France & videogame addiction
From Olivier comes this little tidbit:
Hi Raph, Here are some news from France. Politics try to put addiction to videogames into the new Hospital reform law. Here is a translation at my blog.
Best, Olivier M.
His translation of the legalese:
After Article 25 insert the following:
When a game presents a risk to public health because of its addictive potential, support each unit and its packaging bear, under conditions set by a decree of the Minister for Health, a message of sanitary . The implementation of this obligation is incumbent upon the publisher or, failing that, the distributor responsible for distribution in France of the video game.
SUMMARY STATEMENT
Adolescents constitute a particularly vulnerable target to computer. Consultations for addiction to video games are primarily concerned with children and adolescents. Faced with this phenomenon, a common sign in 25 European countries was established. PEGGY system (Pan-European Game Information) provides guidance in the form of symbols printed on the boxes of video games. However, many parents do not understand the meaning of symbols. This amendment seeks to make the implementation of a prevention message clear about the risks of addiction that can cause some video games.
As Olivier notes, it’s kind of a bad sign when legislation on games is being done by folks who don’t know what PEGI is.
One Response to “France & videogame addiction”
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I’d say video games are addictive because all interactive short cycle activities with low-feeding weight reward systems are. See Facebook.
Facebook is to addictive applications what beer is to pot. There are probably more lives destroyed by beer than reefer but both are addictions. One is socially embraced and the other is reviled. It simply comes down to who is getting paid and how.