• The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA) and the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in Bangalore are collaborating to research the disruptive impulse control behavioral patterns of online gaming.

• These patterns may cause vulnerabilities among the growing number of users of online gaming.

• Online gaming can result in social isolation, neglect of personal responsibilities, and hence financial and personal strain on those addicted to it.

• The study aims to create a pre-emptive model for responsible digital consumption based on current knowledge and practices.

• The Director, NIMHANS, emphasized intersectoral coordination for data collection and its segment-wise analysis, i.e., age groups and socio-economic strata of the consumers, etc., and to gain knowledge on existing strategies for preventing excessive consumption.

• The results from the study will help formulate guidelines for protecting the consumers of online gaming from deleterious effects.

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