Online gaming addiction: Ministry of Education releases advisory

New Delhi: Not allowing in-game purchases without parental consent, avoiding credit or debit cards registration on apps for subscriptions, using screen name (avatar) that does not reveal their real name and installing internet gateway at home with features like monitoring, logging and controlling the types of content that the children can access, are among the do’s and don’ts listed in the Ministry of Education’s advisory on safe online gaming.
Noting that the closure of schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the use of mobile and internet by children and ultimately online gaming addiction, the advisory for parents and teachers on ‘Children’s safe online gaming’ has been issued by MoE to enable parents and teachers in educating them for necessary action, ensuring effective use in overcoming all online gaming downsides with the associated mental and physical stress to children.
“Playing games leads to a serious gaming addiction which has been considered as a gaming disorder. The game is designed in a way that each level is more complicated and complex than the previous one. This causes a player to push themselves to the limit in order to progress in the game.
“Therefore, playing online games with no restriction and self-limits leads many players to become addicted and are eventually diagnosed with gaming disorder. The gaming companies also emotionally compel the child to buy more levels and almost force in-app purchases, the advisory noted.
Not allowing in-game purchases without parental consent, adopting OTP based payment methods as per RBI’s guidelines, avoiding credit and debit cards registration on apps for subscriptions, placing an upper limit on expenditure per transaction, not letting children buy directly from laptop or mobile they use for gaming, are among the ‘don’ts’ listed in the advisory.
“Children should be advised not to download software and games from unknown websites. They should be told to be beware of clicking links, images and pop-ups on websites as they may contain viruses and harm the computer, and may contain age-inappropriate content, the advisory recommended.