Video Game Addictions on Campus

by Gregory Micek

Video games have become more prevalent in the college environment over the past decade. With the influx of video games in college dorms, addictions to video games have also become more common and are a growing concern for university staff, students, and parents alike.

According to Time Magazine, during his “’hardcore’ gaming streaks” Jon Essenburg, a freshman at Princeton, would drink two energy drinks in the evening to stay awake gaming until noon the following day, and then he would “crash, snoozing through his classes and waking up only for dinner and more playing time.” For many gamers, combining the freedom of college with a gamer’s love for video games results in a growing addiction that, left unchecked, can have serious effects on that person’s academics and health. Staying up all night can negatively influence a person’s sleep patterns, making that person feel tired for days after an all-nighter. Therefore, college gamers should be wary of the amount of time they allow themselves to play video games.

Also, Essenburg mentions that he missed classes simply to catch up on the sleep he missed while gaming. According to Time Magazine, a study by the Pew Research Center reported that 48% of college gamers in 2003 claimed that “video games kept them from studying ‘some’ or ‘a lot,’ and 32% confessed to playing in class.” Playing too many video games can prevent a student from studying, doing homework, or even attending class. Excessive video game playing can prevent a college student from performing to that’s student’s full potential and can lower that student’s grades. As a result, college students should prevent themselves from developing addicting habits to video games that inhibit their academic pursuits in college.