to feel less alone and trust in the process
  • Balance and break time away from work is essential
  • Mindfulness practice to let go of the inner mind chatter and concern
  • Access to police and mental health supports, as needed

Personally, one of the greatest gifts for me is my community of girlfriends, who know and understand my work as a coach, as well as my responsibilities as a parent of a recovered son who requires a source for accountability. I know that on my darkest days of stress, I always have a shoulder to prop me back up.

In the back of my mind, is a quote one of my friends once posed to me, “Whose mothering the mother?” That question always helps keep me practicing my own self-care.

You Are Not Alone

Caregiving is challenging and it can be difficult to ask for help, which can lead to further isolation, withdrawal and depression. But you can have support and it’s ok to ask for it. We have a wonderful group of parents and loved ones who will lend an ear and be there with you along your journey. Join the Game Quitters Parent Support Group on Facebook today.

Elaine UskoskiWritten by: Elaine Uskoski is an author, speaker and coach for parents and families on video game addiction. Elaine’s second book, “Cyber Sober; A Caregiver’s Guide to Video Gaming Addiction” has now also been published. She is a Canada Clinical Partnership Specialist for INTENTA. Elaine has been featured by many media outlets including CTV W5, CBC’s The National, CHCH TV, National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal, and CBC Radio. Learn more on her website ElaineUskoski.com

New Common Sense Media Report: How Young People Use Digital Media to Manage Their Mental Health

Your kids can’t seem to put their phone away? They’ve broken some rules? Easiest solution? Just take it away. Best solution? Maybe not.

The newest study from Common Sense Media, suggests taking teen’s phones away as a method to control use or as a consequence for breaking rules may in fact not be such a good idea. 119 119. Coping with COVID-19: How Young People Use Digital Media to Manage Their Mental Health ×

Parents – I know this is really hard to figure out. I know you are getting lots of mixed messages too. Watch for predators, watch for hate speech, watch for inappropriate content, social media is why our youth are depressed and anxious, etc. You’ve been told to be afraid of too much screen time and the long term impact of screens but in schools and as a way to stay connected (not even necessarily to socialize) screens are the norm. Homework is on a computer, class is on a computer, your kids teachers and coaches communicate on FB and Instagram. Hours in front of screens are nearly unavoidable.

Social Media Has Benefits & Risks

The good news is young people are far more likely to say that using social media makes them feel better rather than worse when they’re depressed, stressed, or anxious, and the number who report that has substantially risen since 2018. And young people are starting to be significant users of digital health resources like meditation, nutrition and fitness apps.

So now what? I’m all about harnessing.nadja streiter

1) Ask yourselves this: How will we as a family extract the positives and minimize the negatives of digital technology? This includes gaming and platforms like Discord.

2) Turn more attention to HOW best to use this powerful tool instead of only HOW MUCH it is being used.

3) Teach critical thinking, teach curating, and teach self-awareness around digital use.

Screens are not going away and they will continue to grow in use. You can’t and won’t always be there to monitor and intervene. That’s ok… and it’s important that we are working with our children to help them learn how to moderate and maintain healthy technology use.

Having trouble navigating that? Having trouble figuring out what to do instead of taking the phone or games away? Ask for help. We are here.

Get help: Get a copy of our Reclaim Family Program or book a coaching call.

Below I will list some key findings from the Common Sense Media report on Coping with COVID-19: How Young People Use Digital Media to Manage Their Mental Health.

Key Findings:

  • Not surprisingly, many teens are currently in the midst of a significant mental health crisis.
  • Social media platforms have become even more important to young people for support, community, and self-expression over the past two years, especially for those experiencing depression.
  • Many are using social media and digital health resources to cope.
  • Many report finding relief and support by having a place to share their pain.
  • Many are connecting with health professionals on their phones.
  • For many it is a life line.

Please note I am in no way suggesting abandoning time limits or that it is a good idea to be online all the time, I’m suggesting the driver’s license model, the tech like you eat model and the mentor not monitor model. 120 120. NPR: At Your Wits' End With A Screen-Obsessed Kid? Read This ×

Game Quitters partners with Kindbridge to provide pathway to clinical care for gaming disorder

Founded in 2015, Game Quitters has grown to become the largest peer support community for people struggling with problematic gaming. Our vision is to provide a platform with the best tools, resources, and support for gamers and their loved ones. Game Quitters is excited to announce a new partnership with Kindbridge that will help further that vision by providing a support pathway of high quality clinical care to our members.

Kindbridge is the world’s first teletherapy company focused specifically on delivering high quality, therapist led treatment to people suffering from a gambling or gaming disorder. Its mission is to build the largest network of mental health treatment providers in the United States who focus on high-quality care for the gambling and gaming communities.

Since 2019, gaming disorder has been approved for inclusion in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) by the World Health Organization. The number one issue we hear from gamers and their loved ones is how to find locally trained clinicians who understand gaming. This partnership between Game Quitters and Kindbridge will make locally trained clinicians more accessible across the United States, which currently accounts for 40% of members on the Game Quitters platform. Together we will ensure if you or a loved one is seeking help you are able to find it.

The partnership will see Cam Adair, founder of Game Quitters, join Kindbridge’s Board of Advisors to provide expertise on gamer insights, trends, and research to create high quality products: “Imagine a world where a gamer or loved one can quickly find a local specialist trained professional with a customized treatment plan for problematic gaming. That’s the world I imagine and that’s the world I’m excited to help build in partnership with Kindbridge.”

Kindbridge’s CEO Daniel Umfleet says: “We are delighted to be leading the field in offering specialist and tailored mental health care to people with gaming and gambling disorders. Game Quitters was high on our list of desired partners with the right mix of thought leadership, activism, content creation and products – we knew together we could build a stronger support pathway for gamers and their loved ones. We are excited to launch this partnership.”

Find a Video Game Addiction Therapist

There are currently an estimated 2.5 billion active gamers worldwide and most U.S. teenagers play games. Up to three percent of gamers are at-risk of developing gaming problems which can have a significant impact to their physical and mental health, family and peer relationships, academics and employment opportunities. With gaming touching the lives of most families across the United States, it’s crucial that we provide stronger support pathways to the clinical care they need and deserve.

To learn more about Kindbridge, go to https://www.kindbridge.com/therapy/

Press Enquiries: Contact Us

Editor’s Notes

KINDBRIDGE

Kindbridge is the world’s first teletherapy company with a focus on the successful treatment of gambling and gaming addictions. Launched in 2020 Kindbridge is dedicated to a centralized, value-based approach to delivering timely, efficient, and effective care on-demand across the US. Diagnosing and treating qualified mental health, gambling & gaming disorders, and any related co-morbidities in a teletherapy setting allows their clients access to a treatment plan from the comfort of their own homes. Kindbridge provides the highest quality, HIPAA compliant, virtual technologies for their therapists to connect with their clients in an organized, efficient, and confidential manner. Creating a virtual ecosystem that drives successful outcomes allows their clients to stay safe, distanced, and healthy.

GAME QUITTERS

Game Quitters is the largest peer support community for people struggling with gaming disorder. Founded in 2015 by Cam Adair, a former video game addict who is widely hailed as a leading expert on video game addiction, Game Quitters has grown to support over 75,000 members representing 95 countries. It is dedicated to providing the best tools, resources, and support for gamers and their loved ones. Game Quitters is at the forefront of raising awareness about the gaming industry, the risks of problematic gaming, and how to keep gaming a balanced activity in your life. For more on the Game Quitters story, watch GAME OVER, a documentary by TELUS.

15 Reasons People Play Video Games

People of all ages play video games for many different reasons. Video games serve a purpose and everyone plays for a reason. Identifying your motivation to play can be helpful to maintain moderation or shift your desire to other activities.

Whether you are a gamer yourself, a concerned parent or loved one, or a professional interested in learning more about the gaming world, this article is for you.

Why people play video games:

Novelty

Novelty or variety keeps life interesting, fun, and engaging. Video games give you the opportunity to do something new. With over 1 million games out there, there are endless amounts of new gaming experiences.

You can play a Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) like World of Warcraft and experienced novelty with each territory you discover. You can form alliances, make friends, complete quests, and obtain items. All these experiences can be novel.

You can play a Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game like League of Legends and experience novelty with every character you play. Unlike World of Warcraft, players in League of Legends play in the same environment or map every game. There are some cosmetic changes depending on the season, but it’s mostly the same. The novelty comes with playing different characters. As of August 2020, there are 150 characters or champions in League of Legends. That’s a lot of novelty.

Role-play games (RPG) are games allow you to create and develop a character. Games like Skyrim and the Diablo games are RPGs where you can experience novelty in the game itself and through each character you make. You can play the entire game of Skyrim using one character then use a completely different one and have a different experience.

Competency or Mastery

Competence is made up of feeling mastery and control over something. Many video games require skill to play well. In games like Overwatch, Valorant, or Rainbow 6: Siege, gamers compete against each other in real time. Your reaction speed, map awareness, aim, landing skill-shots, dodging skill shots, farming, and overall game knowledge are all skills that require some level of mastery to play well and win matches.

Gamers will play the same game for thousands of hours because they want to master their skills. Back to the 150 champions to play from in League of Legends, some play one champion for over 10,000 hours. One map. One champion. One game. All with the drive to get better and improve their rank or standing in the game. People love the pursuit of mastery and video games are a great way to pursue that.

Video games offer a safe place to improve your skill and get better at something. Some video games have a high skill cap – high level of difficulty to become masterful. However, those same games also help beginners get involved by giving them positive reinforcement for the little good things they do. Even if they stink, there are natural motivators in games to bring them back for more. They get rewards the more they play. And the more they play, the more masterful they become.

Exploration and Freedom

Games like Rust, Ark, or World of Warcraft give players the ability to roam free in a digital world. You are able to do almost anything in these virtual worlds. We can explore external or internal environments.

External Exploration

Through quests and objectives, games are designed to help you explore. You don’t have to do the quests, but you can. You have the option to just explore the world and do what you want with no rules or boundaries. The Fallout games allow for environmental exploration. They are open worlds with objectives to complete. Exploring the virtual environments is exciting because you never know what you will discover.

Internal Exploration

RPGs allow you to take on any identity you want. You can be a confident, strong warrior online but feel timid and weak in real-life. Video games offer you a chance to explore any identity you wish. If you are a female in real-life, you can express yourself as a male online. If you are unsure what identify as, you can explore different genders and roles online through games.

A beautiful thing about video games is anonymity. Online gaming can give you the space to be yourself and explore different personalities in a safe environment without anyone knowing you in the physical world. This gives players comfort in being able to freely explore thoughts and feelings they might not feel comfortable doing anywhere else.

Risk-Taking

There are three main types of risks in video games: competitive, quest, and social.

Competitive Risk

Games like League of Legends, Fortnite, and Rainbow 6: Siege are games that require some level of skill to do well. You can play safe or risky. There is excitement and some danger, not real danger, but virtual danger the riskier you play. The risk is you could lose the game or match, resulting in a loss of your rank.


Quest Risk

There are in-game risks from story driven or character driven games like the Witcher and Fallout. You have something similar to a morality tracker. How you interact with the townspeople or in-game characters determines if they will be kind or hostile. If you are kind and do positive actions, you will get rewards. If you are a jerk, there are consequences.

Social Risk

Many video games are played with others. There is risk involved in how you play and interact with others in real time. Games that allow you to play in an open world like World of Warcraft allows you to interact with others in real time and there is risk in how you socialize. You could randomly hit someone in-game for no reason and it could have a bad consequence. Or you could befriend others.

You can raid, or invade another player’s structure, in games like Rust and Ark. You fight with others and risk losing your items. You can make a friend and work together for a common cause. You can backstab that friend and take all their stuff. All of these social interactions online are risky.

A Safe Place to Fail

Video games also allow you a safe place to fail. You can safely take as many risks as you want. If you die while trying to beat a boss, you simply start over. If you don’t win the competitive match, you play another one. If you have a poor interaction with another gamer, you can talk with someone else. Gamers have a much safer place to fail online than in the physical world.

Failing is good!

It’s healthy to learn how to fail well. We can fail and give up or we can learn from our mistakes and improve. Failure is part of our human experience. If we don’t learn some level of resiliency or ways to start over, we will suffer. Failing and trying again in video games can be a good skill to transfer to the physical world.

Competition

Games like Valorant, League of Legends, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, and Dota 2 are all 5v5 competitive video games. Your team works together to take objectives and beat the other team. There is a lot of skill and communication involved in competitive video games.

Every competitive video game requires hand-eye coordination, fast reflexes, quick decision making, and strategy. These skills take time to develop and they can grow over time. Gamers can play Dota 2 for years and still improve every time they play.

Competitive video games get attention because they can be played professionally. Just like the NBA houses competitive teams and competitions for basketball, eSports houses competitive video game teams and competitions for video games.

Michael Jordan played countless hours and worked hard perfecting his basketball skills. Gamers play countless hours and work hard to improve their gaming skills. Many gamers wish to go pro. They desire to be on a professional gaming team like Evil Geniuses or TSM and make gaming their career.

The desire to win and compete is in a lot of us. Video games offers an alternative for high level competition if basketball isn’t your thing.

Income and Career

People make gaming a career through eSports and streaming.

Streaming

Steaming is when someone plays a video game live for others to watch online. Tyler “Ninja” Blevins is a professional streamer known for playing Fortnite. He made $17 million in 2019 and has sponsorship deals with Red Bull and Adidas. Many others steam on Twitch or YouTube Gaming to make money.

Related: What is Twitch? A Beginner’s Guide to Live Streaming

Esports

There is real money in eSports. There are nearly 50 eSports games and each game has a couple handfuls of different teams depending on the game. Esports had a total revenue of over $492 million in 2016. The prize pool for the 2019 Dota 2 world championship was $34,330,068. Many gamers play countless hours trying to get a shot at that money.

Profession Problems

Professional gaming sounds like fun, but it can be problematic. Ex-pro gamer Jian “Uzi” Zihao retired at 23 years old due to health concerns. The wear on his body from the years of intense gameplay forced him to retire from his eSports team.

With gaming being a potential career, millions of kids and teens play trying to be the next gaming star. It’s extremely difficult to play on an eSports team or make a living streaming.

Build and Create

Humans are designed to build and create. We build through our careers and relationships. It’s rewarding to put time and energy into a project and see the result. Games like Minecraft, Ark, and Rust allow players to build and create. They have a digital canvas which they can create almost anything with.

Before the internet, kids played with building blocks. They built towers, castles, and structures using their imagination. Now, kids have Minecraft – virtual building blocks. Kids can create elaborate towers, castles, and any structure they can think of or copy from YouTube.

Gamers can also build a character. RPGs give players a chance to build their character with items and abilities to become stronger. Players spend a lot of time with their gaming characters and find a lot of pride in what they made.

Building Relationships

Relationships are hard. It’s scary meeting and developing in-person relationships. Online games allow people the freedom to talk with and get to know people in a safe environment.

Discord is a communication platform allowing gamers to talk with each other while they game. It’s basically a better version of Skype. It’s easier than ever to play a competitive Rainbow 6: Siege game with your friends or explore exotic worlds in The Elder’s Scroll through Discord.

Playing video games with friends, and people you don’t know, is similar to experiencing something fun together in the physical world. Playing video games with others is a bonding experience. You feel closer to the people you game with because you share a common goal. You are all working together to win the match, find the loot, or defeat the boss.

Online Predators

There are people who try to take advantage of others. This happens in the real world and online. It is vital parents have conversations about healthy online relationships. Anyone online, no matter their age, needs to know healthy boundaries and their rights.

If you are a parent, here are some tips in talking with your child about healthy online interactions:

  • Never give personal information such as real full name, phone number, address, or email.
  • Never share personal information about you or your family.
  • If someone asks questions about your personal life, redirect the conversation. Say something like, “I’d rather not answer that. Do you want to go raid that base?!” If someone continues to ask questions, mute them.
  • Talk about the game you are playing. There is no need for anyone to know what grade you’re in or how old you are. You’re old enough to play the game, that’s good enough.
  • Mute anyone who is disrespectful, unkind, or raging (angry speech towards another). You have the power to control what you hear. You can still play well in a competitive game without hearing the voices of your teammates.

Everyone wants connection. People play video games to feel connected to others. If you’re playing video games, the best way to form relationships is to have an in-person relationship and enhance it through online gaming.

Relaxation

A lot of video games are fast-pace and intense, but many are calm and relaxing. When the world around us is busy, chaotic, and stressful, immersing yourself in a captivating, relaxing video game is nice.

Games like Among Us, Firewatch, Tetris Effect, and Untitled Goose Game are fun and relaxing. Games that let you explore an open world like Zelda, Ark, and Skyrim can be relaxing too. There is action in those games, but exploring the open world can be relaxing.

If people are looking to relieve stress, playing video games can be a good place for it.

Excitement

Video games allow you to experience excitement and danger all from the safety of your chair. You can play games that give you the opportunity to do things you never would be able to do in real-life. Fight a demon monster, fly on a giant pre-historic eagle, or complete extreme missions on a special forces team. Okay, so you could join the military and be on a special forces team. But many video games allow us to experience things we never could do in the physical world.

If our real-life if boring, plain, simple, or monotonous, playing an exciting video game sounds awesome. Throughout your day or week, you might not feel any level of excitement, but when you jump in a League of Legends match, you feel adrenaline course through your body.

Many adults can get in a rut and lack excitement. Depression and fatigue can set in when there is no excitement in our lives. Many people play video games because it’s an easy way to experience excitement.

Escape

Escapism is a primary motivation for many to play video games. No matter the age, we all experience stress and hardships. How do you cope with your parent’s divorce? How to you respond when you feel sad, anxious, or angry? How do you deal with the death of a loved one? Video games are common ways to escape problems.

Games can be used to escape from people and/or situations.

Escape from People

If we are in a relationship we can’t get away from, escaping into a video game is a way to get away. If we have challenges with our spouse, kids, friends, boss, or co-workers, stress can be high. If there are no ways to change these negative interactions, escaping into something fun, like a video game, is highly desirable.

Escape from Situations

There are many challenges in the world. When the world around us is overwhelming, we want an escape. COVID-19 is a perfect example of this. When it feels we can’t control our lives during this pandemic, jumping into a safe virtual world is relieving. Maybe we are trying to get away from school or work problems. Or you don’t feel you have direction in your life. Whatever the case, escaping into a video game can relieve situational problems.

Autonomy or Independence

A great part about online games is being free and making your own choices. For those who do not feel they have much independence in the physical world, video games are a great place to be.

If someone’s family is controlling or abusive, video games can give that person power, control, and meaning. They have a reason to play because they have to complete the mission, rank up, help a friend, or get better items.

People can be free to be themselves in video games where they are free from the influence or direction from others. Kids who feel they are controlled all the time might gravitate towards gaming to feel independent. Adults might gravitate towards gaming if they feel they have no control over their work or home lives.

Measurable Progress

People like to progress. It feels great to work hard on something and see positive results and video games offer fantastic ways to make progress. Every video game tracks your progress and gives you positive reinforcement when you complete something.

RPG Progress

Depending on the game, you are rewarded with an achievement or item. RPGs have a leveling system. The more you play your character, the more you will level-up. Your character levels up when they go from level 1 to level 2. When you reach level 2, your character becomes stronger and better able to complete harder things. Leveling up and making progress feels good.

Gamers are incentivized to level up their characters. Some items or gear can only be used when your character reaches a certain level. And higher-level items make you stronger and better able to play the game and complete missions.

MOBA Progress

MOBAs are competitive player verses player games. Your progress is tracked by your rank or how many games you’ve won. Many gamers will play the same game over and over again to increase their rank. The higher rank you are, the better you are at the game. You also get cool accessories in the game for ranking up. Plus, you get bragging rights.

Measurable progress is something everyone wants. Unlike the physical world, video games give players positive reinforcements for every little progress made. This can make it very easy for people to play a new video game rather than learn to play an instrument.

Collecting

Many video games give you the ability to acquire items. You can find items randomly throughout the game or you can trade, buy, or gamble to get them. You have to gamble using a slot-machine-like simulator in CS:GO to get items and skins. Some people don’t even play CS:GO, they just gamble for skins. There are countless videos on YouTube of people opening crates or loot boxes gambling for items.

Items

Acquiring items can be motivated by a few different things. As previously discussed, if you’re playing an RPG, you will be motivated to get better items as you progress in the game. Others will seek items not to use for their character, but to simply collect. Similar to searching for that next great deal or perfect item you’re looking for in the physical world, it’s exciting to seek out something rare.

Skins

Another item acquisition type is through skins. Skins are outfits for your character. Games like Fortnite, League of Legends, and CS:GO all use skins to enhance the gamers experience. Someone playing Fortnite can have their character look like dragon, cyborg, or banana. Skins don’t impact the player’s skill-level, they are strictly cosmetic. Skins just look cool.

Oh Yeah, and Games Are Fun

It goes without saying that video games are fun. This is due to many ideas explored in this article. But they are also fun because of rewards. Players get consistent and planned rewards for leveling up a character or defeating a boss – they know they will get experience or an item. Players will also get variable rewards.

Variable rewards are rewards given at random. Players could defeat a boss and get an extremely rare item. They know they will get an item of some kind when the boss is defeated, but not a rare one. When they do get an extremely rare item, it feels really good. It makes that player want to defeat another boss to experience that same pleasure. But the chances of getting another rare item is extremely low.

Variable reward is the same mechanic in slot machines and gambling. You won’t hit the jackpot every time, but every once in a while, you will. Variable reward is what keeps people coming back to the casinos and is a similar experience for gaming. Which is addictive…

Speaking of Gambling: Loot Boxes

Check out what look boxes are if you are unfamiliar. Loot boxes offer the same experience as a slot machine. Loot boxes contain skins which make the weapons in-game look different and cool. In CS:GO, there is a .44% chance of opening a box and getting the most rare item, a knife. There are countless videos of people opening boxes with the hope of opening a knife. These rare items are valuable and can be sold for real money. One item in CS:GO is worth around $19,600!

Opening loot boxes is a secondary activity to the game. CS:GO is a competitive first person shooter game and has nothing to do with loot boxes. But for many, opening loot boxes is the game, not the game itself.

Conclusion

This list provides insight into the motivation behind playing video games. The reasons why people play video games are not bad. The reasons are simply needs and desires that video games try to fill.

Gaming could be problematic if we ONLY go to video games to fill these needs. The majority of gamers have a healthy relationship with gaming. With over 64% of American’s playing video games, only around 3% struggle with disordered gaming.

This list is a way to better understand the gamer in your life. I encourage you to explore the reasons why the gamer in your life plays. Seek to gain understanding, not to pass judgement.

If you see video games are causing problems in a loved one’s life, talk with them about it. Be kind, empathetic, and non-judgmental. There is a reason someone has a gaming problem. Let’s seek to learn their perspective and help them get to a healthier place where they want to be.

This also goes for individuals who are engaging in dangerous apps such as OnlyFans.

Written by Jeremy Edge.

If you would like additional support navigating healthy gaming, reach out to a professional near you. If you live in Texas, I would be happy to help. Find out more at www.escapingthe.com.

For additional support check out our Game Quitters programs:

Suicidal Gamer Escapes to a Life Worth Living

“I knew I needed help.”

My name is Anthony, I’m 23 years old and reside in Philadelphia. I began gaming at the age of 7 and my first console was the PlayStation 2. I absolutely fell in love with it and enjoyed all the incredible games that were popular at that time. Little did I know it would lead to addiction.

During school I was bullied a lot for being gay, so video games became my escape. I could be accepted and validated in a virtual world, while the real world felt harsh and unsafe for a gay kid raised in the nineties. Doing well at first person shooters made me feel in control and gave me a purpose.

Teenage Isolation

As I became a teenager, I started to isolate myself more and more from my peers and family. Video games became the only thing I enjoyed doing. Things like reading, family vacations, spending time with friends, was boring for me. I could only think about the next video game I wanted to play. I would stay up for hours gaming and then be extremely tired the next day.

Related: Find new activities to replace gaming

Eventually, this all caught up to me. I was lonely and depressed. I was exhausted of having no goals or vision for my life. I felt I had been wasting my life in a virtual world, while the real world was out there waiting for me. When I started to experience suicidal feelings, I knew I needed help.

A Life Worth Living

I began seeing a therapist and she encouraged me to unplug from video games and begin to build relationships with other people and take up some new hobbies. So I took a leap of faith. I sold and donated ALL of my gaming equipment. I completely deleted every single of my online gaming accounts, and also my Reddit account.

After that everything began to change! I suffered withdrawal for about 3 months and then it got better. I joined a book club that met at a local coffeehouse and began to make some friends. We started sharing our lives together. I started to physically exercise and my health improved! Depression, suicidal thoughts, and loneliness began to disappear as I gained new hobbies and connected on a deep level with people.

After all this, I’m so grateful for the life I have discovered for myself! I have no desire to go back to video games when the real world is so much better! If you’re struggling with addiction to gaming, please know this: you’re not alone! You WILL get through it and find a life worth living beyond video games! Hope this is an encouragement to all of you!

Written by Anthony.

Valorant: Parents Guide to the Next “Fortnite”

“Valorant is cutthroat, punishing, and addictive as hell” –Cecilia D’Anastasio

Valorant is the highly anticipated first-person shooter game released by Riot Games on June 2, 2020.

The game was originally called Project A but has since changed to Valorant. It is developed by Riot Games, the makers of League of Legends – one of the most popular games over the past decade. The hype is real!

On the day of closed beta release, Valorant reached a million concurrent viewers on Twitch. It also trended on Twitter when the game wasn’t playable by the general public yet. These numbers beat the launch viewership of popular games like Apex Legends and Call of Duty: Warzone.

What is Valorant?

Valorant is a competitive 5v5 first-person shooter character-based game. It is designed to compete as an esports against Valve’s Counter-Strike series that has been immensely popular over the last 20 years. Similar game titles include Overwatch, Rainbox Six Siege and Call of Duty.

According to Polygon, “Each match has 25 total rounds; the first team to win 13 rounds wins the match.”

With Riot Games’ experience in developing esports infrastructure through League of Legends, all signs point to a global esports network for Valorant as well and many professional teams have already formed.

Related: What is Esports?

Valorant Agents

valorant raze

Valorant is similar to a FPS-game like Overwatch whereby players select unique “characters” (called Agents in Valorant) to play within each match. Unlike Overwatch, in Valorant you will be unable to change your agent within the match itself.

Agents come with unique skills and abilities. Some will be simple such as the ability to use smoke to hide certain areas of the map. Other abilities will be more powerful such as reviving an ally or creating walls out of thin air. Some agents will even be able to perform a short-range dash!

An example of an agent is Raze. Her abilities include:

  • Blast Pack: Instantly throw a Blast Pack that will stick to surfaces. Re-use the ability after deployment to detonate, damaging and moving anything hit.
  • Cluster Grenade: Fire to throw the grenade, which does damage and creates sub-munitions, each doing damage to anyone in range
  • Boom Bot: Fire will deploy the bot, causing it to travel in a straight line on the ground, bouncing off walls. The Boom Bot will lock on to any enemies in its frontal cone and chase them, exploding for heavy damage if it reaches them.
  • Showstopper: Fire shoots a rocket that does massive area damage on contact with anything.

Riot Games have a lot of success with a similar “Champions model” in League of Legends. Thus Valorant’s agent-based gameplay is anticipated to be popular as well. New agents are likely to be added regularly.

Monetization Strategy

Valorant Weapon Skins

Credit: Riot Games

New details are emerging about Valorant’s monetization strategy.

  • The game is free-to-play game with the opportunity to spend money within the game.
  • No randomized loot boxes which is a good step to keep simulated-gambling features out of games played by children.
  • Weapon skins will be available either by purchasing the Battle Pass or purchasing them directly.
  • Battle Pass system will be available and pricing isn’t released yet but these typically cost around $10-20 and last 2-3 months.
  • In-game currency will be available for purchase with real money or by earning it through gameplay.

Data leaks thus far show an extensive weapon skins system built into the game, with as many as 45 variations of a weapon.

valorant points

Spending in Valorant occurs using Valorant Points (VP). This is an in-game currency purchased with real money. The game contains a lot of opportunities to spend Valorant Points throughout the game. To review how much you have spent in the game, review your Valorant purchase history.

Riot’s commitment thus far to not have randomized loot boxes is a step in the right direction to keep simulated-gambling features out of a game that will be played by children. Of course, with the game still in development that can change at any moment.

Related: An Introduction to Loot Boxes, Microtransactions, and In-App Purchases

This is an important layer of transparency by a game company during a time whereby transparency and social responsibility in the industry is hard to come by.

Addictive nature of Valorant

Valorant is a game that can be addictive for some players, especially those who are competitive. If Valorant addiction is a concern, you may consider deleting your Valorant account.

On Game Quitters we can support you or someone you care about to get rid of their gaming addiction. Check out our specialist programs for gamers and parents:

Respawn is for gamers who want to quit gaming and improve their life.

Reclaim is to help families manage problematic gaming at home.

Take the first step and book a Gameplan call to discuss your situation with someone who understands problem gaming.

I grew up as an average kid riding bikes and playing soccer. I got good grades in school, and never had a gaming console growing up. Sure, I played video games with the family PC but my gaming was kept in check by my strict parents. I never thought I had a gaming addiction.

Then university came along.

I purposefully chose a school far away from home to experience independence. While I did grow tremendously living far from home, there were no parents to tell me to stop when my gaming got out of hand.

I played all sorts of games (mostly MMO RPG’s, and League of Legends) and would often skip lectures to play. The only thing that kept my gaming in check was the very real fear of dropping out of school, and I would somehow not game during key points of the year such as midterms week, finals week, and the few days before a big project due date.

I had bad grades, but somehow, I didn’t fail any courses. I consider myself VERY lucky that it wasn’t much worse, especially because I was also addicted to Reddit.

I Was Given a Second Chance and I Almost Blew It

Despite my bad grades, I managed to land a summer internship. Even to this day, I have no idea how I landed that job, and I honestly think all the other candidates chose another job, so the company had the choice of having no intern or hiring me. Lucky for me that they did, as my bad grades were preventing me from finding anything, and I was heavily regretting my gaming habits through university.

The internship felt like a 2nd chance. I worked hard. Sometimes, crazy hard. I would average 60-80hrs of work a week. While the other interns were out enjoying parties or travelling, I was working hard, determined to not let my 2nd chance escape. My efforts paid off, and I got a full-time offer. I was due to start after my graduation.

Fast forward a few years. I was working full time, and was ‘gaming in moderation‘. There were a couple of sleepless nights of gaming here and there, and the job kept my gaming in check, but that was about it.

My schedule was work, sleep, game. I would attempt to get out and socialize but would soon give up and go back to gaming. Especially because all my friends were on Discord. And, now that I was getting comfortable with this new life, I felt my gaming time was slowly increasing.

I just got accepted into Grad School, which I had planned to attend part-time after work. However, seeing how my university years have gone, I knew that if I continued to game, I would get horrible grades again, and would be wasting a lot of money to not really learn anything.

Now, let’s take a breather from the story for a moment. Seeing how gaming was wrecking my grades, and I was stuck in this boring routine, I attempted many, many times to try and quit gaming in college.

Here are the methods I’ve tried:

  • Gaming “in moderation” by sticking to a schedule – didn’t work. I would always say “1 more game”.
  • Deleting games – With modern internet, it is so easy to reinstall games. With a fresh PC, I can get a solid high-quality game up and running in less than 30min.
  • Try other things like exercising and studying – gaming is more fun and rewarding
  • Switch my PC operating system to Linux – This actually worked for a few weeks. The problem is, if your machine is powerful enough, there are plenty of Linux games available, and with the right set of knowledge, you can get most Windows games to work on Linux no problem…

gaming and college

It Was Time to Turn My Life Around

Back to the story. With Grad School just around the corner, I knew I couldn’t stick to the methods that have failed for me in the past. I needed to quit COLD TURKEY.

To me, this is what it meant:

Also, since I can’t not have a laptop, I got a crappy $250 Linux laptop that can watch videos and do office work. Most 3D games will probably not run on this system.

I found this step to be the most crucial. It’s very hard to stay connected with family and friends and do basic photo/file management without a computer, but not have the temptation to game. So I found this to be a good middle ground. Also, once you get used to a Linux system, it’s no different than using Windows.

The first couple of months were the toughest. I craved gaming so much and was depressed for long hours, but I had gotten rid of all temptations to get through it. After doing this, I successfully quit gaming for a whole year!

And this is what I accomplished in that year:

  • 4 quarters of grad studies with A’s in most of the courses
  • Went on 5 separate camping trips
  • Learned rock climbing. The highest level I succeeded was a V4 in bouldering (climbing without a rope)
  • Went back-packing to the lovely Havasupai Falls
  • Watched the first 6 seasons of Game of Thrones (ok, this has nothing to do with quitting gaming).
  • Tried Surfing. I managed to stand up twice!
  • Visited Sedona in Arizona.
  • Paddled in a Whitewater Rafting trip, twice.
  • Ran 2 Half-Marathons (a full marathon is still too much for me…)
  • Went Skydiving from 13000ft
  • Logged an average of 1.5hrs of biking EVERY DAY (totalling your car helps, though I don’t blame that on gaming)

Amazing right?! And I was just an average single guy working a 9-5 job and gaming for the remainder of the day. I was literally at the height of my physical performance, at the ripe old age of 28.

I am so glad that I quit gaming.

Then I Met My Girlfriend…

I wish that the story ends there, but it does not. After 1 year of no gaming, I met the girl of my dreams. She is funny, smart, cute, shares a lot of my hobbies, and is overall, an amazing person to be around. I also found that she is a gamer that plays League of Legends. The game whose account I deleted a year ago!

I wanted to share as many hobbies with her as much possible, so I got another laptop and installed League back on it. I argued that this was to get closer with the girl I liked and that I would only play with her, and never alone or with others.

It worked for the first few months. Sharing a hobby with someone you like is an amazing feeling. Eventually, I asked her out, and we became a couple. Naturally, our game time together increased.

However, as we played, I noticed a lot of toxic players which brought my mood down.

I especially hated when a mistake I made led to her death (in the game of course). In an attempt to compensate for this, I wanted to play more, to get better.

However, unlike me, my girlfriend is someone that can actually game in moderation. She would only play a few hours a week, and there would be days when she simply does not feel like playing, so I started to also have times when I played alone. This time gradually increased, and when I met especially toxic players, I switched to other games. This went on for about a year.

After a year of gaming again, I noticed a change in my behaviour. I noticed that I was less and less patient with people around me, including my girlfriend. When I was at work, I was secretly searching for gaming strategies. When I was not gaming, I was thinking about gaming, and when my girlfriend was talking to me, it was getting harder and harder to focus. After 20 hours of gaming in a weekend, I knew that I had become addicted again.

I told my girlfriend that I was going on a video game detox.

It is a shame that we can’t enjoy video games together anymore, but I got some key takeaways from this experience:

  • For some people, gaming relapses can come in huge waves. For me, it was subtle. So subtle, in fact, that I didn’t even realize it until I was addicted again.
  • Some people are more prone to gaming addiction. My girlfriend has been gaming since she was a kid, and even now, she can game in moderation and has a healthy relationship with this activity.
  • I was much more willing to do chores and be helpful to others since I have a lot more time.
  • I did my homework early! I can’t remember the last time I’ve ever done that in my life.
  • I was more attentive and focused on the present. Daydreaming about gaming was also an addiction. But without gaming, the endless daydreaming had also gone away.

I plan to continue with this detox, and the eventual goal is to never play video games again. I know I will get urges, and I may reason myself back to gaming again, but this 2nd time is much easier than the first, and I know if there ever is a 3rd time, it will be even easier.

Story submitted by Jason.

It was Christmas 2001, 4 days after I turned 6 years old, when my family – at the request of my older brother – got an Xbox.

From then on, up until I was 22, gaming was my main source of entertainment. It was how I de-stressed; it was how I passed time; it was how I interacted with my two brothers and the few friends I made. I didn’t play outside much. I never learned how to ride a bike or swim. And my visits to the beach decreased significantly.

Back then, gaming was still pretty outside of the mainstream, and massively multiplayer was only just beginning. I grew up with the mindset of an outcast. I wasn’t good at the things everyone else was – sports, making friends, etc. In fact, I have a very distinct memory of some time in elementary school when two girls in the neighbourhood came to my house to invite me out to play, and I pretended to be sick so I could avoid interacting.

Instead, I played video games.

I Hid Who I Was to Make Friends

I think the beginning of my change towards gaming began when I made a class presentation in 8th grade and suddenly realized I was pretty good at public speaking. This led me to have the confidence to speak more, but I was still incredibly insecure about having such a gaming-oriented childhood.

I intentionally water damaged our Xbox 360 to stop myself from playing it

So, to impress people and relate to them, I ended up developing a lying problem. I would tell people grand stories of what I did in my free time and how active a person I was, when in reality, when I got off the bus from school, I went to my room and played Halo, Runescape, Mass Effect, Command and Conquer, etc. I told people I hunted (I’d never held a gun in my life). I told people I played lacrosse (never held a lacrosse stick in my life).

You get the picture.

Eventually, I ended up getting caught in some lies (I think it was about the hunting), and a group of kids bullied me for this, which rocked my confidence for a while. But in high school, still feeling the urge to socialize but now knowing not to do it through lies, I ended up making friends with a lot of gamers. Desperate to fit in and finally have a social circle, I adopted their habits. I played even more games in different genres on different platforms. I watched the same Let’s Plays they did. I even decided to take STEM classes in high school just so I could be around these people who accepted me.

This ended up having a very strange negative consequence: I went to university for electrical engineering, because that was my background in high school and what all my friends were doing, but I’m not an engineer. Needless to say, all the math courses and engineering courses were really difficult for me, and I struggled through my freshman year. All the way, I de-stressed with video games. My sophomore year, I ended up leaving school to try to explore new things, but I mostly spent my time at home playing video games, and when it came time to decide what to do with my life, I reluctantly returned to engineering school.

It Was Time to Make a Change

This was when I decided to experiment with quitting video games, having identified them as a key point of failure in my freshman year. So, upon my return, I cut myself off from games, and it worked well for a while. Periodically, at stressful times, I would play, but once a test or big homework assignment was out of the way, I successfully returned to my gaming embargo.

I flourished during these times of cutting out gaming. Even though I don’t like engineering, I did pretty well in the courses. I formed a huge friend group out of studying for, and persevering through, difficult classes together. While it still wasn’t perfect (because I didn’t care for STEM), it was much better than having a friendship group based around my addiction.

I’ve had a number of relapses since quitting gaming that first time, but I’ve always gone back to trying to get away from them. Unfortunately, my relationship with my brother Ryan being largely based around video games doesn’t help.

Things were at their worst when I moved in with him to save money while starting my first engineering job out of college. His entire life is gaming, and suddenly mine was as well.

One night, I realized how far I’d fallen back into my addiction, and I had what I can only describe as a panic attack. I was so afraid that video games would be all I ever did with my life that I intentionally water damaged our Xbox 360 to stop myself from playing it. It’s not something I’m proud of, because it was shared property (if not more so his), but I believe it was something I needed to do to help myself at that moment.

I deleted my Steam account, but unfortunately, living with him pressured me into recreating one, because it’s the main way I relate to him and I want to be a good brother.

I also sold my gaming computer and bought a laptop that can’t run anything but games from several years ago, so no new releases for me.

I started seeing a therapist for the depression and anxiety that I believe are heavily rooted in my background in gaming.

Just in the past two months, I’ve had a terrible relapse, where I ended up installing a bunch of games from this new Steam account on that laptop.

But I’m quitting again. Just now, I changed my Steam account password to one of those randomly generated Google ones and didn’t save it, so I’m locked out of my account. The thing for me is: if I don’t have easy access, I won’t go out of my way to game. I see it for what it is in my life now, so as long as it’s out of harms reach then I’m safe.

I didn’t delete my Steam account again, because I knew how much it hurt my brother when he learned I deleted my old one, and he gets very defensive when I try to discuss my gaming addiction with him. I think this pathway will hopefully let me slowly grow into new pursuits and maybe reforge our relationship in different areas.

Gaming Stopped Me from Pursuing My Dreams

I want to change careers out of the software engineering job I don’t like that I have now. I want to get into writing and acting because those have always been things I’ve felt compelled to do. I’m working towards those goals now, taking some classes on the side.

I’ve been writing my short stories and beginning some novels. I’m going to start posting on Medium, covering the subjects of video game addiction, Internet addiction, and switching career paths after college (a few things I feel competent in discussing). I’m picking up drums, too, which I always wanted to learn to play.

I feel like a creative person with a lot of drive and motivation and energy who has just been held hostage by video games all their life. I have a lot of regret for wasting my entire childhood, but I’m glad that, at 23, I’m able to move on in a healthier direction.

I have a lot of animosity towards gaming and, in some way, myself. When I saw the recent video: “Is gaming a waste of time?” I immediately answered “yes,” and there’s a part of me, I must admit, who dislikes people who argue that they’re wonderful and amazing and the best thing that ever happened to entertainment. In reality, the better part of me knows that they are simply able to have a different relationship with games than I am.

Anyway, I guess the message of my story thus far is that I may stumble and fall, but at least I’m getting up each time and moving in the right direction.

I just wanted to thank you (Cam) again for being one of the few people I know talking about this serious issue. I think more and more people are discussing the impacts of social media and the internet and hikikomori (I think that’s the shut-in culture in Japan), but very little of the conversation has extended to video games, which I believe is a huge part of it all.

It’s really heartwarming that, even when my mom and brother express doubts about how video games have negatively influenced my life, there is someone out there who has a similar relationship with them and knows the dangers they hold for some of us.

Thank you and Game Quitters so much!

Sincerely,
Tom.

Hello. My name’s Vadim and I’m from Russia.

I’m 27 and I’ve been playing video games for more than 22 years – since I was 4. I had an NES at first, but very soon I got a computer that had DOS OS and had a few basic games on it. But then I upgraded in 1999, letting me play games like Starcraft, Unreal Tournament, Half-Life, Quake and more.

I would play for hours until I needed to stop because my parents told me to. But when my parents were away I’d try to play as much as I possibly could.

My Gaming Problem Became a Health Problem

I loved playing video games so much, and I was genuinely passionate about them. I excelled in school, so my parents didn’t see any problems with my gaming. But soon I got a better computer, PSP, laptop, and so I could play more whenever I wanted. I would play at nights and then sleep for 4 hours before school.

Gaming was so enjoyable that I didn’t think there was a problem. I was a smart child, and had some good friends, but I was shy and unconfident. At one point I accidentally found that if I didn’t play for more than 2 days, I became much more confident and had better self-esteem. However, that went away when I started to play games again. I remembered it very well at the time, and it helped me to quit gaming in the future.

At this point in my life, my health started to decline very rapidly. Anxiety and exhaustion started to creep in. I ended up going to university, where I needed to study even more. But I preferred to play video games and as a result, didn’t sleep enough. This caused my health to decline even more.

At some point, it got so bad I needed to quit university so that I could recover. But I couldn’t do it for very long. I wasn’t healthy, I had almost no friends, and gaming became my coping mechanism. I was very depressed and lonely.

Video games were the only thing I loved.

Did I Really Enjoy Gaming?

After some time, I started to read about healthy diets, lifestyle, stress, meditation and so on. I started to implement it in my life and my health began to improve. This allowed me to finish university and ended up getting a job. This was the first time I started to think about how video games influenced my life and my body. For example, I’ve found that if I play video games I lose the motivation to go to work for days, I get low self-esteem, become anxious, and fall into depression.

I started to ask myself “Why do I love gaming? Why do I love walking and speaking with people in a game and why do I love working in a game but not in real life?”

So I started to read information about how video games affect the human body, the brain and the nervous system and found out about dopamine. Then I started to read about other addictions that were actually very similar to my love of gaming. This is when I started to experiment with quitting gaming. But I didn’t know how to stop playing.

I stopped for a month as an experiment, and it was very difficult and unpleasant, and then I started gaming again. But after several months I found the Game Quitters channel. I learnt about the 90 days detox and promised to try it.

meditating and reading

Quitting Gaming Was Harder than I Expected

It was incredibly difficult. I felt very severe and unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. When you play games for 22 years and then stop, you find that you do not have anything else in your life. You do not have friends, you do not have any social skills to find them, all you know is gaming.

I made the decision to finish the 90-day detox. My life was a complete mess and I needed to stop playing games. The videos on Game Quitters helped me A LOT, as well as their podcast about video game addiction. The first 40 days were the most difficult, but then to my surprise I started reading books with PLEASURE, like if I would play games. It was very unusual.

Once a week or two I had severe urges to play, and the last big was on about day 84. I think it was the last resort for my brain to return to play video games and it was almost successful. But, after 2 hours, it subsided and I never had a big urge to play games again.

So I completed a 90-day detox and decided that I’m never going back to video games again.

Gaming was my life and my identity. It was me. I loved them with all my heart. After the 90 day detox, which is nothing compared to 22 years, gaming was no longer my identity. I have found the real me – the man who wants to live in the real world, who wants to read many books, speak with many people, and have good friends.

One thing that helped a lot was realising I had an addiction, not a love of gaming. I would say that I even have some antipathy to games now, that never give you real happiness.

It was difficult during the first few months, but my skills grew incredibly. I think for the first time in 9 years I’ve found new friends. My life has improved so much. I don’t think about video games every minute anymore, I feel free from them.

I do not need this overstimulation to function anymore and I don’t feel the desire to play games at all. I’m never going to play them again.

My Advice on How to Quit Gaming

  • Study addictions and learn how they work. Underneath the surface, they’re all very similar. If you understand how they work, you will understand what you feel and why.
  • Watch Game Quitters. Without it, I would never stop playing video games (thanks Cam :D)
  • Read testimonials. Game Quitters has loads of case studies from ex-gamers
  • Do meditation every day. You will find why you play and why you need to stop.
  • If you have an urge, call or text someone. I don’t know why, but it helped a lot.
  • Go for a walk if you have an urge for an hour or two
  • Cry if you want to
  • Be positive. If you struggle, just know that it will go away eventually
  • Read books about the problems you have. For example, if you have problems with socialisation, read books about it. If you have health problems then read about them. It definitely helps.

So good luck you guys. There is a much better, happy and fulfilling life outside gaming.

My name is Austin Tuwiner and I’m a 21-year-old digital nomad. I’ve been travelling the world for over 9 months now. Video games have had an enormous impact on my life, so I’d like to share my experiences with them, hopefully resulting in helping someone’s life for the better.

I’m writing this post from a coffee shop in Buenos Aires, Argentina; reflecting on just how far I’ve come. A place I never imagined myself going to (or even knowing it existed) during the period of my life that I was consumed by the video game world.

Before we go any further, I’d like to clarify that I do still enjoy playing the occasional video game. After discussing my story and how gaming addiction has affected my life, I’ll share some tips on how I’ve been able to find balance and reintroduce them to my life.

My First Video Games

I don’t remember what video game was my first love. If I had to guess, it would be Pokemon Crystal or one of the Mario games. To this day I have amazing memories playing on my GameBoy and Nintendo with my siblings and friends. On a snow day (no school due to snow), my brother, sister, and I would sleep in and play games like Super Smash Bros and Mario together.

As time went on, I upgraded consoles to an Xbox 360 and played more and more mature-rated games. I think this is truly where the first issues started to appear. I began playing games like Halo 3 and Call of Duty at 15 years old. Immediately after coming home from middle school, my friends and I would boot up our Xbox’s and spend the entire day online chatting and gaming with each other.

We’d only surface for food. Oh, and homework.

Due tomorrow meant do tomorrow. Without a doubt, video games had an impact on my grades.

After playing Xbox for many years, I upgraded to PC gaming. If I had to pick a video game I spent the most time and money on there would be no comparison. It’s League of Legends by far.

Read: How to Quit Playing League of Legends

I’m a pretty competitive person which is an extremely dangerous combination when paired with player vs player video games. I was addicted to improving my craft and reaching the highest rank possible.

When I wasn’t able to play video games, I’d be watching Youtube and Twitch gameplay of professionals in order to get better.

My mind was ALWAYS on video games. What builds to try, what the coolest new strategy was, or the next game I was going to play. All of this took me out of the present moment. In school, on the bus, or mid-conversation I’d be thinking about video games.

The highest rank I ever achieved in League of Legends was Diamond 3, around the top .3% of all players.

At the time, this was a massive accomplishment.

Looking back?

It’s a trophy showing how much of my life I wasted for a game I’ll never play again. A few years from now, you won’t care about your rank, your special skin collection, or any other virtual accolade. You only have one life, why waste time playing and earning virtual awards?

I couldn’t even tell you how many aspects of my life were neglected due to my PC gaming addiction. I played PC games all throughout high school until I finally quit towards the end of senior year.

Let me tell you how I did it.

xbox 360 addiction

How To Quit Playing Video Games

Whenever I’m trying to quit a habit, I found that nuclear options are the best and maybe the only way. I specifically remember this video that convinced me I had to commit to quitting gaming.

I deleted all my accounts and listed my $1000+ custom built gaming computer on eBay.

What did I do when my computer was sold?

Began playing Xbox again.

My Xbox was the next to go. I removed all possible video games and systems from my life. I had an enormous amount of time now. My days felt so much longer. I didn’t know what to do with myself.

Eventually, after doing some research and finding sites like Game Quitters, I decided to take action and find new hobbies.

Find New Hobbies

There’s a saying – “Nature abhors a vacuum.” Quitting video games will be near impossible without finding new hobbies.

With all of this extra time, I picked up activities such as scuba diving, bouldering, and travelling. I even started my own digital marketing businesses that I use to fund my travels and lifestyle.

By delving pretty deep into each of these hobbies’ respective communities, I’ve met more friends and made more high-quality relationships than I ever could have imagined.

It was difficult for me to leave behind all of my gaming friends. Some I knew in real life, and others I never even met. I had a lot of gaming friends. I even thought I had “deep” relationships with them.

Ever since I “quit” gaming, I don’t really hear from them. They’re good people and I hope to see them succeed in life. It just won’t be at my table.

How to Play Video Games in Moderation

After I took some time off from gaming, found new hobbies, and got my priorities straight, I wanted to find a way to introduce video games back into my life. When your life becomes so busy and fun that there’s little time to game, I think it’s possible to play video games responsibly.

Here’s how I’ve done it.

Avoid ‘Time Suck’ Games

One way I’ve found to limit video games is by avoiding the endless time-suck grind games. I don’t go anywhere near the endless grind video games I used to love like Call of Duty, League of Legends, and Path of Exile.

If I decide to play a video game, it’s for the story. Story video games are almost like movies for me. Games like Fallout, Far Cry, Witcher 3, and Skyrim all have a clear ending where video gaming stops. These are the only games I play or keep up with anymore.

Cloud Streaming

I’ve been travelling for 9 months now out of one backpack, so there’s no way for me to bring a console along for the ride (not that I’d even want to).

The last video game I played was Witcher 3, and I don’t see myself playing any others until Cyberpunk 2077 is released. Cloud streaming has allowed me to play video games once in a while without dedicating myself to the newest console.

The great thing about cloud streaming is you can delete and cancel your membership whenever you want, and it’s not amazing for playing the fast-paced time suck video games we mentioned above. There’s a slight delay but is unnoticeable for any slow-paced story/adventure game.

I don’t really think gaming is very different from watching Netflix , sports games, or any other hobbies. The main distinction between it and these hobbies is that you are battling a multi-billion dollar industry doing everything it can to addict you and extract every last dollar.

Understand what you’re up against, and set your life up in a way where it’s near impossible to become addicted.

Only this way was it possible for me to find balance gaming.

Thank you for taking the time to read my experience with video games, and hope there’s something you can take away from this.

Story submitted by Austin Tuwiner.

Why Are Some Games More Addictive than Others?

You’ve probably experienced this already – There are some games that bore you and might never again get the privilege of your time. Then there are the games that you can play for hours and days on end, literally until you are too tired to stay awake. Sometimes you might not even admit to yourself that you are tired, but either when your in-game performance suffers or your body shuts down you decide to call it a night.

Why does this happen? Why are some games more addictive than others?

A lot of it is down to personal preferences and needs, that’s why we – on a personal level – get addicted to specific games or genres.

But at the same time, a lot of players are addicted to the same games – think of the millions of players addicted to games such as Counter-Strike and other competitive first-person shooters, Battle Royale games, RPGs, MMOs, etc.

There is something about universally appealing about these games.

It has to do with how these games have been built, and the reactions or responses that they are designed to create for us.

Why Are Games So Addictive?

Some games are designed to tap into our competitive sides, for example, Battle Royale games like PUBG or other short time-limited competitive FPSs like Overwatch.

Some are designed to satisfy our social needs and the human desire to belong to a group or clan. You have games where you can be their leader or trade, interact, and make friends with dozens of other people all around the world.

Yet others give us intriguing storylines where you’re the hero and people rely on you to do your part in their fictional life – and of course, you want to help. Similarly, in some games, your real-life teammates rely on you, and again you want to prove your worth, skill and contribution. This gives you a sense of personal fulfilment, growth and satisfaction.

Most modern games are so immersive that they can allow you to escape your outside reality and be, more or less, worry-free while you play.

These mechanisms are very well thought out, down to the smallest level. If you’ve ever looked into game design you might know that games have to follow specific patterns and game mechanics – otherwise the game is either lacking a pattern that can be followed or is just plain boring.

Some of these mechanics are:

  • Levels – These exist in every game, even RPG or open-world games where they might be named chapters, missions, or even be delimited areas with enemies of increased difficulty that you can’t access in the beginning.
  • Goals/Tasks – Activities that you must perform to be rewarded or keep yourself engaged. As we mentioned, sometimes these can infer emotional responses such as helping someone in distress.
  • Challenges – Activities that take practice, or the development of a repetitive skill, to complete. Often lead to either frustration or fulfilment.
  • Point-based Systems – Either within the game, such as multiplication scores based on combos, or outside of the game such as “Competitive Scores” for the season. These can sometimes decrease if you are inactive or at the end of specific periods.
  • Character/Environment Design – Allows you to customize the world around you and express your personality. Even creating a digital avatar that’s a representation of your ideal self.

And just as some games can be boring if these elements are designed poorly, most top gaming companies hire highly experienced game designers whose sole purpose it is to perfect each of these elements.

Their result is a very ‘playable’ or addictive video game – a game that you can just come back to every single day without getting bored. Or even come back to it a long time after to replay it, because it was so good the first time around.

In other words, a game with a high “addiction factor”.

playing fifa addictive game

Calculate Your Addiction Score

The “game addiction factor” is a simple tool that was developed by a member of our community, Leo Burca, which you can use to score all the different games you encounter.

The addiction factor can be seen as a scale from 1 to 100 on which you use to score any game.

As an example, I’ll be using the numbers and reasons that Leo gave me, but you can (and should) give this a go with your own games.

This way you know which games are most addictive and bring about the most cravings, triggering your gaming disorder. So then you know which ones to “protect yourself” from the most.

So if a friend invites you to play Overwatch “just for tonight”, you know you have to refuse because it could eventually lead to you spiralling back into a video game addiction.

It’s important to point out that these scores are individual, because of all the elements we’ve previously discussed – each game affects an individual differently.

First, how well a game matches our unfulfilled individual needs. These relate to:

  • Competition
  • Social connection
  • Escape from real life
  • Growth, fulfilment, or a sense of accomplishment

The more needs a game fulfils, the more addicting it becomes to each individual.

To continue with the Overwatch example above, here’s what Leo said about the game using his direct quotes:

Competition: 23/25

It was matching this need because I didn’t have anything competitive in my personal life. The 6 vs 6 matches in Overwatch are highly competitive, require skill improvement and constant adaptation to new heroes and new team compositions.

Social Connection: 19/25

It was a partial match for me as I had a girlfriend at the time and friends that I shared hobbies in common with. But, because the game required communication and collaboration in order to win, the game fulfilled this need as well – I could go on playing for days or weeks without needing to see my friends in real life.

Escape: 23/25

This was a big factor drawing me back into the game regularly. Without getting too much into the details, a lot of my plans and dreams were failing and I didn’t see any way to fix the situation. I tried to process the loss consciously and logically, but the pain was still there. And while I was gaming I was so immersed that I didn’t have to think about that..

Growth: 22/25

This was a mixed one because even though I knew very well that this would not give me growth in my personal life and get any of my plans back on track, it still gave me a feeling of satisfaction. Every time I would have good teamwork or I would get to a new rank, I inevitably had a sense of personal accomplishment. These other plans crashed and burned even though I worked super hard, but at least I was still good at something and my team appreciated my contribution.

Total Score: 87/100

This is just an example, but you can score video games without breaking it into categories as I did, but this is the simplest and easiest approach to take.

Fighting Against the Gaming Industry

So far we have two main elements that increase the likelihood of a game being addictive:

  • The quality of the game design and game mechanics that game designers put out
  • How well the game matches our partially fulfilled or unfulfilled needs

However, it doesn’t stop there.

Game companies have developed ‘hooking tactics’ to get you to login on a daily basis, or at least a weekly basis in order to get free rewards. Rewards that you would otherwise have to pay for in the game store or by purchasing loot boxes.

For example, you can buy skins for your characters and guns. Or even get new emotes to show off with when you kill someone. These things aren’t free for a company to develop when you consider the hours spent designing, testing, and marketing. But, they know that if they keep implementing these new skins and perks, you’re going to keep coming back to play.

If these “free bonuses” wouldn’t prove profitable in the long term, companies wouldn’t spend their money simply so you can spray or emote over an enemy after you kill them.

I guarantee it won’t be long before they monetise teabagging.

So even if you’re busy, have hobbies you enjoy, or projects that you need to complete – they don’t care. They’ll use as many tactics as they can to make you jump back in the game regularly to win something. Or, as is the case with many popular mobile-games, not logging in will make you lose progress – such as Farmville or Candy Crush.

They expect you to have unlimited willpower to resist all of these tactics. And so, sometimes, the only realistic way to resist is to delete the game and go on with your life. Because we all know we don’t have unlimited willpower.

Gaming has become a multi-billion dollar business and a global phenomenon. Businesses have been pushed into developing further tactics to get players gaming and increase profitability. It is simply a reality in any business that reaches critical mass.

So these businesses penetrate our environment through ads on YouTube, at the cinema, in airports – spending not millions but BILLIONS of dollars on ads yearly that they know they will make back. An estimated 5 Billion dollars has been spent in 2020, up from 4.5 billion in 2019.

The Gaming Addiction Model

We’ve identified the 4 main elements that increase your individual likelihood to be addicted to a game, as well as increase the addiction factor of games.

gaming addiction model

From the outer to the inner layer the elements are:

  1. Your External Environment – lack of stimulation, dangerous (bullying, conflicts with parents or even the current coronavirus situation), too demanding, stumbling upon gaming ads, discounts, or even music.
  2. Hooking Tactics – Daily or weekly rewards, scores and seasons that are dependent on you playing, free skins and emotes to keep you coming back regularly.
  3. Game Mechanics and Design – Rewards and how frequent they are, the inherent satisfaction of the game, immersion, beautiful graphics and the game environment, your ability to customize your weapons, player, etc.
  4. Unfulfilled or Partially Fulfilled Needs – The usual suspects: Competition, escape, social connection, and growth.

We beat ourselves up for relapsing, we tell ourselves we are weak, that we don’t have a strong will and whatnot.

But in reality, you’re fighting a well-oiled machine that’s using 5 billion dollars per year and thousands of employees to design a virtual or digital paradise that generates instant satisfaction wherever you are at the touch of a button.

Yes, you have to continue making efforts to control your addiction, but you should be kinder to ourselves when you do relapse – you’re not always entirely to blame.

If you’re struggling to quit gaming, remember you can reach out to us and to our community on our forum. We’re here to help each other get through this together.

Finally, I’d like to mention that this post was written and submitted by a member of our community, Leo Burcă [burkeh]. You can find him at leoburca.com.

ADHD: A Complete Guide for Parents

ADHD affects millions of families all over the world. In fact, 1 in 10 children between 5-17 years old gets diagnosed with the condition 121 121. Health conditions among children under age 18 years, by selected characteristics: United States, average annual, selected years 1997–1999 through 2015–2017. (2018). Health, United States, 1–4. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/2018/012.pdf × . It leaves parents struggling, not fully understanding how to cope with the disorder, especially because so little has been known about it for so long. Fortunately, we know a lot more about it now than we did 20 years ago.

Research is constantly being done on how to treat ADHD, what causes it, and its relationship with other disorders such as depression and video game addiction.

If you’re a parent having difficulties with an over-active and inattentive child, the resources provided in this article will help you learn more about the disorder, and start taking the necessary steps in understanding how to overcome the problems that it brings.

What is ADHD

Also known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD is a neurological condition that manifests as an ongoing lack of concentration and hyperactivity. It can affect a person’s ability to sit still or focus on a single task for long periods of time.

A certain degree of these symptoms are normal for most children. However, the behaviours exhibited by ADHD will likely cause those affected to stand out above their peers. Also, it can affect adults, but in general, the diagnosis will be given early on in childhood before the age of 12.

What Causes It?

Researchers all over the country are investigating the causes of ADHD. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has listed the following as potential causes:

  • Genetics
  • Smoking and alcohol consumption during pregnancy
  • Exposure to toxins, such as high levels of lead, at a young age
  • Low birth weight
  • Injuries to the brain 122 122. Mental Health Information. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health ×

In most cases, it seems as though genetics is the most likely cause of ADHD – accounting for 75% of risk 123 123. Demontis, D., Walters, R.K., Martin, J. et al. Discovery of the first genome-wide significant risk loci for attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Nat Genet 51, 63–75 (2019). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-018-0269-7 × .

Another source highlights the link between the amount of grey matter present in the brain and those struggling with the disorder 124 124. Bonath, B., Tegelbeckers, J., Wilke, M., Flechtner, H.-H., & Krauel, K. (2016). Regional Gray Matter Volume Differences Between Adolescents With ADHD and Typically Developing Controls: Further Evidence for Anterior Cingulate Involvement. Journal of Attention Disorders, 22(7), 627–638. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26748338 × . A reduction in grey matter is linked to problems with speech, self-control, and decision making. Suggesting that people suffering from ADHD have structural differences in their brain compared to those without.

There are also questions about whether or not video games cause ADHD. Research on that is still preliminary and inconclusive.

What Are the Symptoms of ADHD?

When talking about the symptoms of ADHD, we usually split them into two overarching categories:

  • Inattention
  • Hyperactivity

Let’s break each one into more detail.

Inattention

As we mentioned earlier, it’s normal for children to showcase some level of inattentiveness in school. However, those with ADHD can demonstrate any of the following symptoms:

  • Can’t maintain conversations or anything requiring sustained focus such as a lecture or reading a book
  • More likely to lose or misplace commonly used objects such as school supplies, phones, glasses, or keys
  • Doesn’t act on instructions
  • An inability to listen while being spoken to
  • Regularly make simple mistakes at school or in other activities
  • Difficulties staying organized at home or in their schoolwork
  • Have a tendency to avoid doing any tasks they know will require ongoing focus or mental exertion
  • Gets easily distracted, especially with unrelated thoughts, when starting tasks or chores

It can make it incredibly difficult for children to keep up in school when these symptoms arise. Especially if ADHD remains undiagnosed. It can result in the child feeling like they’re not good enough and not as smart as their friends. If left unchecked, these negative feelings can eventually evolve into more serious difficulties with anxiety, self-esteem, and depression later on.

Hyperactivity

There are a number of symptoms associated with hyperactivity:

  • Inability to stay still, especially while seated
  • Acting inappropriately (running, jumping, climbing) in situations where good behaviour is expected e.g. classroom, meetings, assembly
  • Can’t stay quiet when taking part in activities
  • Always in motion
  • Talking excessively
  • Struggling with normal conversations due to speaking out of turn or interrupting people’s sentence
  • Can’t wait their turn

These symptoms of ADHD can oftentimes result in the child getting into trouble, especially in school. The child won’t always understand why their actions have consequences, which can cause problems when in public spaces.

Diagnosing ADHD

If you suspect your child might be suffering from the disorder, you should book an appointment with a licensed paediatrician or psychiatrist with experience of ADHD and receive an extensive clinical evaluation. You could also try talking to your child’s school counsellor as an intermediate step before going to a specialist.

There are certain criteria that will need to be met before a diagnosis can be determined:

  • Making sure another health issue isn’t causing the problems
  • The behaviour has been ongoing for an extended period of time
  • The child’s hyperactivity or inattention exceed what’s normal for someone their age
  • Are the symptoms having a noticeable impact on their school and home life

Once your child has been diagnosed, you’ll be referred to a specialist or someone with more experience – depending on who gave you the evaluation.

You will then be given guidance on treating ADHD, which can range from medication to therapy.

How to Treat ADHD

When considering treatment options it’s worth noting that you won’t be able to remove the behaviour entirely, only lessen its effect. Also, different combinations of treatment will work for different people, so don’t lose hope if the first thing you try doesn’t end up working.

The extent of ADHD treatment generally falls into one of the following categories:

  • Medication
  • Coaching
  • Therapy
  • School Support

We’ll explore each treatment method in further detail below.

Medication

Medicine is the most commonly used treatment method for ADHD. It will either come in the form of a stimulant, or non-stimulant.

Stimulants

Stimulants are more common, as they are the most effective method for treating ADHD 125 125. Jensen, P. S., Garcia, J. A., Glied, S., Crowe, M., Foster, M., Schlander, M., … Wells, K. (2005). Cost-Effectiveness of ADHD Treatments: Findings From the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children With ADHD. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162(9), 1628–1636 https://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ajp.162.9.1628 × . They work by increasing the available concentrations of hormones such as Dopamine and Norepinephrine – which control alertness, focus, happiness, and many other bodily functions.

The medications shown to treat ADHD are Ritalin, Concerta, Focalin, Adderall, Dexedrine, and Vyvanse. Under no circumstances should you self-prescribe these medicines before consulting a medical professional.

Also, some side effects may occur as a result of taking ADHD stimulants 126 126. Cortese, S., Holtmann, M., Banaschewski, T., Buitelaar, J., Coghill, D., Danckaerts, M., … Sergeant, J. (2013). Practitioner Review: Current best practice in the management of adverse events during treatment with ADHD medications in children and adolescents. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 54(3), 227–246. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.12036 × 127 127. Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. (n.d.). Safety Review Update of Medications used to treat ADHD. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-drug-safety-communication-safety-review-update-medications-used-treat-attention × . Some possible side effects of taking stimulant medications are sleep loss, reduced appetite, increased blood pressure, and in very rare cases psychosis, hallucinations, and nerve damage 128 128. Cooper, W. O., Habel, L. A., Sox, C. M, ... (2016). ADHD Medications and Serious Cardiovascular Events in Children and Youth. The New England Journal of Medicine, 365, 1896–1904. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4943074/ × 129 129. Kraemer, M., Uekermann, J., Wiltfang, J., & Kis, B. (2010). Methylphenidate-Induced Psychosis in Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Clinical Neuropharmacology, 33(4), 204–206. https://journals.lww.com/clinicalneuropharm/Abstract/2010/07000/Methylphenidate_Induced_Psychosis_in_Adult.8.aspx × 130 130. Mosholder, A. D., Gelperin, K., Hammad, T. A., Phelan, K., & Johann-Liang, R. (2009). Hallucinations and Other Psychotic Symptoms Associated With the Use of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Drugs in Children. Pediatrics, 123(2), 611–616. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2008-0185 × . It’s worth noting the more severe problems usually come about due to long-term use of medicine. As a child gets older symptoms will become easier to manage, and the dependency on medication should lessen.

Non-Stimulants

If treatment via stimulants is ineffective or noticeable side effects occur, you may be offered non-stimulant medication instead.

They can improve focus, attention, and impulsivity in a person with ADHD, and may even be given in combination with stimulants. Some examples of non-stimulant medications include Strattera and Tenex.

One of the advantages of non-stimulants is its long-lasting effects. While most stimulant medication stays in the system for 4-12 hours, non-stimulating medicine can last for up to 24. This can be useful if children have long school days, don’t like taking medication, or are away from home.

Coaching

ADHD coaching involved assisting the affected individual with matters such as time management, goal setting, and organization.

It’s primarily used in the treatment of adolescents and older, as working with children requires the coaching to be done with an active role from the parents. This isn’t always practical, and so the preferred approach is to wait until college before introducing coaching as an ADHD treatment method.

It differs from cognitive behavioural therapy by focusing on practical measures such as healthy habits, finances, nutrition, and sleep. Although CBT and coaching share some similarities, therapists are trained in dealing with the underlying emotional and comorbid issues that may be present.

You can find specialists in ADHD in our Professionals Directory

Therapy

Many problems can arise in people struggling with ADHD, and advice from trained mental health professionals such as therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists can make a big difference in dealing with depression, anxiety, and other interpersonal difficulties.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a common and very effective approach that is used in many practices around the world. It involves changing negative thought patterns by implementing short-term goals and removing unhealthy internal dialogues.

School Support

Many schools, depending on your country, will offer help and advice for children struggling with ADHD. It can come in the form of counselling, parent meetings, 1-on-1 support and more lenient schoolwork.

It might involve working much more closely with affected children to ensure they receive the same opportunities as other children and aren’t restricted by ADHD and other learning difficulties.

Does Gaming Cause ADHD?

The exact cause of ADHD is unknown, and while the primary factor is thought to be genetic more research is being done into the effect of screens – most notably video games – on children.

Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is a common comorbid condition associated with ADHD. As more studies are being done into their relationship, some interesting research is starting to appear.

One recent study done in 2019 showed that people suffering from ADHD shared similar brain activity to those affected by Gaming Disorder 131 131. Han, D. H., Bae, S., Hong, J., Kim, S. M., Son, Y. D., & Renshaw, P. (2019). Resting-State fMRI Study of ADHD and Internet Gaming Disorder. Journal of Attention Disorders, 108705471988302. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1087054719883022 × . After one year of treatment for both of these disorders, the brain scans looked remarkably alike.

Another set of studies looking into the relationship between internet addiction and ADHD discovered that there’s a moderately significant association between the two. Those suffering from IGD were more likely to exhibit more severe symptoms of ADHD, and vice versa 132 132. Stavropoulos, V., Adams, B. L., Beard, C. L., Dumble, E., Trawley, S., Gomez, R., & Pontes, H. M. (2019). Associations between attention deficit hyperactivity and internet gaming disorder symptoms: Is there consistency across types of symptoms, gender and countries? Addictive Behaviors Reports, 9, 100158. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2018.100158 × ,.

To add to this research, we have a surprising number of parents reaching out to Game Quitters for help whose children are suffering from both video game addiction and ADHD. It’s impossible to conclude that one directly causes the other, especially as there has also been a number of positive experiences from people using video games to aid in the treatment of ADHD. However, we’ve found that when parents reduce the amount of time their ADHD-afflicted child spend in front of a screen, the symptoms start to reduce.

One possible explanation for this is due to the over-stimulating, hyperactive, and addictive nature of modern video games. The gaming industry now focuses on making games that are profitable, and this means designing them to be as addictive as possible. They’re working with psychologists and high-level specialists to create the most immersive experience possible. If you want to know more about all of the systems and tactics in place to keep you hooked on gaming, read our article about how games are designed to be addictive.

If you are a gamer with ADHD, you want to be choose the best types of games to play with ADHD.

Next Steps

Whether you’re an experienced parent that has come here looking for more information about ADHD, or have been coping with the disorder for a long time and are running out of treatment options, it might be worth taking a look at your child’s screen use.

While it might seem like an easy solution to dealing with inattention and hyperactivity, there’s the possibility that you could be doing more harm than good by allowing them to spend their free time on video games.

If you’ve noticed your child losing interest in other hobbies or school-life, becoming distant or quick to anger, and prioritising gaming above more important things in their life then there’s a chance they could be addicted to gaming.

We’ve had countless parents thank us for helping to reclaim their child from the virtual world, and while we can’t guarantee the same results for you, it’s always worth exploring every opportunity you have available.

If you want to learn more and see if your child is suffering from gaming disorder, take our gaming addiction test for parents. It only takes a couple of minutes, is completely free, and could help you better understand some of the behaviours your loved one is exhibiting.

Thanks for reading our parent’s guide to ADHD. At Game Quitters we’re committed to providing as much information and value as we can to parents, and ADHD has been a much-requested topic for a long time. We’ll be constantly releasing new resources to help you deal with this problem, and how to better manage video games in an ADHD household. If you have any questions, comments, or feedback just send us a message and we’ll do our best to help.

Finally, if you are a parent struggling with video game addiction, join our parent support group on Facebook. We’ve got almost 2,000 parents in our close-knit community where you’ll be met with support from an amazing group of parents all fighting their own battles.

9 Tech-Busting Tips for Families to Avoid Screens During Coronavirus

The COVID19 coronavirus outbreak in 2020 has led to significant increases in gaming and technology use across the globe. Schools are being cancelled, kids are returning home, and you still need to work.

You already felt overwhelmed and now even more so…

So how do you navigate screen time and gaming when your kids are at home during the coronavirus crisis without their normal hobbies and activities??

How can you avoid just letting them use screens all day every day, either feeling like you are a failure as a parent or stressing out with fighting with them about it?

Watch: Screen Time & Coronavirus w/ Nadja Streiter

9 practical tips for your family:

1) Get in the right mindset!

Reframe this crisis as an opportunity for you and your family to develop a deeper connection.

It might be painful at first, but don’t lose hope. Be prepared for bickering and decide how you are going to show up. We like the mantra, KFC: Kind, Firm, Calm.

Some of you might need to relax your rules a little… Okay but don’t feel you have to or get pressured into having no rules.

2) Focus on quality over quantity.

Are you/they watching cat videos on YouTube or learning to code? Are they FaceTiming with a friend or scrolling through Instagram? Are they playing a game that makes them angry or laughing and having a good time with mates? Are they playing educational games? Doing courses?

How they spend time on screens matters a lot more than “how much” time they spend on screens. And yes, sometimes, that even includes needing to watch a few cat videos on YouTube.

3) Use this newfound time to build skills and learn!

We always say we don’t have time to read that book, do that course, clean that room, try that new hobby, pick up the guitar again, call that friend, write that book.

Now you have it. Invest in yourself wisely. That doesn’t have to be all day, but every day, do something to grow and push yourself forward. And encourage your family to do the same.

This is a great opportunity for you to ask your tech-savvy kids to teach you about the features on your phones or computers that you don’t know.

4) Get healthy!

Work out a bit each day. Do it as a family. Put a yoga video on YouTube. Maybe break out the Nintendo Wii from the attic. Find time every day to do bodyweight exercises, stretch, meditate, get in shape! It will make staying home easier.

5) Establish a routine.

Maybe when you work. They do homework. You focus as a family for two hours and then take a break. Rinse and repeat as needed.

This process is one day at a time. Use structure wisely to provide certainty.

6) Have a family meeting!

Gather everyone’s input on what this experience has been for them and what they hope it to be over the next days, weeks, months. Let everyone have a voice!

Just get it out on the table so you can begin to have discussions on finding a compromise that works for your family. This is a good time to discuss family values!

If it starts get loud and confrontational, have everyone write their points and questions on index cards and go through them one at a time. Communicate expectations early and clearly.

This is also a good time to discuss any emotions or fears that are coming up around the crisis. Remember that some people are more comfortable communicating in writing and not out loud.

7) Establish “if then” consequences in writing.

Don’t go overboard.. especially if they are not realistic for you to adhere to over the next few weeks. Consistency is probably more important than rigidity at this time.

If this happens, then this happens. Standards are set and consequences are not surprises.

8) Be a role model.

Are you using technology wisely? Are you scrolling Twitter for your 18th hour today stressed and anxious and passing that onto other family members? Are you focusing on your own self-care? Are you embracing new hobbies?

Your capacity to be the best version of yourself at this time will be seen by others. Let your focus inspire them.

9) Need extra support? Our parenting program is here to help! (Discounted for next 30 days)

Reclaim Your Loved One

A step-by-step program to help you reclaim your loved one from gaming and technology:

  • Practical: Build a real action plan to limit or remove gaming
  • Gain: Clarity, confidence, and peace of mind
  • Avoid: Common mistakes parents make
  • Set: Boundaries without feeling guilty
  • Printable: Worksheets, posters, and more
  • Click here to gain instant access to our practical action guide to stop video game addiction

Reclaim is brilliant. We strongly recommend Reclaim to parents seeking help and solutions for their kids struggling with digital media overuse.”
– Andrew Doan, MD, PhD and Julie Doan, RN

“It’s been three months without games for my son Jack. So far so good.”
– Katrina Kenison, Mother

“We followed the strategies you suggested and tension in our house has lowered considerably.”
– Maria, Mother

“Game Quitters changed everything for me and my teen.”
– Kate, Mother

If you found this article helpful please share it for others.

I Quit Gaming and Social Media for 1 Year

Today I’m 1 year free from video games. 52 weeks. I’m not stopping here.

I’m also 54 weeks free from social media. I’m not stopping here either.

I was so hesitant to sign up to Game Quitters and commit to quitting video games because it was all I knew in life. Nothing made me happier or filled me with purpose like gaming. All my friends were gamers and my whole world was on the computer. My video game addiction had control over me.

I never left the house, never dated, never developed myself into much aside from going to college and getting a job. I just looked forward to being home and playing games and not living my life. I spent all my time on Reddit and Twitch, and even though I had a few friends on Discord, I spent too much time on there too.

At first, I was ashamed of that, but shame is a word you learn to say as little as possible when you’re in therapy and trying to improve your life. Shame and regret are two of the biggest negative emotions you can feel and they often contribute to relapse and emotional spirals into deeper depression and anxiety.

Quitting video games would force me to confront these emotions, develop strategies to deal with them, and studying myself to be truly introspective.

The Harsh Reality of Pro Gaming

Quitting games is something special for me. With my childhood, comeback story, dealing with abuse, and my insane year its been one hell of a journey. Gaming was my crutch. It was my place to hide. It was my place to live when I couldn’t live and felt trapped. It was the outlet for all of my frustration and the source of my power. For me to turn away from gaming after it brought me this far has been so difficult.

I just refuse to be controlled and dependent on something that isn’t me. When people, companies, and societies failed me and left me alone I couldn’t take it anymore. I got so angry with the routine of being depressed, anxious, angry, filled with hate, and sad only to retreat to my bedroom and play on the computer. I’d play games with other miserable people. I’d throw myself into the toxic communities of gaming. I was so tired of people picking fights with me in random games because they thought it was funny.

I was tired of trying to do amazing things in games and not have it matter to me. I was the best player in EA Sports NHL for 4 years, ran 2 clans on RuneScape for 11 years, and I was the best Grifball Player in Halo Reach for 2 years. I was on an elite team for Halo Swat mode on Xbox LIVE and was about to make a push to study and dedicate my time to trying to become a pro Overwatch player.

None of it mattered.

Nobody cares when you’re that good at a game. They want you on your team, they want your attention so they can get attention from others that they’re playing with you, they pretend to be your friends and abandon you the minute you’re not the best. Being the best in the world meant nothing to me. I got nothing out of it emotionally.

I reached my plateau in gaming when my college friends were meeting women, getting married, having kids, and traveling the world on vacation. I was alone with fake friends. Even my friends from college who played video games were fake friends. They just want to have me over, play Super Smash, beat me in it, get angry at me if they lose because they are judging me and want to put me down, and then drink beer after.

I detached myself from this.

pro gaming dangers

Gaming Had Taken Over My Life

I was tired of playing games for 18-24 hours straight from Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon and then 16 hours on Sundays. I was tired of going home after work and playing for 6 hours and not sleeping. I was tired of feeling numb afterwards and turning to porn to feel a little more alive. I was tired of not eating 3 meals each day. I was tired of having physical and mental withdrawals from not getting instant gratification. I was tired of being lonely and knowing my friends were pathetic. I was tired of how lazy video game players are. They don’t clean, they don’t cook, they don’t socialize in real life, they don’t pursue hobbies, and they don’t care about you. Some do, but most don’t. I don’t care if you’re one of the few who do care. I’ve been gaming for 20+ years and know enough to be satisfied with my statement above.

I want love. I want to love life. I want to wake up and know in my heart that nothing is pulling me to play games. Addiction has this invisible force in our brains which gives you anxiety if you’re not playing games. You feel like you can’t stand the quiet of being alone. You can’t stand the fact that you’re going to have to deal with your thoughts and your pain without drowning it out and forgetting. The same thing happens with social media apps and there’s even a term now called TikTok brain.

I grew tired of the cravings. I went into my own detox out of anger. I was tired of failing. I was tired of not being confident enough to make friends and find more well rounded hobbies. Never again was I going to lay in bed at 7 AM trying to fall asleep after playing games for almost a day straight. Malnourished from not eating food or drinking enough water. Physically confused and mentally exhausted due to too much focusing on games and dopamine rushes and depleted serotonin levels. I was tired of crying myself to sleep in the morning when others were waking up about to start their days. I was tired of letting myself down and harboring thoughts of myself being a failure.

Shame, regret, and failure. It’s so easy to blame yourself and hate yourself. I learned a long time ago that I loved myself. When I was at my worst I was there to pick myself back up when I had nobody. This gave me confidence in trusting myself to get through addiction. When I have nobody I’ll have myself. My spirit is stronger than anyone else’s spirit because I believe it and proved it to myself. That’s the attitude I needed to quit gaming.

Quitting an addiction is tough. Most of the time you fight these demons alone. Communities like Game Quitters are important in giving people structure, community, and hope for when we absolutely need help.

If someone were to ask me how I have been able to quit video game addiction I would say a few things.

4 Steps to Quit Gaming

Recognize You Have a Problem

Are you hiding from your life and yourself? Are you playing so much each day that you neglect everyone around you and your life? Do you continue to play even though you don’t want to play anymore? Do you suffer withdrawal when you’re not playing? Is it all you can think about? Is it what you turn to in life for happiness, success, friendship, and purpose? Are you filled with in-explainable brain fog when you’re not gaming and don’t feel mentally clear? Then you have a problem.

Stop Playing Cold Turkey

Don’t try to quit for 30-90 days and then go back to it. It won’t work and you will fail. Eventually you will recede and go back into bad habits of gaming, escapism, and depression.

I’ve seen so many people on this website, including myself, say with confidence that they are going to try gaming in moderation and they all fail. They all come back and say they failed. I failed.

I quit gaming from April of 2018 until September 1st of 2018. I did it and then just went back to old habits. By October I was playing 18 hours straight again and getting so angry. In the middle of October I had such an enraged moment where I just removed myself from gaming and realized I let myself down.

I knew I had the power to quit gaming if I made it 4 months before this. I needed to keep going. I loved my life when I quit gaming and wanted the rest of my life to be even better.

Understand Why You Play Video Games

If you consider your emotional/mental balance to be a building, then consider video games a support column holding up that building. If you remove the column the building will fall.

You depend on gaming for happiness and emotional balance. That’s not healthy.

I played games because I wanted friends, needed to feel purpose in life, wanted something I could do that I was good at, and wanted a place to escape.

To counter this, I found multiple hobbies that are only done in communities such as yoga, rock climbing, board game nights, recreational sports leagues, group hiking, book clubs, movie nights, cooking parties, boxing, you name it. Some stuck and some I hated.

I now have tons of friends though and they all care about me more than my gamer friends. The hardest part of finding a new hobby is being bad at it.

We all used to suck at video games at first, but eventually we became great. It sucks being bad again – especially if you were the best in the world at something else. Allow yourself to fail at a hobby and be bad. We refuse to because we are ashamed of ourselves in the first place.

Behavioural therapy has taught me how to deal with embarrassment, shame, regret, and failure. I also took my job more seriously and became a lot better at it. I’m professionally recognized now.

Don’t Rely on Willpower

Willpower only gets you so far. If you don’t study yourself and have introspection then you will fail at quitting an addiction.

You have to do what I mentioned in step 3 in order to quit. You have to understand why you are addicted.

I haven’t craved video games in over 8 months because I replaced my sources of friendship, success, and happiness from gaming to other things. I no longer crave games and don’t need to rely on willpower at all. I no longer crave anything.

Final Thoughts on Quitting Gaming

I’m very proud of myself for quitting this far and continue to keep going. Gaming is evil in my eyes. I dislike most gamers. I dislike the gaming community, and I dislike game companies. I want my mind to be free for the rest of my life and I’ll make sure it happens.

Thank you everyone for being here along the way with me. If I can do it so can you.

Matt.

Gaming Disorder: 5 Things You Need to Know

Once Gaming Disorder was classified as a real disease by the World Health Organization in 2019, people all around the world were quick to both support and criticize the decision. While this has been great for building awareness, it also results in a lot of misinformation surrounding video game addiction to be spread online.

The official definition for Gaming Disorder is:

a pattern of gaming behavior (“digital-gaming” or “video-gaming”) characterized by impaired control over gaming, increasing priority given to gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other interests and daily activities, and continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences

Or, more simply, you might have a problem if you start to prioritize gaming over your everyday responsibilities.

Not sure if you’re addicted to gaming? Take the test:

 

Millions of People Are Addicted to Gaming

Pretty shocking, right? Before I did the research I honestly didn’t expect it to be so high. You might even think it’s a little too high. After all, only 3-4% of gamers suffer from an addiction. However, when you realise that there are 2 and a half BILLION gamers in the world, the number starts to make more sense.

Symptoms will differ in severity dramatically from person to person, and for some people, the problem will be minor. One person may struggle with going to bed late and eating healthy because they can’t stop gaming. Another might be neglecting their children in order to play games for 16 hours a day, never leaving the house.

However, this doesn’t mean one person’s illness should outweigh another.

A lot of people, especially hardcore gamers, are quick to dismiss someone suffering from gaming disorder as having a trivial, or non-existent, problem. It’s not as simple as just turning off the computer. Gaming addicts go through withdrawal symptoms similar to people in recovery for alcohol or drug addiction. Shaking, nausea, tiredness, anxiety, and headaches are all common problems when people try to quit gaming.

As a result, people should be able to get the treatment they need regardless of their situation, As awareness of gaming disorder increases, hopefully, we can reduce the stigma surrounding video game addiction to match.

male vs female gaming

Men Are More Likely to Suffer from Gaming Disorder

What do you think the average gamer looks like? A man in his early 20’s, perhaps a college student? Wrong. It’s actually a woman in her mid 30’s.

Now, I’ll be honest. This might come from the former gamer inside me, but I find it difficult to classify someone that plays 30 minutes of Candy Crush every day as a gamer. But, that’s what the research says, so we’re going to stick with it.

However, while genders in gaming sit at around 50/50, the numbers change dramatically when we look at gaming addiction. According to our figures, over 90% of the people seeking help for gaming disorder are men.

Why is this the case?

A lot of research has been done into the differences between males and females in the world of addiction, but only relatively recently have studies been done on internet gaming disorder.

One study carried out in 2018 by Dong et al discovered that men who play video games experience higher levels of brain activity in the medial frontal gyrus and bilateral middle temporal gyri. This resulted in a higher likelihood to experience cravings for gaming, even after only 30 minutes of playing. 133 133. Gender-related differences in neural responses to gaming cues before and after gaming: implications for gender-specific vulnerabilities to Internet gaming disorder ×

The researchers measured brain activations using fMRI scanning before, during, and after gaming. The subjects also took part in a cue-craving task before and after gaming. These results suggest neural mechanisms for why males may be more vulnerable than females in developing gaming disorder.

Another point to consider is the natural competitiveness of males compared to females, combined with the ability to dedicate 100% focus on the task at hand without getting bored.

In my 20+ years of gaming, I’ve never known a woman that had spent more than 60 hours a week playing video games – week-in, week-out. However, I know a load of guys – including myself – that have done this regularly.

It’s not the case with every man or woman, obviously, I can only speak from experience. But the innate desire to beat other people, to improve, and to challenge ourselves constantly is something I’ve seen repeated time and time again in my male gamer friends.

College Students at Greater Risk of Video Game Addiction

Let me know if this sounds familiar to you.

I started gaming at around 4 or 5, but gaming was never a problem. Throughout my childhood I lived an active life, I had good friends, and I thought of video games as a treat. Once I got to high school, I started to play more, especially online games.

School wasn’t particularly difficult, and as a result, I could get away with doing assignments late and spending more time playing video games. However, once I got into college I no longer had my parents or teachers holding me accountable.

Soon after starting college I became overwhelmed and started using video games as an escape from my problems. I showed signs of depression, I wasn’t sleeping properly, and my diet and gone downhill. It wasn’t long until I would spend the majority of my time gaming in order to get away from my responsibilities.

For a large portion of people in the Game Quitters community, video games were never a problem until university. Sure, the symptoms might start in school. For example, I would spend most of my time at home playing video games. But, because I was still living with my parents I was eating well, I was sleeping okay, and I still saw my friends every day at school.

However, as I mentioned before, once you get to college all of a sudden you’re alone. No one’s breathing down your back to get your work done. No one is coming to save you.

A lot of people aren’t used to this level of difficulty, and so they fall back to what’s comfortable. The one thing that has always been there when they needed it. This is, of course, gaming.

Which, if left unchecked, will inevitably lead to further problems and even result in developing an addiction to gaming.

When we play video games we’re in total control. Nothing can go wrong, and even though we can lose progress, it’s impossible for us to fail. You’ll never actually suffer real-world consequences if you experience a setback in a video game. So, when things become too much in your real life, your brain wants you to get back to the virtual world where it feels safe.

Your brain is actually affected a lot more than you might realise by gaming. Even a small amount of gameplay can cause issues, and not many people really understand this.

Want to know more about gaming’s effect on your brain? Keep reading to find out.

Video Games Are Addictive By Design

Surprisingly, it’s in the industry’s best interests to make as much money as they can.

How do they do that? By making their games as addictive as possible. Or, in their words, “fun and engaging”.

You might think all they need to do is make a great game and the money will follow. If only it were so simple.

In actuality, many companies are utilizing the help of psychologists and addiction experts in order to keep you hooked on their game for as long as possible. They’re implementing game mechanics based on scientific research into addictive behaviours, and doing whatever they can to disguise them as “revolutionary” new features.

Want to know more? Watch the video below to find out, and check out our article on how games are designed to be addictive.

Also, if you’re interested in which video games are more addictive than others, read through our list of the 9 most addicting games in the world to see why some games are more likely to keep you playing than others.

How Gaming Affects Your Brain Chemistry

Have you ever tried to learn a new hobby? Whether you’re currently a gamer, or have recently quit playing, you’ll understand just how difficult it can be.

You start off full of excitement and motivation to improve. You think about all of the things that you can accomplish through this activity, and you love every hour you pour into it.

However, after what might be a day, a week, or a month, you start to lose interest. You don’t really feel in the mood for it or you’d rather be doing something else. Eventually, after missing out on one too many practice sessions, you take part in the hobby for the last time.

What follows is usually a feeling of being disheartened by life. Perhaps you feel like you’re not talented enough to do what you wanted. You feel like a failure.

If you’re a former gamer this will likely result in you experiencing cravings for video games.

But why does this happen? In the past, you found it so easy to take up new hobbies. You didn’t have a problem practising an instrument every day when you were young. So, what changed?

The answer: video games.

You see, humans have a fundamental set of needs that have to be fulfilled. As it so happens, video games are incredibly good at satisfying these needs.

They allow you to experience growth, escape, challenge, competition, and social activity on a level that you can’t find anywhere else. To add to this, if you’re playing games, you’re also becoming accustomed to getting rewards with minimum investment.

When you can pick up a game and be proficient in a matter of minutes or hours, your brain expects the same thing to happen with new skills.

You might think that’s ridiculous. No one can pick up a guitar and master it in a week. But that’s not what your brain thinks.

The only thing your brain is focused on is survival and pleasure with as little effort as possible. It’s always going to choose the path of least resistance.

What do you think your brain will find more enjoyable? Spending 10 hours playing the guitar to learn one song, or beating an entire game’s campaign?

Of course, it’s going to choose to game.

You’ve become so accustomed to the level of stimulation that gaming provides, that when you try to do anything else you’re going to get pulled back to the easiest and most comfortable form of pleasure.

This is why extended periods of gaming for years is so problematic. You’re dissatisfied with your life so you decide to change. However, once you try to do something different, your brain does everything it can to take you back to video games.

It’s a vicious cycle that’s incredibly hard to escape from. But, it can be done.

How to Treat Gaming Disorder

It’s important to remember that no matter what you’re going through, you’re not alone. Millions of people are affected by Gaming Disorder, and more and more of them are coming forward to get the help that they need.

Game Quitters is an online community with videos, a forum, and a wealth of information available for free in our articles.

If you’re looking for something more professional, take a look at our video game addiction therapist directory.

Want some inspiration on what’s possible if you decide to quit gaming? Read through some of our community stories and you’ll soon feel like anything is possible.

Even if you don’t want to quit gaming, you never know how your life might change if you take some time to escape the virtual world.

Interested? Take 90 days off gaming now, and change your life for the better.

How to Delete Your YouTube Account Forever

How many times have you sat down to get some work done, only to find yourself opening up YouTube and before you know it half the day has gone?

I like to think I use productively, but in reality, I waste so much time on the website it’s almost unbelievable. I tell myself I’m going to just watch gaming documentaries, TED talks or useful videos, but after a couple of days I go back to watching meme compilations and nonsense.

If you really want to be productive and get work done, you’re going to have to stay away from YouTube. What’s the best way to do that? You need to learn how to delete your YouTube account.

When I first did this, while hesitant at first, I saw a huge shift in my productivity. I recommend trying it out, and staying away from YouTube for at least a week and see how your life changes. I guarantee you’ll see a big difference in your focus, productivity, and even your sleep.

 

Prefer to watch the video? We’ve got you covered.

Step 1 – Find Advanced Settings

Log on to YouTube, click your profile in the top right, and head over to “Settings”.

How to Delete Your YouTube Account

 

On the following screen under “Your YouTube channel”, find the “View advanced settings” button and click it.YouTube Settings

 

Step 2 – Delete Your YouTube Channel

Click the “Delete channel” button and you’ll be taken to a confirmation screen.

YouTube Delete Channel

 

Click the dropdown, fill in the checkbox, and hit “Delete My Content”.

Delete My YouTube Content

 

Step 3 – Confirm Account Deletion

Finally, fill in your account’s e-mail address and click the “Delete my content” button.

YouTube Deletion Confirmation

 

Once you’re done you’ll be taken to a confirmation screen. That’s it! Your YouTube account has been deleted.

YouTube Has Been Deleted

 

Just a quick note, it might take a bit of time to confirm your account deletion, but once you see this screen you don’t need to take any further action.

All you need to do now is avoid going back to the website and making a new account, which is much harder than it seems!

 

If you don’t want to delete your YouTube account, I’d recommend at least clearing your YouTube history to give your account a fresh reset without losing your data. Also be sure to delete your other social media accounts like your Reddit and Discord accounts.

How to Delete Your Twitch Account

To say Twitch has taken the world of gaming by storm would be an understatement. What was once a fairly unknown streaming platform, has turned into a service regularly used by more than 50% of gamers while they play. Did you know 350 billion minutes of Twitch were watched in 2017 alone?

It’s inevitable, then, that while the majority of people are using the platform effectively, there are some people having problems. I know that once I’m in the Twitch rabbit hole, it’s not difficult for me to spend 40+ hours a week watching live streams. For individuals they even develop an addiction to twitch.

As a result, I created this guide on how to delete your Twitch account and help you take back control over your free time once and for all.

Step by Step to Delete Your Twitch Account

Step 1 – Go to Twitch Settings

Log on to Twitch, click your profile in the top right and head over to the “settings” page.

Delete Twitch Settings

Step 2 – Disable Twitch Account

On the settings page, scroll to the bottom and click “Disable Account”.

Disable Twitch Account

Step 3 – Confirm Twitch Account Deletion

Finally, just click the button to confirm the account deletion process and that’s it. You’re all done!

Twitch Account Deletion Confirmation

The process of deleting your Twitch account is a lot simpler than most programs out there, with no waiting for support or endless confirmation boxes.

What are you going to do with all this free time now that Twitch has left your life? Check out our hobby tool to find out more! Also be sure to delete your Reddit account if it is also causing you problems.

How to Delete Your Netflix Account In Under 2 Minutes

If you described Netflix to me 15 years ago I would have thought you were crazy. On the surface, it seems like an incredible and revolutionary website, and it is.

But, despite all of the enjoyment and ‘chilling’ Netflix has brought us since its streaming debut in 2010, it has been the ruin of productivity and good quality sleep.

Fortunately, there’s a solution. If you’re having trouble with binge-watching Netflix, then you should learn how to delete your Netflix account, so you can start focusing on the more important things in life.

You know, like spending your weekends effectively.

By the way, if you cancel your membership, then Netflix will delete your account within 10 months automatically. However, that’s too long for some people. That’s why we’ve created this guide to cancel Netflix without having to wait almost a year. It does require an extra step, though, but don’t worry. It doesn’t take long.

Want to watch the video? Check it out here:

Step 1 – Cancel Your Netflix Membership

Go to the homepage and click on your user in the top right.

Delete Netflix Account

 

Then, navigate to your account and press the “Cancel Membership” button.

Cancel Netflix Membership

 

You’ll see a confirmation screen, just click Finish Cancellation” and there you go. Your membership has been cancelled.

Netflix Cancellation Confirmation

 

If you want to leave it there, your account will be deleted in 10 months. But, for those of you want to permanently delete Netflix right now, keep reading to see how to do it.

Step 2 – Contact Support

Unfortunately, if you want to get it done as soon as possible, you’re going to have to contact support. There’s no longer an option to e-mail Netflix, at least not through their website, so you’ll have to call them or start a live chat.

Head over to the “Help Centre” by clicking your user in the top right.

Netflix Help Centre Location

 

Then, click on the button at the bottom of the page to “Start Live Chat”. Select the option to tell them what your issue is highlighted in red.

Netflix Live Chat Support

 

Send them a message saying “I want to delete my Netflix account” and then press submit.

Want to Delete Netflix Account

 

Once you’ve done this, support should guide you through the process of deleting your account. It shouldn’t take long, Netflix support is quite robust.

And that’s it. Now that you’ve deleted your Netflix account you can get back to doing all the things you love, like binging YouTube videos and watching one of the billion other streaming services out there.

Mixer vs Twitch: What’s the Best Live-Streaming Platform?

For streamers it can be a difficult decision as to which platform you should choose. Which live-streaming platform is best, Mixer vs Twitch?

For years, the number one service for live-streaming was always Twitch. But more recently, as the world of streaming has increased in popularity, more competitors are entering the market. It’s no longer just Twitch anymore. Streamers are now looking at Mixer vs Twitch vs YouTube vs whichever new platform wants to have a go at dethroning the big guys.

Twitch has a much greater market share, but that’ll make it hard to get discovered. Mixer has fewer users, but there’s less competition.

As a result, it can become a bit of a headache, which is what we want to help you within this article on Mixer vs Twitch, and help you decide which platform you should launch your streaming career on.

Mixer vs Twitch: Pros and Cons

Twitch pros:
  • Bigger audience
  • Slightly better monetisation options
  • More partnerships with games
  • Intuitive UI
  • Powerful analytics
  • Easy-to-navigate library of on-demand videos
Mixer pros:
  • Instant streaming technology
  • More effective support and moderation
  • Xbox integration
  • Split-screen streaming with up to 3 friends
  • Possibility for your chat to interact with your game
Twitch cons:
  • Difficult to get noticed
  • Controversial moderation standards
  • Lower quality support compared to Mixer
  • More toxic community (trolls, spammers, etc.)
Mixer cons:
  • Robust monetisation system requires partner status
  • Smaller audience
  • Difficult to find older content and VODs
  • Harder to stream from PS4

Even while writing this article, I noticed Mixer are rolling out updates at a much faster pace than Twitch. I will update the article in the future as things develop, but as of December 2019 the information is accurate.

Why You Should Stream on Twitch:

There’s no doubt that it’s is the live-streaming behemoth, but why is Twitch so popular?

Since becoming the first major website to host streaming services for gamers after pivoting from justin.tv, Twitch has constantly been developing, updating, and improving their platform in order to create the best service available on the internet.

Out of the loop? Read: The Complete Guide to Twitch

Twitch Has a Much Bigger Audience

The most obvious reason as to why you should choose Twitch over Mixer is due to its massive viewer base. While it has its cons, which we’ll discuss later, being able to put your content in front of millions more people makes it easier to carve out a niche. Regardless of what you like to stream, you’re likely to find an audience that wants to watch you.

So far in 2019, Twitch has racked up more than 7.5 billion hours watched, and we can expect that number to hit 10 billion by the end of the year. Compare this to Mixer which saw only 270 million hours watched during the same period and it’s easy to see the vast difference in popularity between the two services.

However, it’s worth noting that Mixer’s numbers will likely rise dramatically in the last quarter of the year due to popular streamers moving over to the Windows platform. Also, we’re already seeing a large influx of unique channels streaming on Mixer, while Twitch is on the decline.

lonely streamer

Data is taken from the Streamlabs & Newzoo Q3 2019 Live Streaming Industry Report

It’s Easier to Make Money on Twitch (for now)

While Mixer has some robust monetisation options, some of which are superior to Twitch, a lot of them are available to partners.

If you’re not aware of how it works on Twitch, there are two tiers when you’re a streamer – affiliate and partner. But, what are they and how do they work?

Twitch Affiliate

Becoming an affiliate is much easier than becoming a partner, but with the size of Twitch, it can be difficult to achieve. It requires you to have broadcast at least 500 minutes in the last 30 days with at least 7 unique broadcasts in the same time. You also need to have an average of 3 concurrent viewers or more over 30 days and finally, you need to have at least 50 followers.

When you become an affiliate it will unlock certain bonuses such as:

  • The ability for viewers to subscribe to your channel for $4.99/m
  • Letting people cheer using bits
  • 1 subscriber emote
  • Priority streaming access

Twitch Partner

In order to become a Twitch partner, it’s going to take much longer than it does for affiliation. It’s up to you to apply for partnership, and they take each request on a case-by-case basis.

However, they have some general guidelines in place for streamers to aspire to. These are to stream for 26 hours in the last month on at least 12 different days and average over 75 viewers in the last month. It might not seem like a big step up, but garnering 75 average viewers is no easy feat, and often takes people years of dedication and hard work to achieve.

You do get access to some pretty great bonuses when you reach it, though:

  • Custom cheer emotes
  • Up to 50 subscriber emote slots
  • The ability to run adverts
  • A greater revenue split from each subscription
  • Longer VOD storage
  • Priority support
  • Faster payment

The way these tiers are set up generally makes it quite easy for people to start earning money on Twitch, with huge potential to turn it into a career later down the line.

Mixer will soon be making subscription options available to ALL streamers regardless of their size, as well as embers (their version of Twitch). For now, though, Twitch is just about holding on to the top spot in this Mixer vs Twitch debate.

Twitch Has Better Analytics

This might seem like a small factor, but for a lot of streamers, it’s a very important one. You want to know as much information as you can about who’s watching your channel, how long people are viewing you for, and a number of other interesting statistics.

While Mixer has some interesting features, such as being able to see which games are hot this week which allows streamers to target trending games and potentially market to a wider audience, it still has a bit of way to go in terms of raw analytical power.

mixer vs twitch analytics

Videos on Demand (VODs) Are Easier to Discover

This is one area that Twitch outshines Mixer by quite a bit. The ability to easily find a streamer’s past broadcasts, uploads, highlights and clips make it a much better experience for the viewer. It also benefits the streamer a great deal, too. Having your viewers able to go back and watch all of your streams takes a lot of pressure off you to guide them to the right place.

You can guarantee Mixer will improve their usability if their recent update progress is anything to go by. But right now the edge goes to Twitch. Most likely because they’ve had years of development time to hone their user experience to be the best that it can be.

Why You Should Stream on Mixer

Okay, we’ve covered the pros of streaming on Twitch in detail. But what about the David of live-streaming, how does it compete against the Goliath in this Mixer vs Twitch debate?

Lightning Fast Streaming Technology

When I first tried live-streaming on Twitch, I remember there being a 15-30 second delay between me and my chat. Now that time is down to a few seconds, which is definitely a huge improvement and contributes a lot to the viewer experience.

However, when I checked out the ‘near-instant’ streaming offered by Mixer I was blown away. You’re able to talk in real-time to your chat, or about as close to real-time as you can get, and it’s just like you’re having a conversation with your viewers. You can get feedback and answers as soon as you ask questions, and it really helps to build a connection with your audience – which is crucial if you want to become a successful streamer.

Co-Host Streams With Your Friends

This is a really interesting feature that I wasn’t aware of initially. It’s also something I would have loved to have had access to back in my days as a streamer, especially while racing against my friends.

Basically, Mixer co-streaming allows you to easily broadcast yourself and up to 3 friends’ screens onto your stream. If you’re taking part in a tournament, playing a multiplayer game. or racing against each other then this is an amazing addition to your streaming arsenal.

I think it will only affect a small subset of streamers, but if you’re the kind of person that can put it to good use then it could be a powerful tool for you to help build up your career.

mixer co streaming

Xbox Integration and Playing with Your Favorite Streamers

If you weren’t aware already, Mixer is owned by Microsoft. As a result, it’s not surprising that they’ve made it incredibly easy for people playing on their console to watch and stream their favorite games. At the touch of a button within the Mixer app, you can be streaming to your audience online.

On top of this, one feature I love is the ability to play along with streamers on Mixer through something called MixPlay. If they’re playing a MixPlay enabled game you could potentially have the option to interact directly with their game by giving them rewards or making it more difficult, as well as having the chance to take over their controller completely making for some hilarious (and chaotic) gaming moments.

As more games become compatible with this feature I think there’s a huge amount of potential to be realised, so it’s something I’ll be keeping an eye on in the future.

The Cons of Streaming on Mixer vs Twitch

Hopefully, you’ve got a better idea about the positives of each streaming platform in the debate between Mixer vs Twitch. Unfortunately, neither Twitch nor Mixer are perfect. Each service has its cons, and while they’re not going to have a huge effect on your experience it’s still worth talking about them.

Twitch Moderation is Controversial

It seems like every other day you hear another story about how a streamer has been banned without any violations, yet larger streamers can get away with whatever they want with no repercussions.

As it turns out, there are no real standards being kept in terms of moderation. Each case is handled by a different moderator, and it can be entirely up to them to decide your fate. Even if you did nothing wrong, if a moderator takes personal offence to your violation then they can instantly ban you without warning.

This can have huge effects on smaller streamers that haven’t accessed partner status yet. They can’t contact support and are often left in the dark and shoved into a low-priority queue to get their problem fixed. If you’re considering streaming anything controversial then perhaps you’d best stay away from Twitch for the meantime. Just my two cents.

Difficult to Get Noticed on Twitch

It’s not surprising that with the number of streamers on the platform that if you’re just starting out it’s going to be difficult to get noticed. It’s like picking out a specific teaspoon of water from a lake. You’re just going to blend in with the crowd. The upside of this is that if you do gain traction, there’s a much bigger pool of people that can watch you.

As long as you treat streaming like a business, and don’t expect to just views by turning on your computer and playing, you should be okay.

Mixer Has a Poor Audience to Streamer Ratio

With big streamers like Ninja and Shroud jumping over to the platform, Mixer has seen a huge increase in the number of new streamers on the website. However, the number of viewers hasn’t increased to match.

What this means is that you have too much supply and not enough demand. So, while it’s easier to get noticed, it’ll be difficult to cut a bigger piece of the viewership pie as so many people are vying for competition. This will likely change in the future as more people start using Mixer over Twitch, but for now it’s a problem for potential streamers.

Difficult to Stream from PlayStation to Mixer

This is a pretty minor problem for the majority of people, but there’s no way to natively stream to Mixer from PlayStation consoles. It can be circumvented through the use of a capture card, but for those of you with a PS4 that want to stream, then Twitch is definitely the better option for now.

Mixer vs Twitch: The Final Verdict

With so many benefits to both platforms, you might think it’s difficult for us to recommend a winner. However, in my personal opinion, I think the edge slightly goes to Mixer.

In the short term, you have the potential to gain a bigger audience through Twitch, but with the speed of Mixer’s development and its rising surge in popularity, I expect Mixer to start making much faster progress.

To me, it comes down to Mixer having a better community, an easier startup period for new streamers, faster websites and technology, and more advanced features.

Winner: Mixer.

Next: Should You Watch Gaming Streams?

How to Develop Self-Discipline the Right Way

This article on “How to Develop Self-Discipline” has been adapted from Episode 14 of our Life Unlocked podcast. If you’d rather listen than read, check it out here:


In the world of self-improvement, people go on at length about the importance of discipline, but why? Surely they should talk about motivation, willpower, habits and everything else crucial to success.

It just so happens that at their core, these all stem from discipline.

I hate to break it to you, but when you say that you don’t have the motivation to work or the willpower to stick to something, or you feel lazy from gaming, what you’re really saying is:

I can’t be bothered to build self-discipline so I’m just going to accept that I’m lazy and not bother changing.

you, probably

For those of you that want to make real, genuine change in your life, developing self-discipline is one of the most important things you can do.

What Is Self-Discipline

Self-discipline is simply the ability to do something when you don’t want to.

This might involve delaying a reward until you get your work done, ignoring the notification that just came up on your phone, flossing your teeth, or whatever else in your life requires effort.

However, the idea of building self-discipline may seem like an impossible pipe dream for most of you.

How many times have you tried to add a new habit to your routine only to give up after a week, despite being spurred on by a huge burst of motivation at the beginning?

Or perhaps you have a big project due soon and tell yourself you’re going to spend 2 hours every day working on it. When it actually comes to getting it done you come up with some excuse or tell yourself “oh I’ll just do it later or tomorrow.” However, by the time later comes around, you’ve spent the last 3 hours playing video games or spending time with your friends.

Another way of looking at self-discipline is being able to prioritize the right tasks. From there, it’s a case of taking the necessary action to complete them without getting sidelined by distractions.

It means being able to suffer short-term discomfort for long-term gains.

man productivity self-discipline

Why Is Self-Discipline Important

So why is it important that you develop self-discipline? Make sure you read this section carefully and really take the time to internalize it.

If you don’t have discipline you will never be able to change your life. It’s as simple as that.

You’ll constantly go through ebbs and flows of productivity. Every 3 months you’ll start a new project or hobby or side hustle simply because you got bored of your current one.

In reality, you didn’t have the discipline to stick with it. You couldn’t be bothered to get through the difficult first stages in order to reap the rewards later on.

You might think I’m being quite direct, but that’s the point.

I really want to stress the importance of building self-discipline when it comes to improving your life. It’s arguably the biggest factor in determining success in whatever you do.

Read: “How to Develop a Growth Mindset

How People Become Successful

The number one trait of successful people is the ability to make consistent improvements and take daily action.

Someone that improves 1% every day for 2 years is going to be more successful than someone who goes through 3-month cycles of wavering productivity.

I’ve been there. It sucks.

I routinely went through this for over 3 years. I’d get invested into a new skill, such as photography, and I’d feel motivated to become the best damn photographer I could be. Fast forward a few months and I’d be back in limbo. Wondering why I ever bothered in the first place. Then, after another few months of drudgery, something else would catch my attention. On and on it went.

When you do this over a long enough period you start to realize that you’re not just hurting your productivity, you’re actively sabotaging it.

You’re taking 2 steps forward and 3 steps back. The longer it goes on the more you’ll have to catch up when you finally get your act together.

However, developing discipline isn’t easy. It’s a long journey filled with failure, setbacks, obstacles and challenges. You’re going to have to stare them in the face, break them down, and move on to the next one. Over and over again until you finally make it through.

It’ll probably be one of the most difficult things you ever do.

How to Develop Self-Discipline

What you need to realise about self-discipline is that it’s a muscle.

The sooner you can think of it in this way the sooner you can start training it.

Muscles don’t grow because you’re lifting weights. They grow because they get broken down and torn apart, and when your body repairs itself it thinks “oh hm, that kinda sucked, I should probably make them a bit stronger next time”. Rinse and repeat.

The same holds true for discipline.

The only way you can improve it is to force yourself into situations fraught with discomfort. You need to break yourself down in order to bounce back stronger. Exactly like a muscle.

Unfortunately, this also means there’s no magical shortcut you can take for this. Even if you take steroids you still have to put the work in at the gym.

I would, however, recommend starting small. I’ll give you a few things I did when starting off to instil the practice of building discipline in order to make it as easy as possible at the beginning.

break up with your phone for self-discipline

It’s Time to Ditch the Phone

You don’t have to throw it away. But, in the modern world people are giving up more and more control to their devices. If you need any chance of building discipline you’re going to have to look at your technology use.

I recently discovered that my phone has a digital wellbeing section.

I want you to get your phone out and check how many times you open your phone each day or how much time you spend on it.

Yesterday I spent a total of 3 hours on my phone and opened it 70 times. Which is so much higher than I thought it’d be. A lot of it came from messaging apps like Telegram, Whatsapp, Facebook and Instagram.

Can you imagine what kind of effect that’s having on my brain?

It’s going to have a huge impact on my ability to concentrate on important tasks, as the more I do it, the more likely I’ll be to get distracted by my phone. It’s a never-ending cycle.

So how do you stop using your phone less? For me, it starts with little things.

I make sure I don’t pick it up within the first hour of waking up. During the day I put it out of sight in my bag and turn off notifications. I impose restrictions on the amount of time that I can use it, e.g. half an hour at lunch. Finally,I make sure that I don’t use it within 2 hours before bed.

Don’t Take on Too Much at Once

Start with not using your phone first thing in the morning. That alone will completely change your day. Get a dedicated alarm clock so you’re even less tempted to use your phone, and force yourself to not pick it up for an hour. Wake up, go exercise, take a walk in the sun, get hydrated, shower and so on.

Read: “How to Create a Morning Routine

Then over time, you can start to impose greater restrictions such as using blocking apps like Block Site, StayFocusd or AppBlock (for mobile).

It’s all about shifting the control from your phone back over to you.

Remove Distractions from Your Home

If you know something is a big weakness for you, for example, every time you eat dinner you automatically reach for the ice cream, get rid of that damn ice cream.

This applies to everything from TV, food, video games, smartphones and whatever else you find distracting.

If you want to eat less junk food, throw away every food item in your house that’s unhealthy. You won’t be able to indulge in bags of crisps if it’s not there to eat.

The same goes for video games or Netflix. If you have a tendency to come in from work or college, and you know you need to get some work done in the evening, you might consider relaxing for a bit by watching films or playing games.

Which is perfectly natural.

However, how many times does it go from a relaxing break into wasting the entire evening?

Now, if you have a block installed on these for specific times, or better yet get rid of them completely (you don’t actually need Netflix or video games by the way), you’ll be much more inclined to come in and get the work done.

Eventually, when you make this a habit, you can start using those forms of entertainment as a reward.

wasting your time gaming

How to Use Rewards Effectively to Build Self-Discipline

The majority of people are terrible at rewarding themselves. Either they’ll use the wrong reward or they do it too often to have any benefit.

The best way to use rewards is to remove them when you’re just starting out. Why? You need to give yourself time to adjust to having less stimulation.

You’ve been so used to getting instant gratification whether it’s from your phone, video games, or junk food.

Then, after a week or two of working on your discipline, you can start to introduce rewards back into your life.

But that doesn’t mean you can say “I did 1 hour of work today I’m going to have half a cheesecake”.

The best rewards are ones that are going to enrich you.

For example, if I do 8 hours of solid work and get a bunch of tasks done, I’ll let myself spend a couple hours playing music without the pressure of having to worry about working. Or, I’ll go and spend some time with my friends.

You Need to Reset Your Brain

It might seem like these rewards are quite harsh. Seeing friends and working on hobbies should be a part of everyday life. I agree.

However, your brain has become so warped by constant distractions and stimulation that you need to spend time getting it back to normal.

Have a think about what a good reward would be for you.

Something like binging on junk food or getting drunk or spending the day watching Netflix. If you actually take some time to consider them, do they really sound like good rewards?

In the long term, they’re going to do more harm than good, and won’t actually do anything to bring you closer to building discipline.

 

What to Do When it All Goes Wrong

I briefly touched on it earlier, but it’s important to become comfortable with failure and learning how to forgive yourself.

Even with our best intentions, we fall short. It happens. However, it’s important that you always move forward.

If you stumble or hit an obstacle, take some time to acknowledge what caused it and move on.

Learn from your missteps and forgive yourself. Then you can remind yourself why you’re doing this in the first place, refocus your goals, and get back to building self-discipline and really transforming your life for the better.

 

You’ve got this.

What is Twitch? A Beginner’s Guide to Live Streaming

Trying to explain the concept of live streaming to anyone that didn’t grow up in this generation is a struggle. I’ve had family members bring up the question of “what is twitch?” in casual conversation.

Note: Due to the recent shutdown of Mixer you may have been redirected here from an old article. Twitch is the current largest live streaming platform. The newest competitor for Twitch is a platform called Kick Streaming.

They likely came across the website on a news story or social media, and every time it happens they have no concept that something like Twitch exists.

Why in the world would anyone spend hours watching someone else play a video game that they can play themselves? Not only that, but when you tell them people donate thousands of dollars to complete strangers on the internet it makes their eyes water.

Whether you’re a complete beginner to live streaming and just want to know more about the website or you’re a seasoned Twitch veteran hoping to find information about something specific, we’ve got you covered.

In this article, we’ll go in-depth into everything live streaming. I’ll even be talking about my experience as a streamer in 2018 and why to this day I still have a love-hate relationship with streaming.

Let’s get started.

What is Twitch?

twitch logo transparentTwitch is what’s known as a live streaming website.

Similar to how news crews upload live footage to your TV, people are uploading live footage of them doing everything from playing video games to painting and even eating food.

The website was created in 2011, and since then has rapidly been increasing in popularity.

In October 2013 Twitch garnered 45 million unique viewers 134 134. The ESPN Of Video Games × . Compare that to May 2018, just 5 years later, and the site sees over 15 million daily active users 135 135. Twitch Stats and Facts × .

Twitch has seen a number of iterations and integrations in its lifetime, especially since its acquisition by Amazon in 2014 for just under $1 billion 136 136. Amazon Buys Twitch For $US970 Million In Cash × . This has enabled Twitch to make use of Amazon’s massive infrastructure and services such as Amazon Payments, Prime, and Blacksmith. Although Blacksmith was discontinued in 2018 due to lack of profitability.

Although it was initially touted as a video game streaming service, Twitch eventually diversified their content to include the hugely popular creative category. Twitch Creative is a place for people to showcase their talents in music, art, programming, design and pretty much anything else you can think of.

It would also go on to add IRL (In Real Life) streaming to great success, allowing streamers to bring a new level of personality and connection to their audience.

Twitch Statistics – How Many People Watch Live Streams?

Twitch is pretty popular. But exactly how popular is it, and what kind of people watch live streams? Here’s a list of Twitch statistics gathered from various reports.

Top Games on Twitch 2019

Roughly 40% of gamers are female, however, it’s a very different story on Twitch.

Twitch Demographics
  • Twitch Advertising reports 81.5% of website users are male.
  • 55% of Twitch users are between 18-34, 73% between 18-49.
Twitch Viewership
  • Between 2-3 million broadcasters on the site.
  • 355 billion minutes watched in 2017.
  • The average user spends almost 100 minutes a day on Twitch.
  • 150 million unique viewers each month.
Top Games on Twitch

The latest report by Newzoo listed the most popular games in Q3 of 2019, and it’s quite surprising.

  • Fortnite and League of Legends top the list for the most-watched games on the platform.
  • Taking the #3 spot is World of Warcraft, no doubt due to the release of WoW Classic.

My Experience As a Twitch Streamer

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of the article, I thought I’d talk about something I haven’t really discussed a lot on Game Quitters. I’ve mentioned my story in the past, but the few months I spent as a (moderately) successful streamer has been left out.

Back in 2018, I found myself getting hooked on a new rogue-like card-based strategy game. It’s almost impossible to imagine someone speedrunning the game, which is exactly what drew me to it.

I’d never done a speedrun before, but I posted a video on Reddit of me completing the game in around 18 minutes and it exploded in popularity. Soon after, a community of people had appeared around the game, and we were regularly testing tactics, routes, and strategies in order to speed up the game.

That’s when I decided to get into live streaming on Twitch.

Within a month of starting my account, I was regularly getting about 50+ viewers, and I was earning money from subscriptions, bits and donations. If you’re experienced with Twitch you’ll know that getting to that point usually takes years of constant griding. I got very lucky.

You might be wondering why I stopped. Being a Twitch streamer is high on the list of people’s goals.

What I usually leave out of the story was how I had to stay up until 5am to get the American viewers. How my mental health reached an all-time low as I spent 12 hours in front of a screen every day constantly keeping up a facade. I felt like I had a standard to uphold to my viewers, and it was draining. I was totally addicted to Twitch.

Not to mention it was also at a time in my life where I was struggling with money and health, it was the perfect storm to put a sour taste in my mouth whenever I think about those 3 months I spent streaming.

However, I strangely miss it. Despite quitting video games earlier this year, I still miss the sense of community and camaraderie that I’d built up. Having people cheer me on and rooting for me. Seeing dozens of people tune in to watch me every time I booted up the stream. I won’t lie, it felt good. Really good.

If I was going to do it again I’d be a lot more mindful about how I spent my time and looked after my daily responsibilities. Streaming became an escape for me, and I think it’s important to not allow yourself to become dependent on the platform. Also, I’d eat a lot less takeaway food.

I’ll write a bit more about becoming a Twitch streamer later on the article, so if that’s something that interests you make sure you read the whole thing.

There’s always one question that crops up whenever I talk about my streaming journey and that’s about why people tune in to watch me play. Which brings me to the next section.

audience watching stream

Why Do People Watch Others Play Games?

48% of gamers say they spend more time watching gaming videos on YouTube than playing games .

Gamers are no longer people who only play video games, and they spend just as much time, if not more, watching other gamers play on websites like Twitch and YouTube.

To many, this may come as a surprise, but to gamers, it has been a natural evolution and speaks not only to the underlying reasons why people love video games but how they are managing to turn their passion into a legitimate career.

To understand live-streaming you must first understand that gaming is as much a sense of community as it is to play video games. It’s where gamers feel like they belong. Where they feel understood. Streaming takes that to another level providing not only a community to belong to (ex: fans of Ninja, fans of Fortnite), but a live social experience as well .

For many broadcasters, the game they are playing is just the activity happening in the background, but while they play they are engaged in commentary and interaction with their fans. It’s the same psychology that has driven the social media era with apps like Instagram and Twitter, and why millions of viewers tuned in each week to watch ‘Keeping Up With The Kardashians’, the reality show that propelled the Kardashian’s to superstardom. Fans want to experience the behind-the-scenes, they want to engage, and be a part of the experience. Live-streaming on Twitch does all of that… and more.

Watching other gamers play is fun and passive entertainment. We all have a desire to relax and watching streams is no different than watching the NFL, or tuning into The Handmaid’s Tale on Wednesday nights. We each have our preference and for gamers, that’s streaming.

Finally, a gamer might also watch to learn and improve, as many streamers are professional eSports players and very skilled. You can discover new strategies and tactics by watching them play, and that in turn can help you succeed as you strive to become a pro gamer yourself.

Most Popular Twitch Streamers in 2019

Honourable Mention – Ninja

At one point, Ninja was by far the most popular streamer on Twitch. He was earning hundreds of thousands of dollars a month, and he even played Fortnite with Drake.

However, the reason why he doesn’t top out list anymore is that in August 2019 Microsoft paid the streamer a crazy amount of money for exclusivity rights on their streaming platform, Mixer. Ninja moving to Mixer was an attempt to bring people over to their new platform, and it worked.

ninja twitch mixer

Since then, another incredibly popular streamer has also made the switch.

Honourable mention – Shroud

Known for being one of the best CS:GO players in the world, Shroud has been among the most popular Twitch streamers for years. With over 7 million followers, it came as a shock to the industry when Shroud announced he was taking the same direction as Ninja and making the switch to Mixer.

It’s impossible to tell how their success on Twitch has transferred over, but it’s safe to say neither of these two streamers is hurting for money. Microsoft is willing to invest a huge amount into making Mixer the best streaming platform on the internet, and the acquisition of Ninja and Shroud is likely just the tip of the iceberg.

shroud esports

#1 – tfue

Tfue, aka Tenney, exploded in popularity after he transitioned to Fortnite and quickly became known as one of the best players in the world. He would go onto win multiple tournaments in a short time, and soon amassed huge numbers of subscribers on his YouTube and Twitch accounts.

Sitting at around 7.2 million Twitch followers he’s currently the most followed active channel on the website.

However, Tenney has been involved in a number of controversies which have included suspensions from both Twitch and Fortnite. Also, more recently he has been caught up in a lawsuit involving his eSports team FaZe.

#2 – myth

Yet another Fortnite streamer to add to our list. Myth, or Ali Kabanni, started streaming on Twitch in 2016 with the game Paragon. It wasn’t until he swapped over to Fortnite during the rise of its popularity did he rise to the level of success that he sees now.

As captain of TSM (Team Solo Mid), one of the most notable eSports teams in the world, it’s easy to see why he has so many followers. A little over 5.5 million of them, to be precise.

#3 – dakotaz

A bit more of a Twitch veteran than most people on our list, having been a streamer on the platform since 2012, Brett Hoffman is known for his relaxed streams and YouTube videos focusing on Fortnite updates and montage videos.

He was a member of Team Solo Mid for a while, before eventually leaving in 2019 to see how things go.

Brett now regularly streams to around 14,000 viewers and has amassed over 4.1 million followers on Twitch.

#4 – timthetatman

Despite not being as much of a household name as streamers like Ninja, it’s difficult to find someone with a more dedicated following than timthetatman. Noted for his charismatic and infectious personality, and working tirelessly for the last 7 years to attract over 4 million followers on the platform, after watching his streams for just a short amount of time you can understand why he’s so popular.

timthetatman streaming

#5 – summit1g

Last but not least on our list is 42-year-old Jaryd Lazar, aka summit1g. Jaryd is a former professional CS:GO player who was a part of the teams A51 and Mythic.

Regularly bringing in over 20,000 viewers to his streams, summit has remained one of the most popular and relevant streamers on Twitch for years. Having started streaming in 2012, he has gone on to attract 4 million followers without selling his soul to Fortnite. Jaryd is known as a variety streamer, similar to Timthetatman, and it goes to show how dedicated his following is when they tune in to watch regardless of what he’s playing.

Can You Make Money As a Streamer?

With millions of broadcasters worldwide, has streaming become a legitimate career choice? That answer is more complex than you think.

Although streamers like Ninja, Nightblue3, Lirik, summit1g, Imaqtpie, Phantomlord, Markiplier, Jacksepticeye, PewDiePie and others make millions of dollars, the average streamer will make very little as competition for subscribers is fierce, and it takes years of dedication to build up a fanbase. Are you willing to dedicate yourself to this full-time for years for the slight chance you might make it? I won’t be the judge of that, but you have to know the odds.

If you did want to pursue becoming a professional Twitch streamer, there are a variety of ways to earn income, including from subscriptions, Twitch bits, donations, affiliate marketing, partnerships, sponsorships, and personalized merchandise, amongst others. On YouTube, you can also earn money from advertising revenue. Although being a professional streamer on Twitch or YouTube is now possible, it should only be pursued with immense caution and focus. See what it’s like to really be a pro gamer in these gaming and esports documentaries.

Regardless of the difficulty in becoming a pro streamer, gaming is no longer just about the act of playing video games, it’s about the industry at large. From professional gaming (eSports) to live-streaming, to festivals and cosplays, gaming continues to expand quickly, entering the mainstream and is on the cusp of taking over the world.

The Future of Live Streaming

future of live streaming

By 2021, it’s estimated that live streaming is going to be a $70 billion industry . While this number includes services such as YouTube, Netflix, Instagram along with other big names, Twitch will undoubtedly play a huge part of the industry. It’s currently the 13th most popular website in the United States .

I believe we’re only just scraping the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the potential of live streaming. The rapidly changing world of technology is opening the doors to integrations that would have been impossible to conceive of in the past. Most notably, the introduction of virtual and augmented reality will bring about huge revelations in the industry.

I’m both excited and concerned for the future of streaming, as there’s no doubt going to be issues raised regarding the mental and physical health concerns that might come about from young people spending an increasing number of hours sitting in front of screens.

If you’re one of these people, check out our guide on how to delete your Twitch account.