Here’s a rewritten version with a provocative and controversial tone:
“The so-called “mental health crisis” just got a new and suspect “solution” in the form of video games that are now being pushed by the FDA as a legit treatment for stress and anxiety. Because what could possibly go wrong with a healthcare system that relies on corporate-driven “therapy” packaged in the form of fun and games?
Meet DeepWell, a company that’s been granted FDA approval to peddle their junk science to unsuspecting individuals who are desperate for a quick fix. Their claim: that playing video games like Wordle or Animal Crossing can actually treat stress, hypertension, and maybe even PTSD. Because, allegedly, the dopamine rush you get from beating a level can somehow translate to real-world stress management.
The tech world is already in thrall to the idea of “gamification” being the answer to all life’s problems, and DeepWell is just the latest iteration of this farcical trend. Who cares if the science is bunk and the “therapy” amounts to little more than getting your dopamine fix while crushing your enemies in Fortnite? As long as the revenue streams keep flowing and Big Pharma keeps profiting from our collective addiction to these digital distractions, we can just ignore the growing psychological toll of our hyper-medicated society.
The experts, of course, will tell you that moderation is key, that these games can be a useful tool if used in limited doses and in conjunction with “proper” therapy. But who needs actual therapy when you can just play Tetris and pretend you’re taking care of your mental health? And what about all the people who will waste their time and money playing these games under the delusion that they’re being treated for their depression, anxiety, or PTSD, only to realize that all they’ve done is bought a temporary high from some cleverly designed pixels?
Source link