Gaming addiction cases in Singapore up 30%; youths make up 4 in 5 cases

Gaming addiction cases have gone up by a third since the COVID-19 pandemic. Therapists and counsellors say more than four in five cases are youths, particularly students. They have attributed this to more enticing games in recent years and the prevalence of smart devices in everyday use. They are also receiving at least 30 per cent more complaints from concerned parents. Tom Maniatis, Senior Psychotherapist for Addictions at Promises Healthcare, discusses whether gaming addiction leads to other problems like theft and violence against intervention.