Web giants ‘cashing in’ on misery of children
Surge in addiction to gaming forces NHS to open treatment centre for young people
THE head of the health service has accused internet firms of “cashing in” on addiction, as he announced NHS plans to treat children with disorders caused by gaming and social media.
Simon Stevens said the service had been left “picking up the pieces” of young lives wrecked by obsessions fuelled by technology, as he accused giants of failing to behave responsibly.
Health chiefs highlighted other countries that have banned under 16s from online gaming after midnight, as they announced plans for the first centre to treat children with such addictions. It follows The Daily Telegraph’s
Duty of Care campaign calling for more stringent regulation of web giants to protect children.
The national centre, opening next month, will work with those whose lives are being “wrecked” by an obsessive interest in computer games. The World Health Organisation (WHO) last year classified gaming addiction as a medical disorder.
Mr Stevens said: “The NHS should not be left to pick up the pieces – gambling and internet firms have a responsibility to their users as well as their shareholders and should do their utmost to prevent, rather than cash in on, obsessive or harmful behaviour.”
The Centre for internet and Gaming Disorders, based in London, will see psychiatrists and psychologists work with those aged between 13-25 suffering from severe or complex behavioural issues linked to gaming, gambling or social media. The national service comes alongside 14 gambling clinics opening across the country.
Officials called for more to be done to help prevent internet addiction, highlighting steps taken elsewhere. The NHS said other countries had taken other steps to protect children, citing South Korea, where the government has introduced a law banning children under 16 from accessing online games between midnight and 6am.
Mr Stevens has called for a “mental health levy” on social media and gambling firms, which he says are fuelling an epidemic of mental ill health.
WHO defines gaming disorder as a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour so severe that it takes “precedence over other life interests”.
Claire Murdoch, NHS national mental health director said: “Compulsive gaming and social media and internet addiction is a problem that is not going to go away. The NHS is rising to the challenge with these new services, but we can’t be expected to pick up the pieces, which is why tech giants need to recognise the impact products … have on young people.”
A spokesman for the Association of UK Interactive Entertainment said: “Video games are played healthily by millions of people across the UK every day. And the industry takes the health and wellbeing of all players seriously.
“But as with other activities and experiences people find enjoyable in life, we are aware that some individuals may play games to excess.
“The industry encourages those individuals to ask for help. We look forward to continuing to work with the relevant authorities to further support player safety.”