You are a lover of Games? In that case, know that you are in very good company, since the interest in the gaming sector is getting stronger. Today there is an impressive variety of games and some of them can even boost one's memory and cognitive skills and abilities. However, care must be taken not to play video games too much, otherwise, in extreme cases, it is possible to develop a form of addiction to them.
If you are reading this guide, perhaps the problem concerns you (or it concerns a loved one) and, for this reason, you would like to know how to detox from video games. If this is the case, know that this is the right guide: in the next paragraphs, in fact, I will be able to provide you with various practical tips that will certainly be useful to free yourself from this addiction (or to help a family member or friend to do so. ).
If you're ready to get started, I'd say don't waste any more time chatting and get to work right away. Strength and courage: make yourself comfortable, take all the time you need to concentrate on reading the next paragraphs and, more importantly, try to implement the "tips" that I will give you. There is nothing left for me to do, except wish you happy reading and, above all, wish you a big good luck for everything!
Index
- Check the time devoted to video games
- Block the download of games and in-app purchases
- Replace video games with other activities
- Get help from others
Check the time devoted to video games
Check the time devoted to video games it is important to realize how serious your addiction can be. Once this is understood, of course, it is also important to limit the playing time. Let me tell you how to do both by working on consoles, PCs and mobile devices.
Sideboard
On game consoles it is possible to check the time dedicated to video games through some ad hoc functions. On the PS4for example, you can do this by setting a time zone for each child. To do this, go to Settings> Content Filtering / Family Management> Family Management, log in to your PSN account, click on the button Set up now and follow the instructions that appear on the screen to set the time zone, in case you haven't already.
Once you have set the time zone, to check the game time in a day, do the following: go to Settings> Content Filtering / Family Management> Family Management- You will find information regarding game time on the login screen, in the upper right corner of the main screen, in the quick menu and also in the menu Settings> Content Filter / Family Management> Play Time for Today.
To limit game time on PS4, go to Settings> Content Filter / Family Management and select the limitation you want to apply: Change the game time for today, if you intend to adjust the playing time during the current day or Game time settings, if you want to customize the default allowed play time settings.
In the latter case, to proceed, you must select the item Limits, so as to set when and for how long it is possible to play with the console: from the menu End of playing time, then choose the end of the game time you want to set (eg. Log out of PS4) and from the menu Duration and time of play select the game time for each day, or set specific limits for each day of the week. Remember, then, to confirm the changes made by pressing the button Confirmation.
If you own other video game consoles, you can try searching the Internet for settings to verify and limit game time, such as the ones I told you about earlier: maybe you could do it by searching for terms like "limit game time on [name / model of your console]".
PC
If you are used to playing on PC, chances are you play it using Steam, the famous digital distribution platform developed by Valve that offers the possibility to buy games (and also films and software) in a rather simple way and, above all, at advantageous prices.
If you were wondering, know that this also offers the possibility to impose limitations on video games, through the mode View for the family. To activate the latter, start Steam on your PC, log into your account (if necessary), click on the item Steam located at the top left and select the item Settings give the menu check if you press.
Then select the item Family located on the left sidebar, click on the link Manage the view for the family, choose the contents you want to restrict with a PIN by selecting them from the sections Library content e Online content and functionality and then click on the button Following. On the next screen, provide the email address to use to recover your PIN in case of loss, click on the button Following, enter the PIN you intend to use in the text fields Enter your PIN e Re-enter your PIN and then click the button once again Following.
At this point, provide the secret code that was emailed to you, click on the button Following And that's it. At this point, when the mode View for the family is active, the icon depicting i two men placed at the top right will be green (and therefore the content restrictions you have decided to set will also be active), while when it is deactivated it will be marked in red.
Furthermore, I would like to point out the possibility of checking and limiting the time dedicated to video games on PC through the use of parental control software, as Mobile Fence e Qustodio that allow you to control the activities carried out by your children on their computers and mobile devices, as I showed you in the guides dedicated to how to inhibit Internet sites and how to spy on your cell phone.
Keep in mind, however, that solutions of this kind are not free: to be more specific, the subscription to Mobile Fence starts from 36 dollars / year, while the one to Qustodio starts from 29,95 euros / year. Alternatively, you can use the Windows and macOS settings to limit the time you use your computer, as I showed you in this other guide.
Smartphones and tablets
To check and limit the playing time on smartphone or tablet, you can use some functions present "standard" on Android e iOS.
- Android - if your device is updated to Android 8.0 and later, you can check the usage time by going to the menu Settings> System> About phone / device> Status and check the information in the item Usage time. Unfortunately, it is only possible to check how long the device has been used since it was turned on, but it is not possible to have specific information about the apps used.
- iOS - if your device is updated to iOS 12 and later, you can control usage time and set time limits on the use of certain types of apps. To do this, go to the menu Settings> Screen time, tap on the item Enable the "Screen Time" option, presses the button Continue and follow the on-screen instructions to set the security code for the settings in question. To set limits in relation to the use of the games, go to the menu Settings> Screen Time> App Restrictions> Add Usage Restriction, select the voice Toys, presses on the voice NEXT, set the desired time limit and select the item Add.
To have greater control over the time and limits of use of your children's devices, I recommend the use of solutions for parental control, such as the ones already mentioned. Mobile Fence e Qustodio, which are both paid: the subscription to Mobile Fence starts at 36 dollars / year, while that of Qustodio, on the other hand, starts at 29,95 euros / year. I showed you how they work in this other guide.
Block game downloads and in-app purchases
If you are a parent and want to help one of your children overcome their video game addiction, I recommend block the download of games and in-app purchases, so that the little ones can play less (and avoid emptying your credit card!). Here's how to do it on Android and iOS.
Android
To block the download of games and in-app purchases on Android, avvia l'app Google Play Store, fai tap sul pulsating () located at the top right, select the item Settings from the menu that appears on the left and then select the item Parental control.
At this point, move up ON l'interruttore posto accanto alla dicitura Parental control not active, create a PIN to protect the settings that you are going to customize and tap on the item OK, then confirms the PIN entry in the form Confirm PIN e pigia his OK.
Now, tap on the item Apps and games, select the level of restrictions you want to set (PEGI 3 is the maximum level it can set) and tap the button Save. By doing so, you will have limited the apps, games and in-app purchases that can be made on the device in question.
iOS
To block the download of games and in-app purchases on iOS, you need to activate the mode Usage time. To do this, go to the menu Settings> Screen time and tap on the item Enable the "Screen Time" option.
Then tap the button Continue and specifies whose device it is (eg. It's my iPhone o This iPhone / iPad belongs to a child). Based on the option chosen above, follow the instructions displayed on the screen to activate the code relating to the time of use of the device, set a pause in use and create a parent code (if you have indicated the device as belonging to a baby).
In this case, to set limitations regarding the download of games and in-app purchases, select the item Content and privacy and move up ON the switch lever located in correspondence with the wording Content and privacy. After that, tap the voices ITunes & App Store Purchases> App Install / In-App Purchases e seleziona l'opzione Do not allow per portare to finish l'operazione.
Replace video games with other activities
Replace video games with other activities it can be another great way to overcome your addiction. Given that, at least initially, it may not be easy to be able to "detach" yourself from your console, participate in events dedicated to the topic, such as holidays in the videogame sector or comics (where there are often also areas dedicated to video games), it could incentivize you to do so.
By participating in similar events, in fact, you will be able to find other people passionate about this issue, socialize and, therefore, undertake new activities in the "real world". Building new social bonds and, why not, also new friendships with people who share the same passions as you, will gradually help you to overcome your addiction and to have a healthier relationship with video games (which in any case should not be demonized). I guarantee.
Also try to broaden your horizons. In addition to video games, you may have many other passions just waiting to be discovered: photography, cinema, reading books, art, music, theater, sport, hiking and so on.
Get help from others
Get help from others it's the best way to cure any addiction, including video game addiction. Who can help you? Maybe it would be advisable to talk to your parents about it Parents, which will surely be of great help to you to overcome the addiction you have developed from video games. Since they may have already noticed the problem, they are likely to reach out to you themselves - instead of refusing their help, try to make full use of it.
Nor should the importance of participating in be underestimated discussion groups, both physical and online: search for some on the Internet and share your experience. Comparing yourself with other people who are in a situation similar to the one you are in right now, can only do you good and spur you to overcome your addiction.
If your gaming disorder has reached such a severity that none of the precautions presented in this guide have helped you to improve the situation, it would be advisable (if not necessary) to contact centers specialized in the treatment of techno-addictions.
In these structures there are various professional and medical figures who can offer concrete help to those who have developed addictions like the one you have. Try searching the Internet for centers in your area and then don't hesitate to go to the nearest facility.
