Experts Question Exclusion of Gaming Platforms Amid Addiction Crisis

PERTH, AUSTRALIA — A psychiatrist leading Australia’s only publicly-run gaming disorder clinic is questioning the efficacy of the country’s new, world-first social media ban for under-16s, pointing out that several popular and problematic gaming platforms have been excluded from the sweeping restrictions.

The ban, which kicked in on Wednesday, prevents teens from holding accounts on platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and X. However, it omits platforms like Discord and Roblox—a decision that makes little sense to Dr. Daniela Vecchio, the psychiatrist who established the Gaming Disorder Clinic at Fiona Stanley Hospital.

Dr. Vecchio argues that gaming and social media are so “interconnected” that restricting one without the other misses the larger problem. “The individual who plays games for excessive amounts of time also spends excessive amounts of time on social media platforms where they can see other gamers or can live stream gaming,” she said.

Her concerns are amplified by the clinic’s caseload. The institution, which is helping over 300 patients, addresses behavior recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “Gaming Disorder”. According to one former patient, Kevin Koo, the addiction can be as consuming as substance abuse, costing him his job and confidence.

The Fiona Stanley clinic treats patients by weaning them off excessive online habits, often through the use of low-tech alternatives. Fifteen-year-old Sadmir Perviz, who previously gamed for 10 hours a day, now finds connection in board games like Dungeons & Dragons at the clinic, valuing the “completely different” experience of interacting with real people.

While platforms like Discord and Roblox have recently introduced age assurance features in Australia, Dr. Vecchio and other experts are pushing for a broader approach, suggesting the ban should be expanded to include gaming platforms and potentially raise the age limit to 18 to adequately protect vulnerable youth.