A Scottish researcher advocates for gaming using Fortnite as an example. He says that one should not label gamers as addicted, as it stigmatizes them.
As reported by the BBC, the Scottish researcher Andrew Reid has examined the phenomenon of Fortnite and the subject of “addiction.” Reid researches at Glasgow Caledonian University on the topic of “Serious Games.” These are games with an educational purpose.
He says: “Yes, there are people who have difficulty stopping playing.” But Reid warns against labeling them as addicted. This would associate regular gaming with a stigma. Today, research shows that games also have positive traits.
“Game addiction” as a stigma prevents seeing the positive sides
Fortnite is so successful because it was developed with great care to provide an engaging experience. The game offers a different gaming experience to everyone and also changes from time to time.
According to Reid, further research is needed to investigate what video game addiction entails, but it is currently defined as an exaggerated gaming consumption that conflicts with daily life.
According to Reid, it would be better to investigate the causes of broad and regular video game consumption without labeling players as “addicted.” This would brand the medium as “evil,” while there are increasingly more games and research showing that gaming and interactivity can also have positive aspects.
Advice for parents: Play along
The cartoon style of Fortnite could have different effects on children compared to the hyper-realistic portrayal of games like Call of Duty.
Reid recommends that parents encourage their children to play in moderation. He further states, “I would recommend playing Fortnite yourself to understand what fascinates the children about it. This way, you can speak the language of children and be on the same wavelength with them.”
Reid’s statements come against the background that “Gaming Disorder” has now been officially included as a defined disease in the World Health Organization’s catalog. This, in turn, has been sharply criticized by others.
Fortnite has an age rating of 12 years, which is why it is a topic for many parents.
More about Fortnite from a parent’s perspective:
“Help, my child is playing Fortnite!” – What parents should know about it
