Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary N Muruganandam has highlighted online game addiction as a significant mental health concern affecting the youth in the state, emphasizing the need for treatment and preventive measures.
In his inaugural address at the launch of the “Online Gaming Addiction and Its Negative Impact on Students” awareness campaign, Muruganandam stated, “The craze and addiction to online gaming is rampant. It has been growing rapidly over the last five years, particularly among students.”
Muruganandam referred to the condition as Internet Gaming Disorder or Pathological Gaming Disorder, describing it as a serious mental disorder that requires appropriate treatment. He cited a 2023 thesis revealing that the disorder has impacted approximately five percent of school and college students, altering their behavior and creating a “shadow world” where they are detached from reality.
The Chief Secretary underscored the Tamil Nadu government’s commitment to addressing this issue through legislative measures, including the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Act, 2022. He stressed the importance of educating teachers and parents about the addictive nature of online gaming and urged them to monitor their children’s activities to prevent addiction.
Muruganandam also hinted at the possibility of reinstating a ban on online games in the state, drawing parallels with countries like Japan and China that have implemented such measures. He reassured that the government is deeply concerned about the well-being of youth and students, and is actively seeking solutions to mitigate the negative impacts of online gaming addiction.
The awareness campaign aims to shed light on the growing issue of online gaming addiction and encourage preventive strategies among families and educational institutions.