Rahul M jain的动态

Interviewed with Bloomberg News about the growing number of lawsuits against game manufacturers. My take is that these lawsuits are very much related to those against social media; and dating apps. What do I mean? These platforms are using similar addictive designs. And producing the same results - we stay online for longer and longer. And while the profile of kids who suffer mental health harm is different between games and social media - excessive time online in both cases is related to mental health harms. This is not about social media; or games; it is about the tech industry's business model that uses our time as its resource. More about all of this in my upcoming TEDx talk

When we talk about addiction, typically we are referencing substance abuse. However, in this new and modern era of technology, there are other vices that claim new addicts. Some people fall victim to binging on TV shows, others are absorbed in the world of social media and yet others root themselves in their gaming chairs, playing video games. Today is national video game day. The technology once restricted to arcades and quarters is now available online and in almost every home in our societies. Video games are a form of escapism and may pose a challenge to overcome. These allow us to step away from our lives and to have a sense of make-believe accomplishment with often-meaningless goals. In moderation, video games are graphically beautiful, story driven, and groundbreaking in their technological accomplishments. But their end goal is often aimless entertainment barring certain educational games. Thus, we often retrospectively regret the time we have spent in such endeavors.

In recent times, it has become increasingly common for school children to become addicted to mobile games and get deeply immersed in them. If you tell them not to play, they become very violent. There is also a growing tendency to see parents as enemies. Especially when boys in grades 8-10 get addicted to such mobile gaming, it becomes very difficult to handle them. Every home has Wi-Fi. The online games they play together are all violent games. There is no regulation at all. This age group, especially boys, is at a stage where they face hormonal changes. They behave like a wild elephant in heat. In this situation, scolding or physically restraining them will not help. It may be useful to talk to them in a friendly manner. If there's no improvement, a consultation with a child psychiatrist might be necessary. I believe that if they slowly recover, enrolling them in a good hostel until they complete their 12th grade might bring them back to a good state overall. Just like how alcohol addicts can’t avoid TASMAC (liquor shops), these children are experiencing a similar kind of addiction with these games. Do you have any experience rescuing children you know from such problems? Do you observe your children being addicted to such games? Share your thoughts in the comments. #SingaporeHabib #HabibSingapore

What I find most powerful here is there is a deep conversation on how parents, educators and technology platforms can do each in their own ways to protect kids from the incidious online sexual abuse and harm that this young man (who was 12 at the time) experienced. 1. Schools: We need clear reporting and protection policies in place to ensure young students can safely report abuse and we need to talk to kids about what grooming, online harms like deepfake abuse or even online trafficking looks like. 2. Parents: Talking to your kids, supporting healthy online behaviours and perhaps most of all - making sure your kids know YOU are a safe adult and that they won't get in trouble for asking for help. The grooming tactics and targeting of vulnerable kids is not that different than that of sex traffickers and when kids know where they are safe and what to look out for, they are less vulnerable. 3. Tech platforms: Ensuring there are key ways to report abuse, better grooming detection tools and ensuring abuse content is removed (for children and adults). For so long, those who abuse children online have basically been able to create their own digital playground to lure kids like this young boy in - but it does not have to be this way. There are powerful new tools and networks emerging - such as Alecto AI and Certifi AI (Melissa Hutchins). I am in awe of Sarah Gardner Lennon Torres Leah Juliett ?????????? Adriane Moen and the entire Heat Initiative for taking on Apple and ensuring that survivors voices are centered in this much-needed social change. https://lnkd.in/gGEWTAmN #Apple #CSAM #sextrafficking #youthempowerment #prevention

As you are most likely aware, toxic behavior and harassment are unfortunately common in most online gaming communities. Maybe your player has experienced verbal abuse, threats, bullying, and discriminatory comments based on race, faith, or for other reasons. Sadly, it’s part of being a kid. The constant exposure to toxic behavior can increase our players’ anxiety and stress levels, maybe even without them or you knowing it. Over time, our players may become anxious about encountering harassment (both online and in real life), detracting from their usual enjoyment when playing. The reality is that repeated harassment and negative interactions can lead to feelings of worthlessness and depression. Our players may begin to withdraw from online and/or in real life interactions, leading to isolation and a lack of social interaction. This can exacerbate feelings of loneliness and depression. The solution is not to remove them from gaming. Utilizing platform tools (muting and blocking), seeking supportive communities, engaging in self-care, and, if necessary, obtaining professional help can significantly mitigate the negative impact of toxicity and harassment. Hearing what God has to say can also play a crucial role in overcoming these challenges and fostering a healthier gaming environment. Romans 12:21 tells us not to be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. Responding to toxicity and harassment with kindness and grace will not only help your player navigate the challenges they're facing, but will also help to create a more respectful and supportive gaming environment. With your guidance and support, your player could change the landscape of gaming, one conversation at a time. Make the connection: How might we have conversations to better equip our players to overcome the impact of toxicity when gaming? We are #ForTheGamer and help players play with purpose and win for good.

Highlighting: "Kushanel Donerson says her 14-year-old has played?Call of Duty,?NBA 2K,?Grand Theft Auto V?and Roblox games so much over the past nine years that it led to brain damage, a stroke and seizures. Jaclyn Angelilli says her 9-year-old has been playing many of the same video games “at an increasing and uncontrollable pace” since age 6 and has been diagnosed with multiple psychiatric disorders." ----- THIS IS NOT NORMAL PARENTING. Folks, sometimes parents are the problem. Parents who do not set limits, who give their kids access to adult content, and who watch problematic behavior and psychological (and psychiatric) issues developing and blame media... THOSE PARENTS ARE THE PROBLEM. So a parent is trying to sue multiple game publishers and platforms for the generalize notion that all games are addictive. This is straight out of the NRA playbook. I have zero support for this approach. Further that parent says that her 14 year old and her 9 year old have both been playing games like Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto V for several years. Her 9 year old has been playing GTAV online since 6 ?! What the bloody hell. No. Absolutely not. This is not normal. Do some parenting. Set limits. Set some media as off limits. Introduce the kids to other media. Play with your kids. talk to your kids. Guide your kids. Other parents do. Older siblings do. Engage and discuss your kids' content. Don't complain. Instead don't give them access. Want to raise issues of lootboxes, gacha and free to play mechanics? Got suckered into predatory 'web3' crypto gambling during the pandemic? Got sucked into GameStonk (and AMC) buying and selling on robinhood in 2021? Please complain. Sure. Let's talk. But blanketly suing Nintendo, PlayStation, Xbox, Steam, Fortnite, and Roblox? And maybe add in Take Two, EA, Ubi, Acti Bliz, and others just for the hell of it? Nope. That's NRA tactics. That is saying that ALL or ANY games ae addictive. This is parents blaming Games as a bogyeman. Just like parents blamed D&D, Rap, Rock, CCGs, and everything else they didn't like or understand. This is parents blaming games like South Park "blamed Canada". That doesn't fly. My mom bought me my first D&D redbox set as a kid. that helped get me into game dev. Games are not addictive anymore than TV, Film, Music, Animation, TTRPGs, CCGs, Boardgames, or XR. Games are a MEDIUM. Mediums are not addictive by necessity. Be better parents. Is chess addictive? Are books addictive? Is soccer/futbol addictive? Is painting addictive? Activities and mediums are not by their nature ever addictive. There is no legal ground to stand on here. Just scare tactics and demonization of games. ----- Blomberg: "Kids Hooked on Video Games Prompt a Flurry of Lawsuits. Attorneys for parents say publishers are addicting users and causing health issues like ADHD and depression." (Rachel Graf) (May 13, 2024) Bloomberg: https://lnkd.in/ezYtk67R #gameindustry #blamecanada #blamegame #nratactics #ignorance

As a parent and gaming researcher, I tell parents all the time that are games are designed to be addictive: it’s called an engagement loop. For adults and kids, gaming fulfills many internal motivations (e.g., achievement, autonomy, creativity, socialization, competition) that traditionally have been fulfilled in day to day life. This is not a bad thing. However, while most adults can manage their game play, most kids (by nature of their developmental stage) cannot. As such, they are more susceptible to these engagement and monetization loops. (Recently, I heard from a parent whose kid was spending hundreds of dollars a day in Genshin Impact.) Sadly, excessive play is often a symptom of deeper emotional issues… the games are a way of “self-medicating” and providing that dopamine hit that may be lacking in other parts of their lives. My personal and professional opinion is that games are a great past time for kids and adults, and gaming with your kids is a fantastic way to bond. I’ve heard it consistently in qualitative and quantitative research. I’ll include some stats later today in the comments. I typically recommend (as do many health professionals) that if children are under 12, parents should limit screentime to an hour per day. But as noted, it’s often hard for kids to regulate, and if that’s the case, then reserve gaming for the weekends and again, limit it. And personally, I would much rather have my children play video games than be on social media. Again, I am not a medical professional, so this is not medical advice. Always talk to one if you have concerns. YMMV. #kids #videogaming #videogames

Yesterday I have given a presentation in an elementary school about luck, gambling and manipulation in popular kids games. We discussed the difference between skill and luck, the nature of various popular casino games, marketing tactics and other factors contributing to successful player monetization. The idea was not to scare the kids away from games , but raise the curtain on what's behind the scenes. I believe that like food labels, this may contribute to a more conscientious usage. Surprisingly I discovered a day later that there was a lawsuit against various game companies in the very same matter. There's no doubt in my mind that where you have the best minds contemplating on how to squeeze money out of children and parents, there will be negative side effects. I can see them with my own eyes. This isn't about game content. The content discussion is a red herring. The true discussion is about rent economics, microtransactions and growth at all costs. You don't own your games. This is you vs the landlord. Raising awareness is super important, even if the lawsuit eventually fails. I hope companies will have to disclose their tactics publicly for the world to witness. #gamedesign #economics #microtransactions #monetization

Mind games Part 2 Mind games with someone are too scary and the government should probably protect youth and children or adults from fashion or trends behavior like this in a society like games was famous Blue Whale or ... If we play with the feelings of someone or with weakness, using the information we have like location or hearing their voices with our phone and using private video or private talking to abuse people or hack someone's phone to abuse someone all these can harm people can ruin their lives can push them to suicide or .... Follow someone in the streets based on the location we found from their phone... Repeating the private talk they had on the phone or ... All these things are enough for someone to lose their mind, hurt them or ... Technology gives the access to people private lives like cookies on websites, Why do all the websites use this cookie?! Why do people need access? To put others in verbal situations... This safety what will be done with the next generation? Why do we criticize internet safety a lot? Do you remember how mental health was important for us?

In this must-listen premiere episode, Donna Rice Hughes and renowned online gaming expert Andrew Doan dive into the dangerous world of internet and video game addiction impacting today's youth. They reveal startling statistics behind the problem, discuss the alarming rise of internet and gaming addictions among children and teens, the neuroscience behind it, and how predators exploit online games for grooming. Parents and caregivers will gain invaluable wisdom on recognizing addictive behaviors, getting professional help, and implementing effective prevention strategies to safeguard youth. #OnlineGaming #Grooming #ProtectOurKids #AppStoreAccountabilityAct Watch it here: https://buff.ly/3Zqjl19 or Listen Here: https://buff.ly/47divbv