Are you worried that your child might be addicted to video games? The impact of excessive gaming on minors can be severe, affecting their health, education, and relationships. If your child spends too much time playing Roblox, Minecraft, or Fortnite and has been diagnosed with video game addiction, you could have grounds for a lawsuit against the companies that profit off these habit-forming games.
At Hach & Rose, LLP, we understand how painful it can be to see your child struggle with the consequences of video game addiction. Our experienced lawyers are here to help you hold game developers accountable and demand the financial resources your child needs to thrive. Contact us today to discuss your case for free with a video game addiction lawyer in New York and learn how we can help you protect your child.
What Is Video Game Addiction?
Video game addiction, or internet gaming disorder (IGD), is a growing concern in the mental health field. IGD is characterized by a range of symptoms that indicate a problematic relationship with video games. These symptoms can seriously impair a child’s relationships and overall well-being.
One of the key signs of video game addiction is preoccupation with gaming. Addicts might find themselves constantly thinking about games, even when they are not playing. This preoccupation can lead to withdrawal during periods when they are unable to play video games. Addicts might also experience feelings of sadness, anxiety, or irritability if they are unable to play, creating a cycle in which the need to play becomes increasingly intense, leading to longer periods of play. Despite these negative consequences, those with video game addiction often find it difficult to reduce their gaming time or quit altogether.
In 2019, the World Health Organization recognized gaming disorder in its International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). This recognition highlights the severe nature of video game addiction and the need for awareness and treatment options.
The Impacts of Video Game Addiction
Video game addiction can have severe symptoms with a wide range of consequences. Below are some common signs and repercussions associated with video game addiction.
- Preoccupation with Gaming: Some patients become fixated on gaming, thinking about it when they should be focusing on other activities like schoolwork.
- Lying or Hiding Gaming Habits: Addicted gamers often spend countless hours at play, neglecting basic needs such as eating, sleeping, and personal hygiene. To avoid confrontation, they might lie to loved ones about how much time they spend gaming.
- Loss of Interest in Other Activities: As addictions worsen, a gamer might lose interest in activities they once enjoyed, such as sports, socializing, or other hobbies.
- Social Withdrawal: Those with video game addiction often withdraw from real-life relationships, choosing to spend more time in the virtual world and prioritizing online friends over real ones.
- Psychological Withdrawal: When unable to play, gaming addicts can experience intense feelings of loss, sadness, or frustration that make it difficult to focus on anything else.
- Defensiveness and Anger: Video game addicts will often behave to defensively or angrily when confronted about their habits.
- Using Gaming as an Escape: Many addicted gamers use video games to escape from real-life problems, finding more confidence and fulfillment in the virtual world than in reality.
- Continued Use Despite Negative Consequences: The urge to play remains strong even when gaming leads to real-world consequences like poor school performance.
Video game addiction can lead to several other severe consequences for minors. Prolonged exposure to unrealistic body images in games can cause young players to develop body dysmorphia: distorted perceptions of their bodies, leading to unhealthy behaviors and self-esteem issues.
Sleep deprivation is another common side effect of video game addiction, as many addicted minors stay up late into the night playing games, severely disrupting their sleep patterns. This lack of sleep not only affects their mood and performance in school but also hinders their overall physical and mental health.
Additionally, excessive gaming during crucial developmental years can impact brain development, potentially affecting cognitive abilities, emotional regulation, and social skills.
Eligibility for Video Game Addiction Lawsuits
If your child is suffering from the effects of video game addiction, you could have grounds for a lawsuit. At Hach & Rose, LLP, we are currently accepting cases from those who meet the following criteria:
- Your child is a minor (17 or younger)
- Your child resides in New York
- Your child has a video game addiction diagnosis from a qualified healthcare professional
- Your child spends more than four hours a day playing video games
At present, we are focusing specifically on cases involving the games Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite, which have been designed to have addictive features. If your child meets these criteria, we would like to hear from you.
What Lawsuits Involving Video Game Addiction Allege
Lawsuits involving video game addiction are becoming increasingly common, particularly over the last year. These suits claim that companies like Epic Games, Roblox Corporation, and Mojang Studios intentionally designed games to be addictive, leading to a generation of young “gaming addicts.”
These cases allege that game makers use psychological tactics, such as vibrant graphics and random rewards, to keep players engaged, leading to addiction. The litigation has the potential to be enormous. As the lawsuits proceed, defense counsel argues that video games, like novels or TV shows, are protected by free speech and that being too engaging is not grounds for liability. However, plaintiffs’ lawyers maintain that these cases focus on product defects rather than content, setting the stage for ongoing legal battles.
Contact a Video Game Addiction Lawyer in New York
If you believe that video game addiction has harmed your child, don’t wait to take legal action. The New York video game addiction lawyers with Hach & Rose, LLP, can help you understand your options and pursue justice on your family’s behalf. Contact us today for a free initial consultation to discuss your case and find out how we can help you hold the companies responsible for your child’s addiction accountable for what they’ve done.