According to a Harris Interactive poll released in January of 2008, 23% of gamers surveyed reported that they felt addicted to video games.

Some teens are heavy users of online role-playing games (RPGs) such as World of Warcraft and multiplayer games such as Call of Duty in which they interact with other players in real time. Students will often neglect schoolwork and other aspects of their daily lives when they become immersed in these games. While it remains unclear whether this can be termed an "addiction," the American Medical Association has identified "video game overuse" as a behaviour, and may include it in a future edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

World of Warcraft, one of the most popular online games, is played by more than ten million devotees around the world, who pay a monthly subscription fee and spend an average of more than 20 hours a week playing the game. (Source: Sierra Mountain Times, 2009.) Because online gaming is one of the few profitable businesses on the Web, the industry is poised to roll out several more games - hoping to attract larger mainstream audiences.

The potential negative effects on physical health are another concern of excessive video game playing. If a child spends long periods of time playing video games, it may be at the expense of more active pastimes.

If you are concerned about the amount of time your teen is spending on video games, keep in mind that it is normal for young people to throw themselves enthusiastically into hobbies. Consider the effect your teen's gaming is having on his or her life: is he or she socializing less with friends? Are his or her grades declining? Is his or her sleep or general health being affected?

If your kids find it difficult to control their game playing, you need to help them by setting limits on how much time they can play - and by encouraging them to be involved in other activities.