Skip to Content
Uncategorized

Can You Be Addicted to Video Games? The WHO Certainly Thinks So

December 20, 2017

If you think you have a gaming problem, you might be right. New Scientist reports ($) that the World Health Organization will include gaming disorders in its updated International Classification of Diseases in 2018. But there’s some debate about whether or not it’s a good idea.

The definition: The WHO will diagnose someone as having a gaming disorder if playing video games “takes precedence over other life interests,” continues even if it causes negative impacts on other aspects of life, and persists, usually for a year or more.

The case against: Allen Frances at Duke University in North Carolina warns New Scientist that it could lead to a flood of people being diagnosed with conditions when they’re actually just passionate. “Perhaps hundreds of millions of recreational gamers without severe impairment will likely be … overtreated,” he says.

But: The WHO has rejected other technological disorders, such as smartphone and Internet addiction, saying that there is a “a lack of evidence” to suggest they’re real.

Keep Reading

Most Popular

Large language models can do jaw-dropping things. But nobody knows exactly why.

And that's a problem. Figuring it out is one of the biggest scientific puzzles of our time and a crucial step towards controlling more powerful future models.

How scientists traced a mysterious covid case back to six toilets

When wastewater surveillance turns into a hunt for a single infected individual, the ethics get tricky.

The problem with plug-in hybrids? Their drivers.

Plug-in hybrids are often sold as a transition to EVs, but new data from Europe shows we’re still underestimating the emissions they produce.

Google DeepMind’s new generative model makes Super Mario–like games from scratch

Genie learns how to control games by watching hours and hours of video. It could help train next-gen robots too.

Stay connected

Illustration by Rose Wong

Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review

Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.

Thank you for submitting your email!

Explore more newsletters

It looks like something went wrong.

We’re having trouble saving your preferences. Try refreshing this page and updating them one more time. If you continue to get this message, reach out to us at customer-service@technologyreview.com with a list of newsletters you’d like to receive.