The coronavirus pandemic and eventual lockdown because of it, gave a major boost to online gaming industry, as number of players instantly went up. People are spending a lot of time on heavy gaming titles like PUBG as well as basic games like Ludo. While the fun quotient, coupled with ''time-pass'', has skyrocketted, this has also taken a toll on physical and mental health of users, a new report has revealed. 

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According to NortonLifeLock’s new India Digital Wellness Report, between 1,572 participants, 87 per cent of people think that online gaming affects their physical and mental well-being. 76 per cent of people think that action game addiction has changed their behaviour raising levels of depression and anxiety. Lastly, 70 per cent of people think that children playing online video games are vulnerable to cyberbullying, harassment and violence.

The report states that 88 per cent of female and 92 per cent of generation X respondents believe that online games are the best pass time. Respondents from cities like Delhi, Lucknow, Chandigarh and Bhubaneswar said that they prefer playing online games rather than engaging in social interactions.

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“People could be drawn to online gaming for entertainment, but data shows that it is not all about fun and games. The virtual playing field comes with risks such as identity theft, cyberbullying, phishing, and credit card theft, to name a few,” said Ritesh Chopra, Director, NortonLifeLock, India.

“It is interesting to note that children follow the same patterns as their parents when it comes to online gaming. Therefore, it becomes extremely important for parents as well as children to be educated about the threats that can compromise their safety and privacy in this complex digital world. ‘Play well and stay safe’ seem to be the new mantra in these challenging times,” he added.

About 70 per cent respondents said that online games are making them smarter.