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Gaming: When Is It Getting in the Way?

Sri Amogha Junior College · Updated 31 October 2026

Online gaming or mobile gaming could be a good technique to engross the kid or get like–minded people through an online community. Primary school students, High school students, Intermediate college students, and above, you can see all into gaming these days. But it is not easy to diagnose the line between enjoying the hobby and letting it affect someone negatively. People who play video games consistently must find out at what point playing games become detrimental to them. World Health Organization has tried to address this issue and has named it ‘gaming disorder’.

Screen time

Look at the individual student’s pattern: whether gaming is displacing sleep, schoolwork, relationships or activities they value. An unattributed screen-time survey cannot diagnose the effect on one child.

When to seek help

WHO describes gaming disorder in terms of impaired control, increasing priority over other activities and continued gaming despite negative consequences, with significant impairment. Enjoying games or playing for a particular number of hours does not by itself establish a disorder. Seek qualified help if persistent difficulties are affecting everyday life.

WHO: gaming disorder

Make room for other interests

Discuss gaming as part of the whole routine. Keep time for sleep, schoolwork, family, physical activity and friendships. Reading, music, sport or a practical project can offer other enjoyable ways to spend time. A calm conversation about what is getting displaced is more useful than assuming that every game or player has the same problem.