Limiting gaming?

[emma2709]

I have a 16yo son who is becoming addicted to violent combat games on his pc and does little else given the chance. He's also increasingly rude and generally horrid to other family members, doesnt mix socially etc. I want him to do other things but he refuses. He has hardly any other interests and attempts to discuss the issue rationally get nowhere. Any ideas how I can bring about some change?

[Ujjayi]

No advice particularly but just wanted to empathise. My DCs are 13 and 9 and I find that if they spend too long on computer games etc they get very irritable and the eldest becomes downright nasty at times. I think it is because it is such an intense experience. I therefore have strict limits on gaming times - there will be pleas to extend them "I've almost finished the level" etc but I stick to my guns, as it were. Obviously, with your DS being older I guess it becomes harder to impose those limits.

Is there a specific issue/reason as to why he isn't mixing socially? Is he having any difficulties with classmates? I'm wondering if he is withdrawing out of a need to shut himself away from something else going on his life. My eldest DS was bullied for several years and for the first 6 months kept it to himself. He was vile & withdrawn during that time and I feel awful that I didn't recognise that there may have been another reason.

[Palika]

Find some scientific research about how harmful violent games are for teenagers, discuss it with him and try to get him to agree to a give it up or only do one hour a day or so.

If he does not agree simply put a password on his computer, so that he can't log in or take away the router.

My DS would be addicted to gaming if we let him and that's how we do it.

[Chrisbenedict]

Have fixed gaming times. If he is socially withdrawn, you need to understand why. It could be some other issue that is nagging him. Try to talk to him about it.

[MissMarplesBloomers]

Are they online games? Have times when the router is off.