Wednesday afternoons have become a ritual for 15-year-old Sadmir Perviz. It's a circuitous route from home in Perth to the Fiona Stanley Hospital - but it's worth it, he says, to sit down for a game of Dungeons & Dragons with people he may not know but with whom he shares a great deal in common.
Sadmir and his board game companions are just some of the 300 patients at the gaming disorder clinic, Australia's only publicly-run institution of its type, helping patients wean themselves off excessive online gaming habits.
The room where they meet is a simple space in a faceless hospital but in the corner, there's a pile of boardgames on a chair. Jenga, Uno, and Sushi Go are also popular choices at the informal group, which is attended by both patients and clinicians.
It's a bit of a departure for the 15-year-old who until a couple of months ago preferred to play games with friends online for 10 hours a day.
It feels completely different, says Sadmir. You get to roll the dice instead of clicking a button. You can interact with people, so you actually know who's there rather than just being on a call with random people.
Dr. Daniela Vecchio, the psychiatrist who set up the clinic, states that while gaming isn't inherently bad, it can become problematic—an addiction, in fact.
Dr. Vecchio questions why gaming platforms have not been included in Australia's world-first social media ban for under-16s. The ban, initiated recently, is intended to prevent teens from creating accounts on ten major social media platforms, including Instagram and Snapchat, while still allowing access to platforms like YouTube and TikTok without accounts.
She highlights that gaming platforms and social media pose similar risks for children, such as excessive online time and potential exposure to harmful content or bullying.
Critics reiterate the connection between gaming and social media, with experts warning that children exposed to excessive gaming often spend significant time on social media as well, where they can see other gamers or live stream gaming.
With platforms like Discord and Roblox previously under scrutiny due to claims of harmful content, Dr. Vecchio and other advocates push for a broader regulation that includes gaming.
As the Australian government aims to protect children from online threats, it faces scrutiny for not encompassing all interactive online platforms in its regulations.
The need for comprehensive regulations surrounding online interactions continues to grow as families line up for assistance at gaming disorder clinics across Australia, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding children's online experiences.
