Online gaming has been considered one of the things people, especially teens, get addicted to. No doubt that parents cringe on the idea of their kids getting addicted to this. It started with simple family computer games, and as technology advances, games were created wherein players from different locations can compete with one another. But aren’t we all curious as to why kids get addicted to the gaming world? Let’s find out what are the main reasons behind this addiction, and maybe we would learn how to understand them more.
1. Games become affordable
Nowadays, you can choose from a wide variety of games. There are the cheaper ones which kids can now afford just by saving or having a part-time job.
2. Feeling of dominance
Kids nowadays, especially those who have inferiority issues, tend to enter the gaming world and get addicted to it because of the feeling of dominance. If in the real world, they’re not the top student or aren’t necessarily the top player in sports, they turn to online gaming to feel the sense of conquering digital opponents.
3. Earning rewards or points
Some games offer exclusive rewards (such as new weapon or garment) or points to those who achieve a certain level. And because of this, teens spend a significant amount of their time in order to obtain these rewards. This concept is simple and is enough for any gamer to get hooked on the game.
4. Peer pressure
The more people who play it, the more challenging and exciting the game gets. It’s also a sense of joining the bandwagon. When most of the people in your school is playing, you tend to be curious and try to join in just to stay relevant and up to date.
5. Means of Escape
Online gaming is a means of escape for teens. It basically serves as a second life — a second chance for teens to create the image that they want. If in real life they have a weak reputation, they can dress up, and wield scary weapons, and turn that weak reputation into a good one. The Internet allows teenagers to be whoever they want to be. They can even talk to people whom they’re shy to speak to personally. It’s merely an escape from being the real you.