World of Warcraft One of the Top Reasons for College Drop-outs

It is estimated that one in five college students are addicted to video games or the Internet. This behavioral addiction is rapidly infiltrating our society. Federal Communications Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate said the following in her speech at the Telecom Policy and Regulation Institute.

"With the explosion of educational resources available online, one might think parents would be 100% pleased with the internet’s role in their children’s lives. But surveys show just the opposite: a late 2006 survey that showed 59% of parents think the internet has been a totally positive influence in their children’s lives-- down from 67% in 2004. You might find it alarming that one of the top reasons for college drop-outs in the U.S. is online gaming addiction— such as World of Warcraft—which is played by 11 million individuals worldwide.

Even more concerning, the threat is no longer contained to the family computer. It is in the palm of your child’s hand. Given the fact that approximately 60% of American teens have a cell phone, and that cell phones are being marketed to children as young as 6, I have, and will continue to, challenge telecom carriers to adopt initiatives to provide curriculum and education regarding safe use of their products—including internet safety, and the prevention of access to inappropriate websites by children."

Reference

1. http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-287221A1.pdf Accessed Sept 29, 2011

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