Policy Positions

Digital Wellness

Digital Wellness

Video games are fun, often educational and, increasingly, therapeutic. Billions of players worldwide enjoy video games as part of a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle. The ability of people around the world to continue to benefit from this technology depends upon policies that foster and celebrate gameplay.

Video games are fun, often educational and, increasingly, therapeutic. More and more people report that video games provide stress relief while creating positive mental stimulation. Medical professionals and health experts now recognize the benefits of gameplay, employing games to achieve positive health outcomes for patients of all ages. The ability of players, students, patients and numerous others around the world to continue to benefit from this technology depends upon policies that foster and celebrate gameplay for the billions of players who enjoy video games as part of a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle.

The video game industry supports digital wellness by providing information and tools for all audiences to make educated, age-appropriate decisions regarding video games. Nearly all video game devices offer parental controls. These tools offer parents and players the ability to efficiently set preferences that are appropriate for their household. These controls enable parents to block video games by age rating category, manage the amount of money their kids can spend playing video games and limit the amount of time their kids can spend playing video games.

In addition, for more than 25 years, the industry has worked through the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) to ensure that consumers—especially parents and caregivers—have the resources, including voluntary ratings, needed to make informed decisions about video games. The effectiveness of these efforts has been praised by the U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Related News and Resources

results in Net Neutrality.
  • Internet and Video Game Industry Associations Respond to Today’s Net Neutrality Ruling

    Press Releases /

    Internet Association (IA) and the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) reiterated their support for strong, enforceable net neutrality rules today, following the ruling in Mozilla v FCC.

  • FCC Net Neutrality: ESA Comments

    Policy Filings /

    As a supporter of the decade-old consensus open Internet principles and policies that advance broadband deployment, ESA believes the Commission can, and should, maintain enforceable open Internet protections, consistent with the Commission’s authority, in a form that does not “deter the investment and innovation that has allowed the Internet…

  • Entertainment Software Association And Other Advocacy Groups Continue The Fight To Save Net Neutrality In New Legal Brief

    Press Releases /

    The brief emphasizes that the FCC had no rational basis for repealing net neutrality protections in 2017, relied on dubious evidence, and ignored research contradicting its preferred outcome. “Gamers deserve a well-functioning internet without blocking or throttling interfering with their experience,” said Stanley Pierre-Louis, interim CEO of the Entertainment…

  • Mozilla Corp. v. FCC: ESA et. al. Intervenors Brief

    Policy Filings /

    Petitioners, including ESA, seek review of an Order of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that eliminates judicially-approved rules the FCC adopted in 2015 to protect and promote net neutrality and an open internet.

  • Entertainment Software Association Files Motion to Intervene in Support of Net Neutrality

    Press Releases /

    “The internet drives innovation, fuels our 21st century economy, and helps create the jobs of tomorrow—especially for the connected world of interactive entertainment. Consumers deserve rules of the road that prevent blocking, throttling, and other restrictive conduct – and enable the great online experiences that bring meaning and value…

  • FCC Broadband Definition: ESA Reply Comments

    Policy Filings /

    The ESA offers its comments and perspectives on the performance consumers need to access advanced telecommunications capability.

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