PETALING JAYA: Online games can blur the line between the virtual and real worlds, and experts say proper regulation and supervision are key to ensuring children's safety and healthy development.
They also emphasised that children should spend more time outdoors and less time on screens.
Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Dr Rahima Dahlan @ Mohd Shafie of Hospital Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah, Universiti Putra Malaysia, said digital games are now an integral part of many children's social and emotional worlds.
"When used appropriately, games can enhance problem-solving skills, creativity and teamwork, especially when children play collaboratively under healthy supervision.
"But when gaming becomes excessive or unmonitored, it can interfere with sleep, studies, family interaction and mood regulation," she said.
Dr Rahima said for some children, especially those still developing self-control and a firm grasp of reality, the boundary between the virtual and real worlds can become blurred.
"They may internalise game-based rewards and punishments as reflections of their self-worth, or react to in-game loss as if it were a real-world humiliation," she added.
Dr Rahima said this distortion of reality tends to occur when other vulnerabilities exist, such as poor emotional regulation, loneliness, social isolation or lack of adult guidance.
"In short, games are not inherently harmful. What matters is how children interact with them - the frequency, content, context and level of adult supervision."
According to Dr Rahima, banning games is rarely an effective long-term solution. Instead, she called for greater digital literacy, self-control and proper supervision.
"Roblox, for instance, is a vast platform. Some spaces are educational and creative, while others can expose children to inappropriate content or unsafe interactions.
"Rather than an outright ban, there should be clear regulations, age-appropriate restrictions, parental controls and active monitoring," she said.
She added that developers and regulators must ensure games have transparent content ratings, built-in safety features and protection from exploitative material or online grooming.
On the call for children to return to "old-school" outdoor play, Dr Rahima said balance is essential.
"Outdoor play, sports and face-to-face socialisation build emotional resilience, empathy and real-world problem-solving. These cannot be fully replicated online," she said.
SEGi University's Dean of the Education, Languages, Psychology, and Music Faculty, Prof Datin Dr Mariani Md Nor, said games such as Roblox, Minecraft and Fortnite have become deeply integrated into children's development.
"While these platforms encourage creativity and collaboration, they also pose risks when used without proper regulation.
"For some children, the line between the virtual and real worlds becomes blurred, particularly after long exposure to fantasy and digital rewards.
"This may lead to avatars, desensitisation to violence and difficulty interpreting real-life social cues," she added.
Dr Mariani said excessive gaming can disrupt attention span, sleep and emotional regulation, ultimately affecting academic performance and social relationships.
She urged for stricter content moderation and clearer age-based restrictions, especially for games containing violent, sexualised or gambling-like elements.
"Authorities should establish guidelines to address excessive gaming and promote emotional well-being.
"The goal is to make gaming a safe, guided and developmentally supportive activity," Dr Mariani said.
It was reported that the government was considering banning online gaming platforms such as Roblox and UMI amid concerns that their content could negatively influence young people.
The matter is still under discussion, with any decision to take into account Australia's upcoming regulations on Roblox, due to take effect next month.