Statistics show that over 93% of American adolescents aged 12-17 use the internet, with 78% of these internet users having played online games. Their preferred genres are racing, puzzle, sports, action, and strategy games. Violent incidents stemming from online gaming addiction are increasingly common in the United States.In October 2007, a 16-year-old Ohio teenager shot and killed his mother after she forbade him from playing games, ultimately receiving a 23-year prison sentence. That same year in Nevada, a couple nearly starved their two infants to death due to their obsession with online gaming.
As early as 1996, psychologist Kimberly Young of the University of Pittsburgh recognized the issue of internet addiction. She established the "Internet Addiction Recovery Center" in Pennsylvania to help individuals overcome their online dependency.Last year, Seattle also opened an internet addiction treatment center, accommodating up to six "internet addicts" per session. Each 45-day treatment program costs $14,000.
Experts indicate that internet addicts often suffer from anxiety, despair, and other psychological torments. Over half of internet "addicts" also struggle with other addictions, such as alcohol, tobacco, or drugs. Seventy-five percent of internet addicts experience interpersonal relationship difficulties, leading them to use online chat rooms, instant messaging, or online games as means to escape reality and rebuild confidence.
Some psychologists advocate treating "internet addiction" as a mental disorder, though academic consensus remains elusive. Psychologists suggest overcoming internet addiction through content control software, psychological counseling, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
The U.S. government primarily employs age-based rating systems to prevent exposure of minors to explicit content and violence in games. Under the oversight of the Federal Trade Commission, the non-profit Entertainment Software Rating Board categorizes games into six levels: for children aged 3+, 6+, 10+, 13+, 17+, and adults aged 18+.The "Adults Only" rating applies to games containing prolonged intense violence or explicit sexual content and nudity. Additionally, varying shades of yellow and red are used to indicate the intensity of violent and sexual content within games. The FTC also advises parents to utilize "parental control" settings on gaming consoles or computers, or install filtering software, to prevent youth exposure to inappropriate content.