Health officials are considering classifying excessive video game playing as a mental health disorder.
The World Health Organization may add "gaming disorder" to their next update of the International Classification of Diseases.
The draft says that gaming behavior could be a disorder if it meets three criteria;
- If a person loses control over their gaming habits
- If they start to prioritize gaming over many other interests or activities
- If they continue playing despite clear negative consequences.
If it makes the cut, it would land next to gambling, excessive use of alcohol, marijuana, caffeine or nicotine.
In the WHO definition, gaming covers everything from iPhone games to mainstream games on consoles and PCs.