Play Safe FAQs

Please find the answers to some frequently asked video gaming related questions here.

Is it possible for my child to become addicted to games?

Gaming is a hobby, just like reading, listening to music or playing a sport. And just like any hobby, those participating in playing games can engage with it deeply and passionately. There is no conclusive research identifying a link between games themselves and addiction. In a few cases people have been known to play games excessively, but this is often likely to be down to the individual playing the game and not the content or medium. If you are concerned about the health of someone who is playing games excessively then you should consult your GP.

Millions of people play games because they enjoy them; and some people enjoy them more than others. Playing video games is simply another daily activity that can give people pleasure. In fact, UK gamers aged 16-49 spend most time surfing the internet (83% spending more than 6 hours a week) or watching TV (71% spending more than 6 hours a week). Only 24% spend more than 6 hours per week playing console or PC videogames, less than the proportion who read books for that long (28%).

Games should be played as part of an active and healthy lifestyle and can have many beneficial effects. They help people of all ages to develop social skills such as collaboration and turn taking and nurture strategic thinking. Playing active technology and fitness games can also improve physical health, and offer other general health benefits that result from this.

However, regular breaks are vital for healthy gameplay. UKIE recommends that players should take regular breaks - at least five minutes every 45 - 60 minutes as a rule of thumb.

For further information, an independent assessment of this issue was undertaken as part of the government’s Byron review.

Can videogames cause epilepsy?

No. The Consumer Safety Unit of the governmental department formally known as the Department of Trade and Industry, together with the National Epilepsy Society, has carried out exhaustive study into this area, which found that epilepsy cannot be caused by playing computer games.

The report showed that an extremely small number of people, who already have Photosensitive Epilepsy, might discover their condition by playing games, just as they could discover it by watching television, from disco lights, or light flickering through trees.

Symptoms of epilepsy may include light-headedness, altered vision, eye or face twitching, jerking of arms or legs, disorientation, confusion, or momentary loss of awareness.

It is recommended that you immediately stop playing and consult a doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. Parents should watch for or ask their children about the above symptoms. Children and teenagers are more likely than adults to experience these seizures.

To reduce the risk of Photosensitive Epileptic seizures please:

  • Consult your doctor prior to playing videogames if there is a history of Photosensitive Epilepsy in your family
  • Sit farther from the television screen
  • Play in a well-lit room
  • Avoid playing when you feel drowsy or fatigued

Are videogames bad my health?

Video games can sometimes falsely be perceived as a sedentary activity. However, our partnership with the Department of Health’s Change4Life Campaign indicates the positive role video games can play in promoting an active and healthy lifestyle. Nintendo’s Wii Fit Plus is sold with the Change4Life logo on the box. Following the success of the Nintendo Wii series, Microsoft have launched the Kinect console, where your body becomes the controller and a series of cameras and microphones recognise movement and voice to reproduce it on screen. Similarly, Sony have also released their own motion-sensitive controller – the Move - to the PS3, meaning that the top three console manufacturers all have active gaming systems.

Will videogames affect my child’s behaviour?

There is no conclusive evidence directly linking violence in individuals to the games they play. Academic studies in support of this statement include those published by the Harvard Medical School Centre for Mental Health, the Journal of Adolescent Health and the British Medical Journal.

Research undertaken by ULTRALAB at the Anglia Polytechnic has shown that children can very clearly distinguish the difference between violence in computer games and the types of violence they hear about on the news. Videogames have been in the home for more than 20 years, and there has not been a single proven case that they are causing children to become violent.

For further information, an independent assessment of this issue was undertaken as part of the government’s Byron review.

Can playing videogames cause DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis)?

Studies suggest that any situation in which someone spends hours sitting in one place can increase the risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis. But this can happen with any stationary leisure activity - including watching television, listening to music or reading a book.

UKIE advises players to take regular breaks during gameplay, as part of our Safe Gaming Tips.