Computer Games Drive Social Ties
September 17, 2008
Computer Games Drive Social Ties
Far from turning teenagers into anti-social loners, video games help them engage with friends and community, says a report.
The Pew Internet study of US teenagers found that few play alone and most join up with friends when gaming.
It found that many used educational games to learn about world issues and to begin to engage with politics.
The report also found that gaming had become an almost universal pastime among young Americans.
Community chance
The survey of 1,102 teenagers aged 12-17 revealed that 99% of boys and 94% of girls across the socio-economic spectrum play some kind of computer or video game.
The most popular title was Guitar Hero, followed by Halo 3, Madden NFL, Solitaire, and Dance Dance Revolution.
Most teenagers played a variety of different titles, said Amanda Lenhart, senior research specialist at the Pew Internet & American Life Project, who wrote the report.
"They range in terms of their content from things that are about solving problems to things that are about going out and shooting things, or driving things, or racing things, or playing a sport," Ms Lenhart said.
But, she said, being a player did not mean being a loner.
"Three quarters of teens actually play these games with other people, whether online or in person."
Even playing games every day does not appear to impact teenagers' social lives.
"People who game on a daily basis are just as likely to talk on the phone, to email, to spend time with a friend face to face outside of school as kids who play games less," she said.
