Mobile gaming poses serious risks

Online multiplayer battle royale games have taken the world by storm in recent years. One particular game, considered to be one of the best-selling and most-played video games of all time, has millions of players across the globe. In Bangladesh, a large percent of the youth are active players of that game and many are even addicted to it. Many students neglect their studies to play it and are unable to concentrate on anything else.

According to reports, the World Health Organization (WHO) termed “gaming disorder”—impairing a person’s capacity to function normally in their daily activities due to their severe gaming habits—as a form of mental disorder. The amount of time the players spend looking at the screen is unsafe for their eyes, not to mention the bad posture that is harmful for the spine. There are many more threats to the human body from prolonged gaming. I think there is nothing wrong in playing online video games as long as it is under control. In order to ensure the future generation remains healthy and active, parents must monitor their children’s activities and also make sure they remain active in real playgrounds and not just the virtual ones.

Yasin Al Jim, East West University