Will Your Gamer Survive College This Fall?
Stop the gaming addiction before you throw away college tuition
DID YOU KNOW that the average college student addicted to gaming spends between 5-8 hours per day on gaming, with a minimum of 31 hours per week? And that nearly half of all college students feel that gaming has gotten in the way of their academic performance.
It’s true. In the college world, video games are definitely not all fun and games. “One of the top reasons for college dropouts in the U.S. is online gaming addiction,” said Federal Communications Commissioner Deborah Taylor. Studies show that 85% of college boys are gamers, and one in eight develops addiction patterns. In a college of 20,000 students (assuming half are boys), 8,500 are video game players. That means 1,063 students are at risk of dropping out. More than that, the research has shown a negative correlation between gaming addiction and expected college engagement, GPA, and drug and alcohol violations that occur during the first year in college.
Our college kids are in trouble.
Do college gamers understand the risks?
Does your son understand that his game habit puts him in one of the highest risk categories for dropping out in his first year of college? No, he does not.
Tracy Markle, Founder of Collegiate Coaching Services & Digital Media Treatment & Education Center, has directly observed a chilling rise in pathological computer gaming among her young adult clients. “When we conduct our initial assessments on new male clients, 75% have some level of computer gaming and/or internet abuse issue that contributes to the original presenting problems such as poor academic performance, difficulty concentrating and social anxieties.”
In addition to these reported problems, Markle points to other indicators of potential gaming addiction problems with college students, such as frequent absences from classes, roommate complaints, social isolation, and calls or emails from concerned parents.
Gaming overuse is “a primary factor in student academics, mental health, and social problems on campus,” Markle said. “Technology overuse has a negative impact on student isolation problems, grades, depression, lack of self-care, poor diet, sleep, and substance abuse.”
We lived the nightmare
We got caught in the college gamer trap. Our oldest son became one of those college dropout statistics, and his gaming addiction was the direct cause. As we drove home in the car after his first year we were shocked as he confessed, “Mom, that game did something to me; I’ve been in my room for a week and stopped going to classes. I'm dropping out.”
We were blindsided; we never saw it coming. We didn't recognize the warning signs. Read more about our story here.
Different Fantasies: Parents vs. Gamers
You are hoping for change; he is hoping for endless gaming hours.
If you’re worried about how much time your son spends gaming in high school, you should be very concerned about how he will manage that game time in college when you’re not there to set the kitchen timer. High school gamers and their parents often have very different fantasies about the college experience:
A Parent's Fantasy
Seeing college as a fun time for young adults to learn new things and experience freedom and independence.
Believing he will outgrow his childhood gaming habit and start his life.
Expecting their teens to enjoy college like they did.
A Gamer’s Fantasy
"What electronics will I pack?"
"I'm excited about my new 'game haven,' which Mom and Dad will fund."
"I'm using my graduation money to buy a really big monitor and an extra Ethernet cable in case the WiFi is lame."
"I'm excited to make my 'gaming den.' These are very common on college campuses today, moving all the beds into one room and gaming consoles in another."
"Just think…NO time limits, chores, family dinners, or siblings to interrupt my gameplay!"
Understanding these contrasting perspectives can help you prepare and address potential issues before they escalate. Be proactive, communicate, and set expectations to ensure a balanced college experience for your son.
What Can You Do Now?
Video game addiction may be legal, common, and culturally accepted, but it can be life-altering for many. Take a serious look at your teen’s gaming habits now and follow your gut feeling. He doesn’t magically become an adult when he turns 18; he is an apprentice adult and needs your guidance and counsel. It's not too late to get him on the right track so that he can experience the best college has to offer!
Before He Heads to School, Consider These Steps:
1. Do a Summer Detox:
Encourage a cold turkey approach for the rest of the summer to see if he can manage without gaming. Begin with a no-tech-allowed summer vacation. Designate no-tech times during the week and weekends to support family bonding. Have friends over often and require him to get a job this summer. Remember, his gaming habits this summer will carry over to college; excessive gaming at home will lead to excessive gaming in the dorm.
2. Consider a Gap Year:
If he can't control his gaming at home, use a gap year to help him detox and focus. Don’t assume that college will help him outgrow his gaming habit; gaming addiction is a real physical, chemical, and emotional problem. He may need professional help or even a treatment center. While you may wish for him to grow up and move out, sending him to college unprepared is not a good use of your money or his time. A full-time job for a year—away from gaming—may help him mature and better prepare for college.
3. Strengthen Family Attachment:
Help your college-bound freshman recognize that while he is now legally an adult, he is still part of your family, which comes with mutual responsibilities. While parents support their children in school to the best of their ability, college students have a responsibility to put in an honest, strong effort.
4. Consider the Influence of Roommates:
Does his roommate play video games? If so, chances are they will both play more. Studies show that first-year college roommates have a profound effect on students, and students with gamer roommates tend to study less, which can result in a lower GPA. Guide the roommate selection process to ensure a conducive living environment.
5. Consider His Dorm Assignment:
Ensure he lives in a freshman dorm where the RA is aware of his gaming issue. If the RA is a gamer, you may not get much help. If he is in a non-freshman dorm, he may feel pressure from upperclassmen with established gaming habits. A dorm with a main hall will encourage social interaction, while a suite setup might isolate him more.
6. Pay Attention to His Packing List:
Do not let him pack his game console, large monitor/screen, or his games. Remember, he can still play games on his laptop and smartphone, so setting limits on these devices is crucial.
7. Don’t Fund His Game Habit:
Do not give him money for game subscriptions or high-speed internet in his room. Set limits on his phone data plan to restrict large downloads. Monitor your credit card charges to ensure he’s not spending on games.
8. Line Up a Campus Job:
The college lifestyle offers a lot of free time, which can lead to trouble if not managed well. A job can help keep him busy and curb his gaming habit, though it's not a cure. Don’t buy his excuses about not having enough time; a busy schedule is beneficial.
9. Pick Out Clubs Ahead of Time:
Plan for clubs and extracurricular activities before college starts. Addicted gamers tend to be socially shy, awkward, and isolated. If he has been gaming for a long time, he will need help. Encourage him to join clubs to enhance his social development.
10. No Gaming Before Thanksgiving:
Set a goal of no gaming until Thanksgiving. It may seem impossible, but it could be the best decision for his freshman year.
By taking these proactive steps, you can help your son manage his gaming habits and prepare for a successful college experience.
Now is the Time to Evaluate
If you have a gamer headed to college, take time now to get informed. While your son may occasionally put his game aside for serious studying and healthy activities, the odds are high that he may not once he gets to college. In fact, he will likely game more in college than he ever did at home. He may sacrifice social time with real people, deny himself sleep, skip classes, and exchange classwork demands for his gaming.
Peer pressure will be immense, and the temptation to shift his motivation and competition to his game rather than his grades may be overwhelming. Even if he was a straight-A student in high school, your bright student may not survive his freshman year without proper guidance and awareness.
Does your son understand that his gaming habit puts him in one of the highest risk categories for dropping out in his first year of college? No, he does not. College tuition isn’t cheap, and no parent wants to waste money on a year spent gaming instead of learning. But more important than the financial cost is your child's well-being.
As a responsible parent, it's crucial to have the hard conversation that is in his best interest. I speak from personal experience. Don’t let Adam’s story become your son’s story, too.
For more information on gaming addiction, visit us at screenstrong.org. If you want to help your gamer detox, you can find our 30-day Detox in our Connect Plus Group.
Want to read more about Adam’s story and how we overcame gaming addiction in our home? I wrote all about it in this little book. (The e-book version is also in our Connect Plus Group.)
NIG, KEANE. “FCC Says Online Games A Leading Cause of College Dropouts.” The Escapist, 10 Dec. 2008, www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/88049-FCC- Says-Online-Games-A-Leading-Cause-of-College-Dropouts.
Video Game Addiction and College Performance Among Males: Results from a 1 Year Longitudinal Study Zachary L. Schmitt, BA,1 and Michael G. Livingston, PhD CYBERPSYCHOLOGY, BEHAVIOR, AND SOCIAL NETWORKING Volume 18, Number 1, 2015.
Kem. L. (2005). Gamer addiction: A threat to student success! What advisors need to know Retrieved from NACADA Clearinghouse of Academic Advising Resources Web site: http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Resources/Clearinghouse/View-Articles/Game-Addicted-Students.aspx
Photo credits: ScreenStrong.org