Too much gaming could be a mental health problem. The WHO has put "gaming addiction" on its list of diseases. Gaming disorder happens when people cannot stop playing and gaming becomes more important than other interests. The WHO says this must happen for at least a year to be a gaming disorder. Someone with gaming disorder will play even if they know they have problems and they have suffered "negative consequences" from gaming.
The WHO said doctors should know that gaming addiction is a danger to people's health. Most people who play video games don't have a disorder. Sometimes, too much gaming can lead to big problems. However, some doctors believe that too much gaming is not a mental illness. One doctor compared gaming and coffee addictions. He said: "Billions of people around the world are hooked on caffeine, but only rarely does this cause more trouble."