Is video game addiction real?

[Twalli]

We have people in this country that play video games for a living. Are they addicts? If not, how can a person who plays video games less often be an addict when those people aren't?

ICD-11 has made video game addiction a diagnosis.

[WindAtMyBack]

It's very real. People can be addicted to anything. Games are worse because they are intentionally made to be addictive. Online games are even worse when they have schemes that require you to be there every day or lose out on something.

Video games cause people to fail school and quit work. They cause people to not bathe, shower, brush their teeth or get dressed. They cause kids to steal money and credit cards to pay for their MTX. They cause people to not get any sleep, to ruin their eyes, not get any exercise, and generally ruin their health.

I don't see how that can not be called addiction. It's one of the worst addictions there is.

[CrimsonAngel09]

"We have people in this country that play video games for a living."

Well, it can be a job.

Take CoryxKenshin and Markiplier for example. Both have millions of subscribers, sell merch, have done a little bit of acting, sponserships, etc.. I wouldn't exactly call them addicts, as they stay fit, take breaks, spend time with family, and just do what normal people do. Both of them also have been involved in charities and Make A Wish.

Both also get millions of views on practically every one of their videos, which brings in money that pays their bills, food, house, etc.. They earn a lot to the point where they live comfortably, and can take really long breaks without having to worry about going broke. CoryxKenshin is known for long breaks, the longest I known he has taken is nine months.

It can be a job, but only if you can always grasp people's attention with your personality and being comfortable in front of the camera.

[jennifer_bloom]

I believe pleasure addiction is real - not sure about video game beyond the scope of pleasure addiction. I do not mean just sexual pleasure, but somebody who won't study or work because they think it's boring. As a teenager, I hated physics cause I thought it was boring and physics was one of my lowest high school grades. I passed but it wasn't an honourable A+.

[ChiTown33]

I don't think so. At least not in the clinical sense. I think with most people it's just escapism. They're not choosing video games over other interests typically they're choosing video games as a lack of other interests. Just my opinion. I remember I used to play World of Warcraft every night back in the day. Then one day I added up how much money I had wasted on it over a few years. And I stopped cold.😂 it was the first MMORPG game I new of so I see how it can attract people. They can get online with friends anytime of the day. But as I said at the time I had few interests to pull me away. I worked nights. I don't think I was addicted it was a lack of options.

[Kaneki05]

You can be addicted to anything and of course it's real.
Though technically all addictions are just mental conditions so if you were getting deep into it, addictions don't really exist objectively like you wouldn't see water or something inanimate get addicted because they simply don't have a brain to be so.

And all addictions can be stopped if the person mentally stops themselves though that's usually always easier said than done.

[DrKrieger]

I wouldn't say it's an addiction, but more a way of life. People that spend all their time playing games do it because they have a void they can't fill offline. I'd be willing to bet most basement dwellers would cut off video games if their needs were being met IRL

[Twalli]

If their needs were being met IRL, they wouldn't be basement dwellers.

[Jazzy54]

If it’s for a living, like they get paid for it, that’s different. However, if someone sits around all day and does nothing but play video games, they’re addicted.

[DizzyDesii]

I don’t think they’re addicted. They just don’t have the motivation (nor anyone pushing them) to do something more active.

[Apple1996]

Anything can turn into a addiction including video games

[Flower7]

I’ve definitely met people who were addicted to it.

[slatyb]

No, they are professionals.

[SnowedIn]

Yes it can be