Mobile game addiction in teenagers worries parents

Rifat Mohidin

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, January 16

As Player Underground’s Battle Ground (PUBG), a mobile game, gains popularity among youth in the country, parents in the Valley have expressed concern over its increasing addiction among teenagers.

Mushtaq Ahmad, a parent from Srinagar, says his two sons, 17 and 19, spend more than eight hours a day playing the game, which has also become a cause of conflict in the family.

“They both spend a lot of time on their phone. They stay awake till late at night playing the game with their friends online. It is not normal,” says Ahmad.

Many parents have similar complaints. A senior psychiatrist in Valley, however, says they have not received any such case yet.

A day ago, the Jammu and Kashmir Students’ Association (JKSA) wrote to Governor Satya Pal Malik, demanding ban on the game in Kashmir. It blamed the game for the poor Classes X and XII results declared earlier this month.

“The game should have been banned immediately after the poor results, but no action was taken. The addition to this game is as dangerous as drugs. Teenagers remain glued to their phones and do nothing,” says Raqif Makhdoomi, a member of the JKSA.

In Jammu, a fitness trainer reportedly landed in hospital last week after he lost his mental balance and started injuring himself after playing the game for days.

Ban sought

"A day ago, the Jammu and Kashmir Students’ Association (JKSA) wrote to Governor Satya Pal Malik, demanding ban on the game in Kashmir. It blamed the game for the poor Classes X and XII results declared earlier this month. “The game should have been banned immediately after the poor results, but no action was taken. The addition to this game is as dangerous as drugs. Teenagers remain glued to their phones and do nothing."  Raqif Makhdoomi, JKSA member