What Parents Need to Know About PUBG

What Parents Need to Know About PUBG

PlayerUnknowns Battleground, better known as PUBG, has taken the world by storm since its release in 2017. While it doesn’t get as much media attention as Fortnite, the free mobile version of PUBG actually surpasses Fortnite in the number of users, largely due to its popularity in populous Asian countries like India and China.

Now that gaming disorder is starting to gain global attention (thanks in part to WHO recognition as a disease), some parents are starting to realize their need for professional help – but knowing where to turn is another story.

How PUBG is Played

PUBG is a battle royale style game, where the aim is basically to be the last player (or squad) standing. In PUBG, How players do this up to them – which is one of the reasons why it’s so addictive (more on that later). This multiplayer game allows players to engage with up to 100 other people at once.

To start, players are dropped by parachute to various locations on a large-scale map. From there, they had to start looting: searching abandoned buildings and throughout the surrounding area for weapons they would use to defend themselves throughout the battle. After the looting phase, a large circle is randomly placed on the map. Players who are inside the circle when they are knocked down can continue playing the game as normal, but players outside the circle will be stuck in the Blue Zone – and their health will slowly decrease until it runs out. The Blue Zone shrinks periodically as the game progresses.

Why PUBG Is So Addictive

Gaming technology is based on industry knowledge of the brain’s dopamine reward system, which naturally reinforces pleasurable behavior. Gaming companies design algorithms accordingly – that is, video games are meant to be addictive. Every time a player scores some type of win, it releases a small amount of dopamine in their brain – which makes them seek out that experience again and again.

Because of the winner-takes-all format, the wins promised by PUBG are indeed very big. Additionally, its ever-shrinking blue zone provides a natural time limit on each session. Since players know how long a game will take, it is easier for them to squeeze in more sessions throughout the day. Players are automatically matched with others of a similar skill level, meaning everyone can still feel the satisfaction of a win – or crave a repeat after almost winning. And, because players can win any way they want, they don’t get bored playing the same version. They can strategize indefinitely.

PUBG Mobile In-App Purchases Are Similar to Gambling

One particularly dangerous feature of PUBG is the in-game purchase option. While the game allows players to open a certain number of loot boxes for free, additional loot boxes cost $2.50 a pop. You can also purchase cosmetic features such as upgraded weapon designs, parties, and dances for your character. It’s easy to see how, for a child who is addicted to gaming and doesn’t understand the consequences of buying online, this could get out of control. This also happened to an Indian teenager who stole Rs 50,000 from his father to use in PUBG.

The addition of in-app purchases adds a new appeal to the game. In fact, research has found that loot boxes do psychologically the same as gambling.

India’s Drastic Measures Against PUBG Addiction

The PUBG addiction scourge sweeping South Asia has led to some drastic efforts to restrict users’ gaming. Players are now locked out after playing PUBG Mobile for too long (time limit varies but allows up to six hours of game time), at which point they receive a pop-up ‘health reminder’.

The Indian state of Gujarat banned the game, after which Rajkot police arrested ten young people for playing PUBG.

Is Your Child Addicted to PUBG?

If your child plays PUBG too much and you are worried that he may develop a gaming addiction, ask yourself if you have noticed any of the following signs of gaming disorder:

  • Gets angry when their gaming session is interrupted
  • Making excuses to justify how much time they spend gaming
  • Neglecting their other responsibilities: schoolwork, extracurricular activities, or socializing in real life
  • Inability to stop or limit their gameplay
  • Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when they don’t have access to their device: depression, loneliness, boredom, or an obsessive preoccupation with returning to gaming

Gaming addiction also tends to lead to academic decline and increased family conflict. A young man in India who previously showed a lot of academic potential failed his pre-university exams after writing PUBG playing instructions on his answer sheet. Another 15-year-old boy was reportedly persuaded by his PUBG teammates to leave home, and has been missing since March.

With the drastic impact of this relatively new phenomenon, it is understandable that many parents are confused about what they can do to help their children.

Specialized Gaming Addiction Treatment

Gaming disorder, like other addictions, is best treated with professional treatment. If your child is addicted to gaming, successfully quitting gaming involves more than just taking away the device. They may also play games to avoid a pre-existing mental health condition, or may experience symptoms of mental illness as a result of their behavior.

Seeking professional help for this newly recognized condition has proven difficult, as few professionals have experience and expertise in this area. Luckily, The Edge young men’s program has partnered with the world’s leading gaming addiction expert, Cam Adair, to develop a gaming addiction treatment program specifically for young men.

Our program combines dynamic elements such as digital detox, mindfulness training, outdoor therapy, and relationship building to not only help your son recover, but also give him the tools to live a healthy, addiction-free life in the future. Contact us today to learn how we can help your son become a quitter in the game.

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