Study highlights dangers of excessive online play

ONE in 10 boys become addicted to gaming, according to new research.

- BY STEPHEN BEECH

They meet the criteria for computer game addiction - called "internet gaming disorder" or IGDat least once between the ages of 10 and 18, say scientists.

Many children and teenagers enjoy playing games such as Fortnite and Minecraft, often online with people they know and sometimes strangers.

Researchers say it can be a great way to socialise but it can get "completely out of hand" for some.

Study coauthor Professor Lars Wichstrom said: "When gaming over a long period of time affects the young person's ability to relate to the outside world, it may be due to internet gaming disorder (IGD)."

An international team - including researchers from Nottingham Trent University, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia, and Norway were also involved in the study.

AGE

The team investigated how symptoms of computer game addiction develop, and how stable the symptoms are from childhood to late adolescence.