PUBG: Problematic fun?

PLAYER Unknown’s Battlegrounds, popularly known as PUBG, is a popular online game made by a South Korean firm Bluehole inc, which has become very popular with hundreds of millions of people particularly students.

In PUBG, there are 100 people on an island where they have to kill each other and the last survivor is the winner. Owing to its hazardous impacts on students this game has been banned by many countries after concerns were expressed over its effect on the young.

PTA temporarily suspended PUBG

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had suspended the PUBG temporarily. The authority said it had received several complaints about the game being “addictive”, a waste of time and its potential negative impact on children’s physical and psychological health.

The PTA also urged the public to provide their feedback on the online game before July 10 by emailing the authority.

Police recommended a ban on PUBG

On June 23, Lahore Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Zulfiqar Hameed had recommended a ban on the online game.

The CCPO had taken up the matter with the higher authorities through a letter referring to the death by suicide of a teenage boy, who was an ardent player of the game. He wrote to Punjab IGP Shoaib Dastagir seeking his help to move a reference to the authorities concerned for a ban on PUBG.

The action was proposed after a 16-year-old boy died by suicide in Hanjarwal area of Lahore after he failed to accomplish a mission he was assigned in the game within the stipulated time. Several cases of suicide attributed to the game have also been reported in the country.

PUBG banned in several other countries

Pakistan would not be the first country to ban PUBG because of its violent nature. Last year in July 2019, Jordan, China, Iraq, Nepal, and the Indian state of Gujrat banned PUBG for its possible perverse effect on its citizens.

Health issues due to PUBG

The most popular smartphone game in the world, the PUBG is affecting the mental health of the children and youth.

The World Health Organisation in 2018 declared gaming addiction as a mental health disorder. Addiction to video games increases depression and anxiety levels.

Known outcomes of playing PUBG are a strain on the eyes, frazzle, migraine, obesity, poor sleep and more. Psychological health issues are there too such as withdrawal (irritability, poor sleep, anger) depression, insomnia and even substance abuse as a result of compulsive disorder.

Addiction to such games can trigger the want of drugs and can ultimately lead towards a deterioration of health.

Solution-limit violation

The solution to this is to limit the number of rounds that can be played in a day by a single player. These way players are not robbed of the fun and they can find time for other activities during the day.

This step was taken for Shadow Fight I, II and III and it makes the game more fun while the violation would also be limited through the process.

Pakistan needs severe action against the game

PTA has received numerous complaints against PUBG wherein it is stated that the game is addictive, wastage of time and poses a serious negative impact on the physical and psychological health of the players.

Mentally, the destruction of the young generation and the death of the country’s future are more important issues for Pakistan. Our government should also take more severe notice as a sizeable number of Pakistani youth are getting enticed by the game.