Games to Control Gaming Behavior: An Observation Based on Teenager Families

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study explores how parents manage and supervise their adolescent children’s online gaming behavior as well as how kids react to it. The research used the philosophy of everyday life practice of Michel de Certeau and conducted interviews with 230 teenage online game players aged 13–17 and 125 parents with varying professions. The study found that parents were effective in regulating the time and equipment used for gaming, while teenagers employed tactics such as cracking passwords and shifting gaming spaces to resist parental control. The study also highlights that the control strategy of parents may intensify when the academic performance or health of teenagers changes. This study contributes to the existing literature by providing insights into the ways wherein parents supervise and regulate their kids’ internet gaming habits. The study highlights the importance of understanding the tactics employed by teenagers to resist parental control, and how parents can effectively manage their children’s gaming behavior without compromising their academic and physical health. The findings of this study can inform parents and educators in developing effective strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of online gaming on teenagers.