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WHO Gaming Disorder Listing a 'Moral Panic', Say Experts (bbc.com)
The decision to class gaming addiction as a mental health disorder was "premature" and based on a "moral panic," experts have said. From a report: The World Health Organization included "gaming disorder" in the latest version of its disease classification manual. But biological psychology lecturer Dr Peter Etchells said the move risked "pathologising" a behaviour that was harmless for most people. The WHO said it had reviewed available evidence before including it. It added that the views reflected a "consensus of experts from different disciplines and geographical regions" and defined addiction as a pattern of persistent gaming behaviour so severe it "takes precedence over other life interests." Speaking at the Science Media Centre in London, experts said that while the decision was well intentioned, there was a lack of good quality scientific evidence about how to properly diagnose video game addiction.
When children play role-playing games, they aren't learning about real life.
Children also are not learning about real life when they listen to pop music, watch sitcoms on TV, or play with Legos. Nothing in real life is as simple and logical as Legos.
Most children don't have fully competent parents, apparently.
Competent parents don't join in moral panics. There is no evidence that video games are particularly harmful. I use "positive parenting", so my kids have a list of required things (homework, chores, enrichment activities) and not a list of prohibited things. Their free time is their own.