classifies games that are sold or hired. Classifications describe the minimum maturity level of content and factor in themes including violence, sex, language, drug use and nudity. Gambling content does not impact a game\u2019s classification and games with gambling content are often rated PG (8+) or G (for a general audience).<\/span><\/p>\nThere are many games available online and offline. Some have an educational base, others can be very violent, graphic, and depict themes that are inappropriate for children. Many games have social features, which enable players to communicate with each other, but also enable predators to contact children. For example, one Australian study found that 17% of multiplayer games had experienced in-game bullying. Most games have in-game monetisation features which allow players to purchase items of known or unknown value (e.g., a loot box is a mystery item which players pay for without know what is inside). Parents should consider all these features and discuss with children what is appropriate or not.<\/span><\/p>\nSome games have common structural and aesthetic <\/span>features with gambling<\/span><\/i>, creating a convergence which has risks in terms of normalising gambling, creating positive attitudes towards gambling, and even acting as a gateway to online gambling. For some games this may be through the content with games mimicking gambling (e.g., poker, slot machines, casino games, bingo) as the core game, or an in-game feature or component. Other games contain mechanics which require players to purchase a mystery item (e.g., loot box) which may contain an item of low or high value. Some countries (e.g., Belgium) have classified these as a form of gambling in games which provide a marketplace for players to trade or sell and purchase items. As with all online game content, it is important for parents to be mindful of what lessons children are learning and whether these are accurate depictions of the real world. If young people do choose to (and are permitted) to play gambling-themed games, parents can use these as an opportunity to discuss gambling issues such as the how the odds of winning in real gambling are lower than in games, how it feels to win and lose, what a \u2018near miss is\u2019 and how it makes you feel, and how some people develop gambling problems. For youth curious about gambling, games may be a safe way to explore this content, provided that this is done with supervision and guidance. Running out of virtual currency may be a useful lesson that \u2018the house always wins\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Many video games can be violent, bigoted, racist, sexist, and highly inappropriate for young people. Such games often portray violence as insignificant with no consequences to the victim or perpetrator, which as we know\u00a0in real life is not the case. This can send a message to players that violence is harmless, funny, or even an acceptable way to get what you want. Research has demonstrated that violent video games do not create violent behaviour in players. Nonetheless, many games contain content that may be harmful for children who are still developing their perception of the adult world. For example, females are often displayed as victims or displayed in hypersexual ways which can be damaging to perception of gender-related attitudes.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.19.10″ border_width_all=”2px” border_color_all=”#ffb000″ custom_padding=”10px|10px|10px|10px|true|true”]<\/p>\n
A note about advertising<\/h3>\n
Free games such as those on mobile devices make revenue through in-app purchases and advertising. Even though parents may download games and feel comfortable that children have limited opportunities \u2013 many games include advertisements that directly link to additional content, which may be age-inappropriate. The only way to know what content your child is viewing while online is to actually supervise your child whilst playing.<\/p>\n
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Treatment<\/b><\/h2>\n
Gaming disorder and problematic gaming is a new classification, so there are no established treatments. In Australia, gaming disorder may not be considered a mental health disorder, making it potentially difficult to qualify for Medicare rebates. Nonetheless, there are resources to seek help for individuals experiencing problems and concerned significant others.<\/span><\/p>\n\n- General Practitioners: Talk to your doctor if you are having concerns about your or a family members gaming. Be sure to mention any issues relating to sleep, mood, lethargy, and loss of interest in other activities. Your GP can provide a referral to specialised care, including speaking with a mental health professional.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Family therapy: If gaming is negatively affecting the whole family, seeking help as a family unit may assist in resolving any underlying issues that are exacerbating or contributing to excessive gaming. <\/span><\/li>\n
- Child and adolescent therapy: Mental health professionals are available to provide therapy sessions specifically for children and adolescents. There are often bulk-billed (free) options available through community mental health centres and university clinics. Contact your local government to receive information about local services that provide support and counselling to young people.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Although there are no proven treatments for problematic gaming, CBT has the most support. This form of treatment involves identifying the underlying thinking processes behind a gaming behaviour and developing more helpful beliefs. CBT is also helpful in identifying and treating related mental health issues, which often coincide with problematic gaming.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”3.19.10″][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_button button_url=”\/help-directory\/#video-help” button_text=”View list of resources for Video Gaming” button_alignment=”center” _builder_version=”3.19.10″ custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#009245″ button_border_width=”4px” button_border_color=”#009245″ button_border_radius=”35px” button_font=”||||||||”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.19.10″ background_color=”#ffb000″ da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off”][et_pb_row custom_padding=”27px|0px|27px|0px|false|false” _builder_version=”3.19.10″][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.19.10″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.19.10″ text_font=”||||||||” header_font=”|||on|||||” header_text_align=”left” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font_size=”58px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_orientation=”center”]<\/p>\n
Wolrd Heath Organisation (WHO) criteria for Gaming Disorder:<\/h1>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.19.10″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.19.10″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” ul_font=”||||||||” ol_font=”|600|||||||” ol_text_align=”left” ol_text_color=”#ffffff” ol_font_size=”22px” ol_line_height=”1.9em” text_orientation=”center”]<\/p>\n
\n- Impaired control over gaming?<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
- Increased priority given to gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other interests and daily activities.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n
- Continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurance of negative consequences.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nThe behavioural pattern must be of sufficient severity to result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational,\u00a0occupational or other important areas of functioning and have been evident for at least 12 months.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nNonetheless, parents do need to keep a close eye on children who starts to show some of the <\/span>risk factors for problematic video game play.<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.19.10″ background_color=”#b7b7b7″ background_image=”https:\/\/playaware.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/09\/self-assessment-02.jpg” parallax=”on” global_module=”151″ da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.19.10″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.19.10″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_blurb title=”Self Assessment Tools” use_icon=”on” font_icon=”%%173%%” icon_color=”#ffb000″ icon_placement=”left” content_max_width=”100%” use_icon_font_size=”on” icon_font_size=”80px” _builder_version=”3.19.10″ header_level=”h1″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” body_font=”||||||||” body_text_color=”#ffffff” body_font_size=”20px” max_width=”50%” custom_margin=”|||||true” custom_padding=”|||||true”]<\/p>\n
PlayAware provides a suite of tools for users to self assess any potential issues<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_button button_url=”\/self-assessment-tools\/” button_text=”Try Self Assessment” button_alignment=”left” _builder_version=”3.19.10″ custom_button=”on” button_text_color=”#ffb000″ button_font=”||||||||”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.19.10″ background_color=”#3f3f3f” global_module=”61″ saved_tabs=”all” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.19.10″][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_blurb title=”Life Balance” image=”https:\/\/playaware.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/02\/yellow-circle.svg” image_max_width=”70%” _builder_version=”3.19.10″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”center” body_font=”||||||||” body_text_align=”center” background_layout=”dark” animation_style=”fold”]<\/p>\n
Is your gameplay unbalancing your life?<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_blurb title=”Free Assistance” image=”https:\/\/playaware.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/02\/green-arrow.svg” image_max_width=”70%” _builder_version=”3.19.10″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”center” body_font=”||||||||” body_text_align=”center” background_layout=”dark” animation_style=”fold” animation_delay=”300ms”]<\/p>\n
PlayAware assistance is completely free<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_blurb title=”Professional” image=”https:\/\/playaware.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/02\/square-red.svg” image_max_width=”70%” _builder_version=”3.19.10″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”center” body_font=”||||||||” body_text_align=”center” background_layout=”dark” animation_style=”fold” animation_delay=”600ms”]<\/p>\n
Professional and anonymous help and support<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_blurb title=”Avoid issues” image=”https:\/\/playaware.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/02\/blue-x.svg” image_max_width=”70%” _builder_version=”3.19.10″ header_font=”||||||||” header_text_align=”center” body_font=”||||||||” body_text_align=”center” background_layout=”dark” animation_style=”fold” animation_delay=”900ms”]<\/p>\n
Avoid any personal or financial issues<\/span><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Contact Form Section” _builder_version=”3.19.10″ background_color=”#e8e8e8″ custom_padding=”110px||110px|” animation_style=”zoom” animation_direction=”bottom” animation_intensity_zoom=”10%” saved_tabs=”all” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off”][et_pb_row custom_padding=”0px||0px||true” custom_margin=”0px||0px||true” padding_top_bottom_link_1=”true” padding_top_1=”0px” padding_bottom_1=”0px” admin_label=”Service Section Title” _builder_version=”3.19.10″ animation_style=”fade” animation_direction=”top” locked=”off”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ padding_bottom=”0px” padding_top=”0px” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title” _builder_version=”3.19.10″ text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_text_color=”#747d88″ text_font_size=”16px” text_line_height=”1.9em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Montserrat|700||on|||||” header_2_font_size=”42px” header_2_line_height=”1.3em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”700px” module_alignment=”center” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”bottom” animation_intensity_slide=”4%”]<\/p>\n
Leave Feedback<\/h3>\n
We’re always trying to improve the Play Aware website.
Your feedback is important to us.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.19.10″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.19.10″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_contact_form email=”simran.kohli@clubs4fun.com.au” _builder_version=”3.19.10″][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”Name” field_title=”Name (or leave blank)” required_mark=”off” _builder_version=”3.19.10″ border_radii=”on||||” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_contact_field][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”Email” field_title=”Email Address (or leave blank)” field_type=”email” required_mark=”off” _builder_version=”3.19.10″ border_radii=”on||||” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_contact_field][et_pb_contact_field field_id=”Feedback” field_title=”Your feedback” field_type=”text” fullwidth_field=”on” _builder_version=”3.19.10″ border_radii=”on||||” button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_contact_field][\/et_pb_contact_form][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Consoles, PC, Handhelds and MobileOnline gaming is very popular; Australian research shows that an estimated 81% of Australian young people (aged 8-17 years) have played an online game, although the average age of an Australian gamer is 34 years old and 46% of video game players are women showing that this activity is popular across […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playaware.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/286"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playaware.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playaware.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playaware.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playaware.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=286"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playaware.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/286\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playaware.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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