Govt issues advisory on negative impact of video and online games

Lists a set of games; advises schools to keep tab on children

Shin Minchul, a 21-year-old college student, plays online computer games at an Internet cafe in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013. A law under consideration in South Korea's parliament has sparked vociferous debate by grouping popular online games such as "StarCraft" with gambling, drugs and alcohol as an anti-social addiction the government should do more to stamp out.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) on Monday listed video and online games such as PUBG, Fortnite, Grand Theft Auto, God of War, Hitman, Plague Inc. and Pokemon as harmful, negative and having an adverse impact on the brain of children.

Ranjana Prasad, member of DCPCR has asked the Directorate of Education to issue necessary directions to heads of all schools to discuss the impact such games can have in the morning assembly as well as PTM/PTA meetings and that action taken should be shared with the commission within 20 days.

Impact on brain

“There are several games in which children can murder zombies or drive vehicles at boisterous speeds. These games are full of misogyny, hate, deceit and vengeance and it may negatively impact their brain,” said the advisory issued to the Directorate of Education.

Schools, parents and counsellors have been advised to lookout for symptoms in their children like becoming withdrawn from friends and family, persistent low mood and unhappiness, sudden outbursts of anger, loss of interest in activities that he/she used to enjoy etc. as signs of video games having a negative impact.

The DCPCR has asked schools to monitor children’s activities to ensure that they are not engaging themselves with these games and keep an eye for unusually secretive behaviour mostly related to their online activity, a sudden increase in the time they spend on devices, attempt to change screens on their device when approached among others.