online gaming essay

Online Gaming Essay | Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Gaming

Online gaming is the most talked about fun topic among the teenagers of the 21st century. At the same time, it is the most talked about serious topic among the parents and teachers. Everyone has their own reasons to discuss online gaming. Our reason today is to help you write an Essay on Online Gaming so that you are exposed to the unseen side of online gaming addiction.

Long Essay on Online Gaming Addiction in 500 words | Argumentative Essay on Online Games Good or Bad

How online gaming started.

The Internet has changed the way we live, we eat, we dress, we work and we play. It has become a preferred and comfortable mode which has made our lives way too easy. Today almost everything is available at the click of a button. You ask for a thing and it reaches your doorstep within days. Amidst these gratifying moments, when we are saved from the daily hustle-bustle, another trend of online gaming has emerged.

Advantages of Online Games

Online gaming is a huge platform today. A platform that has broken all barriers and boundaries amidst countries around the world. In online gaming, you can connect to anyone anywhere in the world and play. Sometimes you don’t even know with whom you are playing and this mystery makes the experience even more thrilling. It also gives the player an opportunity to make new friends from other countries and get a chance to showcase their talent worldwide.

Nowadays, many online gaming championships are organized where gamers get a platform to compete with the best of the best and enhance their skills. It has gained much popularity over the years because one can play an online game on even a basic smartphone. What one requires is a consistent internet connection. Developing, designing and marketing online games has turned into a full-fledged profession and many are earning their bread and butter through it.

Disadvantages of Online Gaming

But then there is always the other side of a coin which is often dark and dingy. The other side of online gaming is not only dark but dreadful too. Many tend to become addicted to online gaming and it takes away all of their productive time. When money gets involved in it through betting, families are ruined. It pulls an individual into isolation as mostly online gamers play alone. Their social interaction becomes nil which leads to depression and loneliness.

Online harassment through many gaming sites is not a new thing. Children can easily be trapped in this way. Long hours spent in front of the computer can harm their posture and eyes too. These games, through their catchy visuals, entice young children and they become addicted to them to such an extent that they forget to eat or sleep and prefer to sit in front of the screen all the time. Such addiction not only harms the individual but the whole family suffers due to it. Besides social effects, there are many psychological symptoms like anxiety, irritability and uncontrollable mood swings which take a toll on the health of an individual due to addiction.

Ways to Control Online Gaming Addiction

Self-control, time management and focus can serve as the three pillars for fighting the addiction to online gaming. The external prohibitions from the government in the form of laws, certain regulations and even a ban on a few of them are not going to solve the problem. Good parenting, positive family time and socializing with friends can prove to be helpful. In some severe cases, guidance from a counsellor could become necessary. Positive reinforcement & support from loved ones is required for an individual to come out of this addiction.

‘Nothing can be more exciting and thrilling than a victory in real life’. So, let’s look forward to a win in real life than online.

Nurture Nature and Save the Future Impact of War on the Modern World Essay Importance of Cleanliness and Swacch Bharat Campaign Changing Role of Women in India My First Online Class Experience Essay How to Write an Essay on Myself with Examples Solar Energy Meaning Advantages Disadvantages Essay Academic Dishonesty Essay | Demerits of Online Exams Essay on Effects of Population on Environment Essay on Why is Education Important

Share With Your Friends

Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
Click to print (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Addiction to Online Gaming: A Review of Literature Essay

Introduction.

The rapid development of technologies has led not only to numerous breakthroughs in various spheres of people’s lives but also to significant issues related to the inability of some individuals to limit their time spent on gadget use. Whereas the Internet has presented ample opportunity for communication and research, it has also become the reason why too many users have become dependent on it. The selected topic of research is the addiction to online gaming among adults. This specific kind of addiction does not produce such a devastating effect on one’s health as the excessive consumption of alcohol or drugs. However, online gaming addiction poses other threats, which are no less severe both for the addicts and their close ones.

Researchers have presented evidence on the severity of online gaming addiction (Marino & Spada, 2017). Still, too many people continue to neglect the issue’s potential adverse outcomes. Therefore, more research is needed to investigate the problem from different angles, which will suggest viable solutions to it. The present paper is an overview of scholarly sources on online gaming addiction and the analysis of narrative inquiry as the most suitable qualitative research method to use for the investigation of this problem.

The Problem of Interest

Despite the constant development and enhancement of community resources and entertainment opportunities, the number of individuals addicted to online gaming is growing annually. What previously used to be viewed merely as a leisure activity has now come to be considered as a serious threat due to its potential to provoke addiction in users. Online gaming is related to social and psychological problems by facilitating self-regulation deficiency (Gong et al., 2019). Furthermore, the age of gamers has increased considerably, and the activity is no longer regarded as a teenage male hobby (Pietersen et al., 2018). Whereas, in the past, playing video games online, was considered as a useless pastime, at present, it has become an important part of many people’s lifeworlds. The increasing popularity of online gaming is associated with the idea that video games are “richly expressive and creative,” and they grant people much more immersive experience than other media forms do (Pietersen et al., 2018, p. 123). Therefore, one of the core aims in performing current research is to enhance the understanding of people’s likelihood to become addicted to online gaming.

Another rationale for selecting the problem is the need to analyze the possible ways of mitigating a growing issue of online game addiction among the population. Typically, game addicts are male individuals who report unique experiences related to their gaming activity and a high rate of engagement as the triggers of addiction (Tang et al., 2017). However, it is evident that the problem affects not only those directly involved in it but also anyone they interact with within their personal, professional, social, and family lives. Specifically, as Tang et al. (2017) mention, addiction to online gaming can cause a range of social and family problems that present a significant public health concern.

With the increasing interest of researchers in the question of problematic use of the Internet by gamers, a new clinical definition has been suggested to characterize the issue: Internet gaming disorder (Marino & Spada, 2017). Other terms utilized to denote the problem include ‘online gaming addiction,’ ‘problematic online gaming,’ ‘pathological gaming,’ and ‘video gaming dependence’ (Marino & Spada, 2017). The prevalence of Internet gaming disorder is reported to vary from 1.6 to 8.5% among Western youths. Furthermore, the disorder is frequently accompanied by other psychological problems, such as depression, anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and social phobia (Marino & Spada, 2017). Thus, it is crucial to analyze the available research in order to synthesize what has already been found and single out questions for further detailed research.

The main focus of the study will be the development of online gaming addiction and individuals’ feelings about it. According to Monacis et al. (2017), excessive use of technology has become an emerging issue of concern in the past few decades. The most common symptoms of online gaming addiction are unpleasant feelings when there is no access to the Internet (emptiness and depression), excessive investment of time spent on playing online games, and the refusal to admit a problem (Monacis et al., 2017). One of the major motives for engaging in online gaming is seeking sensation (Hu et al., 2017).

Other common reasons for developing online gaming addiction are concerned with coping, escape, competition, fantasy, and social motives (Šporčić & Glavak-Tkalić, 2018). Hence, it is crucial to investigate why individuals develop an addiction to online gaming and how they feel about it at the stage when they are only starting to engage in excessive Internet use and at the point when online games begin to take up too much time and initiate psychological problems. Personal stories of online gamers will serve as a solid ground for identifying the principal problems and suggesting solutions to them.

The Qualitative Research Method to Be Used

Taking into consideration the nature of the problem under investigation, the most suitable qualitative research method to employ in the study is narrative inquiry. This method involves the process of collecting data from respondents through storytelling. The study of the narrative becomes the means of understanding the ways people perceive the world and various situations in their lives. The self-narrative construction is manifested both in the content and form of narratives (Androutsopoulou & Stefanoua, 2018). According to Lieblich et al., there are two core dimensions for interpreting and scrutinizing narratives: “holistic versus categorical” and “content versus form” (as cited in Androutsopoulou & Stefanoua, 2018, p. 130).

According to Androutsopoulou and Stefanoua (2018), the most beneficial approach to employing a narrative inquiry analysis is a holistic one. The holistic-content dimension implies that the researcher should use the whole life story of an individual, which allows focusing on emerging topics. Meanwhile, the holistic-content mode presupposes that researchers look inside the structure of a respondent’s life story (Androutsopoulou & Stefanoua, 2018). As a result, the use of narrative inquiry helps to understand people’s attitudes toward the events happening in their lives and the ways they feel about them.

The selected research method enables scholars to focus on respondents’ thoughts about their lives rather than on events happening. By using this holistic approach, an individual is able to construct a coherent story of their life with the past, present, and future (James, 2018; McAlpine, 2016). When one tells a researcher about their experiences, the latter becomes “narratives as part of inquiry” and makes the audience “vicarious” participants of these experiences (Chen, 2019, p. 382). Narrative inquiry is composed of three dimensions: temporality, sociality, and space (Kovinthan, 2016). These presuppose a transitional movement of people and places in the story, the revelation of the person’s emotions and feelings, and the possibility of the physical space of inquiry to change (Kovinthan, 2016). Overall, narrative inquiry allows for receiving valuable and reliable first-hand information about the researched issues and problems.

The Review of Literature

Benefits and limitations of the selected research design.

As a research design, a narrative inquiry has a number of advantages and disadvantages that should be considered before utilizing it. The major benefit is undoubtedly the possibility to receive information from the respondent openly, honestly, and without bias. Narrative inquiry is considered to be the most suitable way of uncovering and understanding people’s complex problems (James, 2018). The next advantage of the selected research design is placing the respondent’s self in the central part of the story (Gordon et al., 2015). As a result, the narrator is able to present and construct events, identities, and realities in close synergy with others (Gordon et al., 2015). With the help of narrative research, individuals find it easier to story and re-story their lives in various problematic contexts (Sheilds et al., 2015). Another strength of the narrative inquiry is the likelihood of improving people’s well-being by allowing them to express their thoughts and apprehensions (Ho et al., 2020). When an individual receives an opportunity to express their problems out loud, the chances of coping with these issues increase.

What is more, narrating personal experience equals making sense of it (Ho et al., 2020). In the case of online gamers, the use of narrative inquiry enables researchers to understand “what it means to be a gamer” (Pietersen et al., 2018, p. 123). With this information available, scholars can understand the mechanisms of addiction better since unique personal data allows for a thorough analysis of how people develop an addiction to online gaming and how they feel about it. The next benefit of the selected research design is that it incorporates not only inward but also outward analysis. According to Law and Chan (2015), narrative inquirers consider both the participants’ and researchers’ identities, feelings, hopes, moral tendencies, the environment, conditions, and people affecting the forces and factors from respondents’ contexts. Kovinthan (2016) reports that narrative inquiry helps researchers to cross the boundary between themselves and participants. Additionally, the selected research design enables scholars to investigate the issues faced by respondents and draw out the implicit beliefs and values of researchers (Kovinthan, 2016).

One more advantage of narrative inquiry is the possibility of this approach to unite not only participants and researchers but also the readers of results obtained. As Martinie et al. (2016) note, the audience is likely to reevaluate their own experiences and views on the problem investigated in a study. According to Clandinin and Murphy, narrative inquiry gives knowledge about the experiences of people “composing lives within complex storied landscapes” (as cited in Martinie et al., 2016, p. 659). Finally, as McAlpine (2016) notes, narrative research is a beneficial research design due to creating the opportunity to value different ways of learning about people’s problems and experiences. Therefore, narrative inquiry offers numerous advantages to researchers and, consequently, to research participants.

Disadvantages

What concerns the research design’s limitations is that it must be acknowledged that personal narratives cannot be void of subjectivity without the opportunity to check the information given by respondents (Bruce et al., 2016). Another problem is that the selected research design is not suitable for investigations involving a large number of participants. As James (2018) remarks, since narrative inquiry requires an in-depth and holistic approach to each participant, this method is not appropriate for the studies covering large samples. A limitation closely related to this one is the lack of the possibility to generalize findings due to the uniqueness of each participant’s story (Sheilds et al., 2015). One more difficulty is the fact that narrative inquiry is interpreted and implemented differently by various scholars (James, 2018). Due to this aspect, some researchers argue for the need to draw a firmer line between what narrative inquiry is and what it is not (James, 2018). A disadvantage is also presented by the potentially lacking understanding and trust between participants and researchers or researchers and ethics review boards (Bruce et al., 2016).

The next limitation is concerned with the fact that identity construction that is described in the narrative constitutes only one of the features presented by identity-in-action (McAlpine, 2016). Also, according to Taylor, the narratives’ innate structure frequently leads to the problem of overlooking the “overarching sense of indeterminacy, partiality, and complexity” (as cited in McAlpine, 2016, p. 46). Hence, researchers should be cautious of the information that is left out from respondents’ stories and mind the inconsistencies in narrations. Along with this difficulty, there is a challenge of the researcher’s wrong interpretation of the data given by respondents. Finally, there is a limitation concerned with narrowing the focus of research and ignoring the broader structural problems (McAlpine, 2016). Thus, despite the variety of benefits presented by narrative inquiry, researchers utilizing this approach should be highly attentive to avoid possible mistakes in the process of collecting and analyzing data.

The Evaluation of the Selected Software Analysis Program

Electronic analysis of research data has been commonly associated with quantitative methods. However, one must admit the presence of a sufficient amount of software for qualitative data analysis. Still, despite their availability, these tools are not favored by qualitative research specialists, and the most probable reason for it is the difficulty mastering the software (Zamawe, 2015). In the present study, the software analysis program to be utilized is NVivo. This program is aimed not so much at analyzing the collected data but at aiding the process of analysis (Zamawe, 2015). NVivo is a popular data management program that has such features as multimedia functions, rich text capabilities, and character-based coding. Furthermore, the program incorporates built-in facilities enabling individuals from different geographical areas to operate the same information files simultaneously via a network.

Another benefit of NVivo is in its high level of compatibility of the program with research designs. Since NVivo is not “methodological-specific,” it can be utilized with a variety of qualitative research designs and data analysis methods, including ethnography, grounded theory, literature reviews, discourse analysis, phenomenology, conversation analysis, and mixed methods (Zamawe, 2015, p. 13). NVivo has been available since the 1980s, but only a small amount of researchers have utilized it. Zamawe (2015) notes that despite some limitations, the program is rather useful, and, hence, underestimated. For instance, an evident advantage of NVivo is “easy, effective and efficient coding,” making the retrieval process easier (Zamawe, 2015, p. 14). The program also enables scholars to gather information across sources to group the material that is related (Dollah et al., 2017). Apart from easy data management, NVivo offers such advantages as simplicity in finding topics, the opportunity to save time, and the simplification of data classification.

At the same time, it is necessary to admit some drawbacks of the system. For instance, researchers admit that NVivo may present difficulty processing audio files (Zamawe, 2015). What is more, the program requires much time to master (Dollah et al., 2017). Also, NVivo may be expensive for researchers, as well as it may present complications when attempting to interpret data (Dollah et al., 2017). Still, taking into consideration all advantages and disadvantages of NVivo and bearing in mind the purpose of the present research, it is relevant to use the selected software for the simplification of data analysis in the process of work on the research problem.

Validity Threats in the Selected Qualitative Design

As with any qualitative research design, narrative inquiry meets threats to validity. There are two major dimensions in which the selected method’s validity may be undermined. Firstly, there may arise the problem of a disparity between individuals’ experiences and the stories they tell about these experiences (Wang & Geale, 2015). Secondly, there may emerge wrong connections between the stories told and the interpretations of these stories. In case any of these two issues appear, the validity of research will inevitably suffer. To avoid these common problems, the researcher has to make sure that participants understand the purpose of the study and are aware of the need to be precise and objective about their narratives. On the other hand, the researcher also should do their best to remain impartial and help respondents to uncover their stories in a logical and untwisted way.

Validity in qualitative research is established through such qualities as confirmability, credibility, trustworthiness, and dependability. Apart from that, rigorous data collection and analysis are required, as is member checking (Byrne, 2015). There may also emerge some validity threats of narrative inquiry as a research design in connection with these issues. Confirmability is related to the establishment of trustworthiness and the level of confidence that the study is based on respondents’ narratives rather than on the researcher’s biased opinions (Abkhezr et al., 2020; Heilmann, 2018). In order to make sure that the study focuses on participants’ narratives solely, the researcher has to reflect on their choice of the topic and the attitudes toward data collection and interpretation.

Another important aspect that can pose a threat to validity is credibility. According to Haydon et al. (2018), researchers have to consider whether narrative inquiry has the potential to answer the research question. One of the ways of overcoming this threat is long-term communication between the researcher and the participant, which allows for the confirmation of data collection, thus leading to a higher level of rigor and credibility (Haydon et al., 2018; Nolan et al., 2017).

To mitigate threats to dependability and trustworthiness, narrative inquirers need to be highly attentive when listening to individuals’ stories. Furthermore, as Nolan et al. (2017) mention, it is of utmost importance to respond to critics’ notes. Without a sober reaction to criticism, a researcher risks making the study biased, which can lead to a lack of trustworthiness and dependability. It is a good idea to let participants check the final interpretation of their narratives to evaluate whether it coincides with the experience they described in their stories (Nolan et al., 2017). Harfitt (2015) also emphasizes the significance of validating the field notes with participants as a crucial prerequisite of maintaining trustworthiness. The process of data analysis is no less essential than that of data collection when it comes to maintaining the study’s validity. As Wang and Geale (2015) remark, it is necessary to perform validation checks throughout collecting and analyzing data. Furthermore, the researcher should maintain a close connection with the participants at all stages of the study to ensure its dependability and trustworthiness.

Potential Ethical Issues

When considering narrative inquiry as a research design, ethical issues are probably the most significant ones to be addressed. The main problem that may arise is that sharing one’s experiences may turn into something more personal than mere information exchange (Caine et al., 2019). As a result, by the end of the study, investigators may develop too friendly relationship with their respondents. Another potential ethical issue is that researchers place the narratives of the participants within a larger narrative, which means that scholars are imposing meaning on respondents’ experiences. Consequently, there may arise the problem of the misinterpretation of data.

The next ambiguous issue is the subjectivity of the study on the part of a researcher (Caine et al., 2019). Because some of the personal narratives are ambiguous, it is impossible to rule out researchers’ personal assessment of the situations, through the prism of which respondents’ narrations may be altered from what they were meant to uncover initially. Narrative inquirers should also bear in mind that their relationships with the participants can affect the final result of the study (Law & Chan, 2015). Therefore, researchers should be cautious of their own interpretations of the respondents’ narratives, as well as they should make sure that their interactions do not influence the final result.

In order to minimize the risk of the mentioned ethical issues in the current research, the following steps will be taken. Firstly, the researchers will make it a rule not to become too close or friendly with the participants in order to remain as objective as possible throughout the whole process of the study. Secondly, the researcher will listen to the narratives attentively and ask clarifying questions if needed, which will enable avoiding misinterpretations. Finally, at all stages of the research project, the researcher will refrain from offering a personal assessment of situations described by participants. By following these steps, it will become possible to avoid the most viable ethical concerns.

Summary of Research

Research on the topic of online gaming addiction available so far is rich in directions of investigation. Scholars have analyzed individuals’ disposition toward engaging in online gaming (Balakrishnan & Griffiths, 2018; Pietersen et al., 2018; Tang et al., 2017), the desire for online group gaming (Gong et al., 2019), and dysfunctional cognitions associated with Internet gaming disorder (Marino & Spada, 2017). These and other topics of research allowed for an in-depth understanding of the research question, but they have not answered all the questions related to online gaming addiction.

A connection between individuals’ loyalty toward online gaming and developing online gaming addiction has been found. Research findings reveal that addiction to online mobile games is associated with game loyalty (Balakrishnan & Griffiths, 2018). Furthermore, scholars report a positive relationship between online gaming addiction and the tendency to purchase mobile in-game applications. Finally, researchers have investigated that online gaming loyalty boosts players’ desire to buy online game applications. However, researchers failed to provide a discussion of how these processes evolve.

A study by Gong et al. (2019) has resulted in finding a positive correlation between the desire for playing online games and addiction to this activity. Additionally, the authors have found that the desire for group gaming is connected with people’s social identities, expected enjoyment, and specific attitudes. However, the research lacks generalizability since Gong et al. (2019) have analyzed only one type of social game played online. Meanwhile, each online game has its own unique features aimed at supporting specific social ties, which can have different effects on players’ predisposition toward becoming addicted to playing.

Marino and Spada (2017) have examined the peculiarities of the gaming disorder with the help of a narrative review, which makes this study especially valuable in light of the selected topic and research design. Scholars report that online gaming-associated dysfunctional conditions are numerous, and their quantity increases with the growth of the industry. Marino and Spada (2017) remark that it is crucial to differentiate between dysfunctional cognitions and metacognitions in Internet gaming disorder. Implications for future research based on these findings include the comparison between dysfunctional cognitions and metacognitions with the aim of finding effective evidence-based treatment for online gaming addictive individuals.

Findings of Tang et al.’s (2017) research suggest that males are usually more addicted to online games than women, whereas females are more predisposed to online social networking addiction. Pietersen et al.’s (2018) study has resulted in valuable insights into what it is to be a gamer based on online gaming addicts’ personal narratives. Whereas these studies have addressed some of the aspects of online gaming and the development of addiction to it, more thorough research is needed in various dimensions of the research topic. Specifically, it is important to focus research on understanding the development of online gaming addiction and people’s feelings about it.

Abkhezr, P., McMahon, M., Campbell, M., & Glasheen, K. (2020). Exploring the boundary between narrative research and narrative intervention: Implications of participating in narrative inquiry for young people with refugee backgrounds. Narrative Inquiry, 30 (2), 316-342. Web.

Androutsopoulou, A., & Stefanoua, M. M. (2018). Seeking “home”: Personal narratives and turning points in the lives of adult homeless. The European Journal of Counselling Psychology , 7 (1), 126-147. Web.

Balakrishnan, J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2018). Loyalty towards online games, gaming addiction, and purchase intention toward online mobile in-game features. Computers in Human Behavior , 87 , 238-246. Web.

Bruce, A., Beuthin, R., Sheilds, L., Molzahn, A., & Schick-Makaroff, K. (2016). Narrative research evolving: Evolving through narrative research. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 15 (1), 1-6. Web.

Byrne, G. (2015). Narrative inquiry and the problem of representation: “Giving voice”, making meaning. International Journal of Research & Method in Education, 40 (1), 36-52. Web.

Caine, V., Chung, S., Steeves, P., & Clandinin, D. J. (2019). The necessity of a relational ethics alongside Noddings’ ethics of care in narrative inquiry. Qualitative Research, 20 (3), 265-276. Web.

Chen, J. C. (2019). Restorying a “newbie” teacher’s 3d virtual teaching trajectory, resilience, and professional development through action research: A narrative case study. TESOL Quarterly, 54 (2), 375-403. Web.

Dollah, S., Abduh, A., & Rosmaladewi. (2017). Benefits and drawbacks of NVivo QSR application. Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, 149 , 61-63. Web.

Gong, X., Zhang, K. Z. K., Cheung, C. M., Chen, C., & Lee, M. K. O. (2019). Alone or together? Exploring the role of desire for online group gaming in players’ social game addiction. Information & Management , 56 (6). Web.

Gordon, L. J., Rees, C. E., Ker, J. S., & Cleland, J. (2015). Leadership and followership in the healthcare workplace: Exploring medical trainees’ experiences through narrative inquiry. BMJ Open, 5 , e008898. Web.

Harfitt, G. J. (2015). From attrition to retention: A narrative inquiry of why beginning teachers leave and then rejoin the profession. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 43 (1), 22-35. Web.

Haydon, G., Browne, G., & van der Riet, P. (2018). Narrative inquiry as a research methodology exploring person centred care in nursing. Collegian, 25 (1), 125-129. Web.

Heilmann, S. (2018). A scaffolding approach using interviews and narrative inquiry networks. An Online Journal for Teacher Research, 20 (2). Web.

Ho, I. K., Newton, T. L., & McCabe, A. (2020). The narrative structure of stressful interpersonal events. Narrative Inquiry , 30 (1), 1-17. Web.

Hu, J., Zhen, S., Yu, C., Zhang, Q., & Zhang, W. (2017). Sensation seeking and online gaming addiction in adolescents: A moderated mediation model of positive affective associations and impulsivity. Frontiers in Psychology, 8 . Web.

James, G. (2018). A narrative inquiry perspective into coping mechanisms of international postgraduate students’ transition experiences. American Journal of Qualitative Research , 2 (1), 41-56.

Kovinthan, T. (2016). Learning and teaching with loss: Meeting the needs of refugee children through narrative inquiry. Diaspora, Indigenous, and Minority Education, 19 (3), 141-155. Web.

Law, B. Y.-S., & Chan, E. A. (2015). The experience of learning to speak up: A narrative inquiry on newly graduated registered nurses. Journal of Clinical Nurses, 24 , 1837-1848. Web.

Marino, C., & Spada, M. M. (2017). Dysfunctional cognitions in online gaming and internet gaming disorder: A narrative review and a new classification. Current Addiction Reports , 4 (3), 308-316. Web.

Martinie, S. L., Kim, J.-H., & Abernathy, D. (2016). “Better to be a pessimist”: A narrative inquiry into mathematics teachers’ experience of the transition to the Common Core. The Journal of Educational Research, 109 (6), 658-665. Web.

McAlpine, L. (2016). Why might you use narrative methodology? A story about narrative. Eesti Haridusteaduste Ajakiri, 4 (1), 32-57. Web.

Monacis, L., de Palo, V., Griffiths, M. D., & Sinatra, M. (2017). Exploring individual differences in online addictions: The role of identity and attachment. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 15 , 853-868. Web.

Nolan, S., Hendricks, J., Williamson, M., & Ferguson, S. (2017). Using narrative inquiry to listen to the voices of adolescent mothers in relation to their use of social networking sites (SNS). Journal of Advanced Nursing, 74 (3), 743-751. Web.

Pietersen, A. J., Coetzee, J. K., Byczkowska-Owczarek, D., Elliker, F., & Ackermann, L. (2018). Online gamers, lived experiences, and sense of belonging: Students at the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein. Qualitative Sociology Review , 14 (4), 122-137. Web.

Sheilds, L., Molzahn, A., Bruce, A., Schick Makaroff, K., Stajduhar, K., Beuthin, R., & Shermak, S. (2015). Contrasting stories of life-threatening illness: A narrative inquiry. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 52 (1), 207–215. Web.

Šporčić, B., & Glavak-Tkalić, R. (2018). The relationship between online gaming motivation, self-concept clarity and tendency toward problematic gaming. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 12 (1). Web.

Tang, C. S. K., Koh, Y. W., & Gan, Y. (2017). Addiction to Internet use, online gaming, and online social networking among young adults in China, Singapore, and the United States. Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health , 29 (8), 673-682. Web.

Wang, C. C., & Geale, S. K. (2015). The power of story: Narrative inquiry as a methodology in nursing research. International Journal of Nursing Sciences, 2 (2), 195-198. Web.

Zamawe, F. C. (2015). The implication of using NVivo software in qualitative data analysis: Evidence-based reflections. Malawi Medical Journal, 27 (1), 13-15. Web.

Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2022, September 27). Addiction to Online Gaming: A Review of Literature. https://ivypanda.com/essays/addiction-to-online-gaming-a-review-of-literature/

"Addiction to Online Gaming: A Review of Literature." IvyPanda , 27 Sept. 2022, ivypanda.com/essays/addiction-to-online-gaming-a-review-of-literature/.

IvyPanda . (2022) 'Addiction to Online Gaming: A Review of Literature'. 27 September.

IvyPanda . 2022. "Addiction to Online Gaming: A Review of Literature." September 27, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/addiction-to-online-gaming-a-review-of-literature/.

1. IvyPanda . "Addiction to Online Gaming: A Review of Literature." September 27, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/addiction-to-online-gaming-a-review-of-literature/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Addiction to Online Gaming: A Review of Literature." September 27, 2022. https://ivypanda.com/essays/addiction-to-online-gaming-a-review-of-literature/.

Coding Using NVivo 9 in Research
Qualitative Coding with Hands or Software
Qualitative Data Analysis Recommendations
Online Gaming Addiction Intervention
Online Gaming Addiction Analysis
When Gaming Is Good for You?
Technology and Parenting: Gaming and Social Media
Gambling and Gaming Industry
Online gaming and behavior
The Gaming Industry in the USA
Playing Video Games Can Help to Control Dreams
Does Video Game Violence Lead to Aggression in Children?
Video Games as a Way to Fix Reality
The Impact of Video Games on the Human Psyche
Natural Law and Video Games

The Impact of Online Gaming on Social Interaction

In an era where digital landscapes are continuously reshaping our social interactions, online gaming emerges as a significant player. This article delves into how this modern phenomenon is influencing our social fabric, transforming the way we connect, communicate, and build communities.

The Evolution of Online Gaming: A Social Phenomenon

Gone are the days when gaming was a solitary activity. Today’s online gaming world is a vibrant community, bringing together people from diverse backgrounds. This evolution has transformed gaming into a social hub, where friendships are formed, and cultural exchanges occur. For instance, games like ltc dice on platforms like Duckdice, a renowned Bitcoin casino, exemplify this trend, blending entertainment with social interaction.

Bridging Distances, Fostering Connections

Online gaming has the unique ability to bridge geographical distances, enabling players to interact with peers across the globe. This virtual interaction can lead to enduring friendships, rooted in common interests and shared experiences. This global connection creates a sense of belonging, often transcending the physical barriers that traditionally limit social interactions. Moreover, it allows individuals to explore different cultures and traditions through the shared language of gaming, enriching their understanding of the world.

The Psychological Perspective: Online Gaming and Social Skills

Contrary to the stereotype of gamers being socially inept, research suggests that online gaming can enhance social skills. Games requiring teamwork and communication foster collaborative skills, empathy, and understanding of diverse perspectives. Players learn to negotiate, resolve conflicts, and work towards common goals, skills invaluable in the real world. These virtual environments become safe spaces for practicing social interactions, building confidence that can translate to improved interpersonal skills in everyday life.

The Double-Edged Sword: Balancing Online and Offline Interactions

While online gaming offers numerous social benefits, it’s crucial to strike a balance. Excessive gaming can lead to isolation from offline social activities. It’s essential to find equilibrium, ensuring that online interactions complement, rather than replace, real-life social experiences. Incorporating online gaming as part of a balanced lifestyle can lead to richer, more diverse social interactions. It encourages gamers to value and seek out physical social interactions as much as they do virtual ones.

Online Gaming Communities: The New Social Networks

Online gaming communities are increasingly mirroring social networks, offering platforms for players to share experiences, strategies, and personal stories. These communities foster a sense of identity and belonging, often leading to strong emotional connections among members. They serve as a testament to the power of shared interests in building cohesive, supportive social groups. In these digital realms, players find not just entertainment but also emotional support and camaraderie, making these communities vital to their social lives.

Conclusion: Embracing the Social Potential of Online Gaming

In summary, online gaming is a lot more than just a hobby but an effective medium of social interaction. It provides a space for international connections, fosters social interactions and builds active societies. With the proper offline balance, the positive effect of gaming online cannot be dismissed. However, in this digital era, social online games can make our interactions much more fulfilling and diverse whether we use the internet or not. Identifying and capitalizing on the specific advantages it affords to the social development and cultural exchange could improve our ability to comprehend human relationships in a digital society. When used wisely, this medium can help to blur the great divide between virtual and real-life social interactions in favor of a more interconnected and empathetic global community.

Yucatan Times

Governor mauricio vila inaugurates new bachoco breeding farms, timely detection and treatment of liver cirrhosis can save your life (imss yucatán), you may also like, yucatán is in the eyes of asian investors, cybercrime cost to jump in the upcoming years, in the last two years, 50 thousand formal jobs have been created in yucatán, talented young yucatecans will be certified by huawei, uady students are taking a different approach towards artificial intelligence, job creation increases by 8 percent in yucatan, leave a comment cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Our Company

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consect etur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis.

01 Central Park, US, New York City
Phone: (012) 345 6789
Email: [email protected]
Support: [email protected]

About Links

Advertise With Us
Media Relations
Corporate Information
Apps & Products

Useful Links

Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
Closed Captioning Policy
Accessibility Statement
Personal Information
Data Tracking
Register New Account

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept

Keep me signed in until I sign out

Forgot your password?

A new password will be emailed to you.

Have received a new password? Login here

Are you sure want to unlock this post?

Are you sure want to cancel subscription.

Expert Advisory Panel
Our partners
Become a partner
Advice for parents and carers
Advice for professionals
Connecting Safely Online
Fostering Digital Skills
UKCIS Vulnerable Users Working Group
Online hate
Online grooming
Fake news and misinformation
Screen time
Inappropriate content
Cyberbullying
Online reputation
Online Pornography
Radicalisation
Privacy and identity theft
Report issue
Pre-school (0-5)
Young Children (6-10)
Pre-teen (11-13)
Teens ( 14+)
Social media privacy guides
Gaming platforms and devices
Smartphones and other devices
Broadband & mobile networks
Entertainment & search engines
Get kids tech set up safe
My Family’s Digital Toolkit
Navigating teens’ online relationships
Online gaming advice hub
Social media advice hub
Press Start for PlayStation Safety
Guide to apps
Digital resilience toolkit
Online money management guide
The dangers of digital piracy
Guide to buying tech
UKCIS Digital Passport
Online safety leaflets & resources
Digital wellbeing research programme
Parent Stories
Expert opinion
Press releases
Our expert panel
Free digital stories and lessons
Early years
Primary school
Secondary school
Connect school to home
Professional guidance

Online video gaming benefits

Online video games can be a way to help support your child’s learning and teach them key life skills. Get insight on how some gaming benefits young players’ development.

The Benefits
The Resources

What’s on the page

How does online gaming benefit children?

Why do children enjoy gaming?

Why do children enjoy watching as much as playing?

Online gaming FAQ

Tips on how to choose the best games for children, healthy gaming top tips.

Why do children enjoy gaming?
Why do children enjoy watching as much as playing

How can online gaming benefit children?

Although games are a form of entertainment, with parents’ support and guidance video gaming benefits by helping them children develop their creativity, nurture relationships with friends and improve strategic thinking.

It can also help young players build perseverance to achieve goals, build resilience and improve their communications skills, especially in online multiplayer video games.

Here is a list of gaming benefits proven to support young players:

Learning and development benefits , a great source to develop early learning skills for younger children .

Studies show that certain games benefit younger children by helping them improve early reading skills with the support of parents and teachers. Games like ‘ Times Table Rock Stars ‘ that is used in primary schools and pre-school apps like ‘Endless Alphabet ‘ can be great tools to help children learn in a more engaging way. Also, with the growth of connected toys, children can experience physical play while playing on devices. Educational toys like Osmo combines tactile play pieces with a device’s camera to bring to the in-play action to life.

Enhances memory, brain’s speed and concentration

Games that are immersive and require strategy and problem-solving skills to win require players to remember and take in a lot of information. Regularly playing these types of games can help improve young players’ short and long-term memory. They may also the brain process information quicker. Furthermore, video games capture players’ imagination, helping them to stay focused on certain tasks, building their perseverance to achieve a goal.

Improved multi-tasking skills

Games that require players to find items while fighting off other opponents call for attention to detail and quick reactions. Studies have shown that this type of gaming benefits young players by helping them develop their multi-tasking skills.

Build skills for future careers

The more complex online multiplayer games help teach players how to be strategic and analytical to assess risk and reward. These games call for young players to react quickly to changes in the game. This type of gaming benefits children because the skills can be transferable to real-world jobs that rely on problem-solving, analytical skills and strategic thinking.

Offer a new way to understand culture and perspectives

As games allow children to immerse themselves in virtual worlds and, at times, connect to people from around the world, it can be a great way for them to learn about different perspectives and cultures.

Physical and social benefits

Group play provides social benefits.

Whether children are playing online multiplayer games with friends or using family-friendly apps like ‘Heads Up’ with the family in the living room, these types of games can help nurture relationships through shared moments. They also improve children’s social skills. For children who may have disabilities, it can also be a way for them to make friendships they may struggle to create offline and contribute to overall child development.

Family-friendly gaming

Best connected toys, games and apps for the whole family to share

Promotes teamwork and builds confidence

Online multiplayer gaming benefits young players by allowing them to take on a number of roles such as managing teams or working with others to win. The shared experience can be a great way to collaborate and learn from each other to build children’s confidence.

Provides a fun way to stay active

The success of games like Pokemon GO and Just Dance are an example of how gaming benefits children by motivating them to stay active while gaming. Also, the rise of mobile gaming apps means that children can now game on the go. See our list of active apps that can help your child stay active while gaming.

Helps to develop mindfulness

There are a number of games and apps developed to help children manage their emotions and encourage kind behaviour, compassion and empathy. See our list of wellbeing apps to learn more.

Provides a safe space to talk about fears

Sometimes it can be easier to talk about worries in a virtual context, and gaming may benefit children by providing a safe place for children to express themselves.

A new way to experience stories

Immersive games can help children experience stories in a different and engaged way. The way the story is told can spark creative skills and make the topics more memorable. Online safety games like Digital Matters can help children learn and practise important skills through storytelling.

Creates meaningful ways to learn topics

Schools now use game-based learning more often to help students understand and think about complex topics. These may help children build math skills or get to grips with concepts in science. Gamifying learning and allowing children to see things in a different way can encourage them to grasp topics faster and in a more meaningful way.

Gaming benefits children in many ways. Playing is a fun and sociable way to spend time that encourages teamwork and skill development, which are all good things. However, there are a few things you need to be aware of:

Some games let children play and chat with anyone in the world . This means they might come across offensive language and bullying
Not everyone online is who they say they are . Children should avoid giving out personal details that could identify them or their location
Some games encourage players to buy extra elements during the game – children have been known to run up large bills without realising it
In extreme cases, a form of bullying called ‘griefing’ can be used as a tactic to win games. Children may find themselves either bullying or being bullied
Get involved by finding out what type of games your child enjoys and making sure they’re appropriate for their age
It can be hard to stop some games in the middle of a battle as there are penalties for quitting. Give your child time warnings so they know when they need to stop playing and can plan for it.

Offers the opportunity to explore, build new worlds and take on new personas that aren’t possible in the real world.

Video games offer worlds to explore that don’t dictate types of behaviour or where to go. Young players enjoy this freedom as an extension of the playground.

Games offer an experience that can extend over a long period. Like a bed time story, regularly visiting a game and progressing the story is both comforting and compelling.

Online multiplayer video gaming benefits include connecting with people from all around the world, getting real-time feedback on how well you are playing, improving teamwork skills and building relationships with friends. Additionally, it creates a family friendly space where you can have positive online experiences together.

Depending on the games they play, players can get rewards such as tokens, in-game currency, virtual trophies and more as they move through the games and complete different levels.

The rise of esports and games like Fortnite and Rocket League allow children to compete against each other to gain notoriety by winning. Some people even pursue esports as a way to earn money.

Challenge your child and learn about online safety together with our tablet app

Use our 6 top online gaming safety tips to help children use gaming as a way to build on their skills, have fun, all in a safer environment.

Use this animated music video from Common Sense Media to talk with your child about the hazards of oversharing online

What are children doing while online gaming?

Many children watch others playing video games rather than actually playing themselves. so much so that let’s play videos – narrated videos of other people’s gameplay, often including jokes and humour – are the most watched live stream videos on video sharing platforms. here are a few reasons why:.

Children benefit from watching others because they can pick up tricks to complete stages of games, learn new strategies by watching walkthroughs and improve their video gaming skills on a particular game.

This is the biggest reason why children enjoy watching others gaming. It’s not just watching them play, but the commentary which can be humourous that they see as a benefit. Some are done by popular YouTubers, so it feels like a chance to get to know their personality and engage with them.

Children tend to share these let’s play videos with each other and discuss them together. If they are watching them live, they can also communicate with others watching and the person who is live streaming (which can often be a well-known gamer or YouTuber like PewdiePie).

Adult language and Inappropriate content

Some of the language that is used in the videos is not family friendly. Therefore, it’s best to watch them with your child to get an idea of suitability.

If they are watching live streams, it may be harder to control the type of content that they might see. Use the YouTube Kids app to find suitable Let’s Play videos curated for children. There is also a YouTube channel called LearningWorks for Kids Let’s Play which provide tips to optimise game-play for children’s learning.

It’s passive screen time

Watching the videos may have some gaming benefits like learning new skills and socialisation. However, unlike playing games, this is passive screen time, so monitoring the amount of time they spend watching is important. Remind them to take breaks and use parental controls to set up limits.

Teach important online safety issues through gamefied learning.

Take a look at answers to some key questions parents have about online gaming to support your child.

What makes a good video game?

Great games are those that both challenge and teach your child something they can use in the real world. But there is also value in the virtual experience. It enables children to prepare for a future where online and offline lives overlap. Like books, many games benefit young players’ lives because of their experience as a whole.

Take a look at family stories on AskAboutGames to get insight on age-appropriate games that will help your child do just that. Family friendly games allow everyone to get involved and play together.

My child would like a career in gaming. How can I support them?

If your child would like to get into esports (competitive gaming) or help create video games of the future, start early and help them learn more about the different jobs and opportunities in the gaming industry. It’s a good idea to help them broaden their view of what’s available beyond the traditional roles of developers or streamers.

Take a look at the type of video gaming jobs available for them so they can understand their priorities. Ask About Games have created Thriving Futures: A rough guide to game careers , an advice series exploring available roles and actions young people should take.

Here are some roles we’ve pulled out from the guide:

Game performer.

Game performers include voiceover artists, actors, and even athletes and stunt experts who do motion capture work (special cameras that record movement to create more realistic characters).

Game Producer

There are many different approaches to producing games but, in general, game producers keep everybody working on the same page. They make sure a game comes together as planned: on time, to budget and at a top standard. Sometimes game producing can be a managerial role and in other cases, it can be creative. Game producers normally sit at the top of a team, working with lead game designers and game directors.

Game Writer

A game writer pens the script for a game, but they also do much more than that. Game writers might contribute to ‘world building’, where they provide back stories and supporting documents to help players – or fellow developers – understand a game world and the motivations of characters within it.

Some world building content might not even be included in a game but is vital to it feeling convincing. Game writers often deliver other in-game text and even work with performers and audio specialists to adapt game dialogue as it is performed and recorded.

Game Audio Specialist

There are many types of game audio roles. They may include those who record and edit voiceovers or composers who score game soundtracks. Games also include game sound effect designers and creators along with recording artists who go out into the world to capture real sounds.

Where should gameplay happen?

Encourage children to play in communal spaces to share the experience in a family friendly way. This help you catch any problems like worrying content or too much screen time. Keeping video games in family rooms turns gaming into a normal part of family life rather than something separate or hidden away.

If children are older and would prefer to play in their bedroom, consider steering them towards keeping the tech in a shared space. In any case, keep the conversation going about their gameplay and make sure you enforce your agreed rules to ensure they stay safe while gaming.

For what age is video gaming appropriate?

According to research, children typically start gaming between the ages of 3 to 4. On average, boys play nearly 4 hours of video games every day while girls average just over 2 hours . There is no age specification on when they should start, but it’s a good idea to manage the type of games they play to make sure the games benefit their development as they grow.

Additionally, physical safety is just as important as digital safety. Some people have reported experiencing nausea when playing VR games , for instance, so making young players aware of what to do if they feel unwell is key. Prolonged sessions of gaming can also affect developing eyes, so it’s important to take regular breaks (every 20 – 30 mins) and set up gaming stations in a way that will allow them to minimise the negative impact on their body.

For younger children, there are plenty of games and apps to learn different skills from reading to engineering. A lot of these games tend to be educational and encourage parents to monitor progress to see how well children are doing.

Pick games that are family friendly so you can play together, keep them motivated and help them develop these key skills. Examples include Stardew Valley, Towerfall, Nintendoland, Spaceteam and Overcooked 2.

For pre-teens, there are plenty of sandbox games like Minecraft , Roblox and Rec Room that allow them to explore and build new worlds to make it more immersive and engaging. These games give children the opportunity to be creative and use their imaginations.

For teens, available are more complex and immersive and tend to feature live interactions with multiple players. Examples include Fortnite or Apex Legends . These games may seem like pure entertainment but they may require a level of strategy and forward planning to move through levels and achieve goals set by the game.

With these types of games, it’s important to review them together with your child to make sure the content is suitable for their age. Remember to also keep the conversation going so they know what to do if something goes wrong. Learn what the PEGI ratings mean on games to help.

With a large number of video games available for children, it can be overwhelming to figure out which are best for your child. We’ve created a checklist to help you choose games that will keep them engaged and support them in developing key skills.

Need to create a family media plan? See this template from healthychildren.org

If you have a game in mind for your child, do some digging about it to see what others think about the game and potential things you should watch out for. There are a number of sites like AskAboutGames that offer parents’ insights on games and other types of media to help you make a decision.

For younger children, you can get them started on free games available through web browsers. It’s important to note that some of these sites may have phishing or spyware so, googling for games to play on browsers can be risky. Sticking to reputable sites like Nickelodeon and CBBC is best as they offer a range of games that are suitable for a younger audience that features their favourite characters. These games are also often focused on learning a skill or explore a theme which is great for young children. You could also download free apps such as Lego apps or make use of systems like DS and 3DS to download free games which are great for younger kids.

To ensure that your child is engaged and challenged, make sure to give them a broad variety of games to choose from. You could mix and match Shoot’em up games with Puzzle games to allow them to use different skills to play. Also, make some time to talk about the content in the games to get an idea of their understanding of themes.

As an alternative to board games, video games can help enhance family moments and create a shared experience to relationships. Choosing games like Heads Up or Tetris inspired Tricky Towers are a great way to enjoy screen time together.

Get more insight: Top 6 great family games to enjoy over Easter Holidays

If your child has gaming friends, talk to their parents to get their point of view on games and get an idea of what their concerns may be. Check out popular game lists in app stores and game sites. This is a great way to look at trends and see what others are ranking as good games to invest in.

There are a number of games that you can play together virtually, these are a great way to stay connected and create moments of shared experiences.

Use PEGI (Pan-European Game Information) ratings and App store ratings to get an idea of what type of content the game will have and decide whether the game is age-appropriate. It’s important to note that these are just indicators so we’d advise finding out more about the game through a review or other parents before giving it to your child. The Pegi App is a great way to get a view of the game’s rating.

Also, popular sites like Steam (a distribution platform for buying and playing games) do not have clear ratings so reviewing the games may be to only way to find out.

Dependent on what your child’s hobbies are or areas of interest, try and find games that will help supplement these to get them engaged. If your child enjoys football, fishing or racing cars there are lots of games with this theme. Equally, games like this can be good at sparking real-world hobbies.

As they get more proficient in online gaming, playing web-browser games may become boring for them. Through regular conversations, check-in to see if they are enjoying the games and suggest more challenging games to make gameplay rewarding.

Before investing in the game try a demo together. Studies show that children learn more when parents join in.

See resource: Kotaku Best video games to play with kids

Whether you are investing in a boxed game (one that you put in the console) or a mobile-based game that is free-to-play, it’s a good idea to consider the costs of involved.

Some games feature in-app purchases and market to your child through ads so it’s important to consider whether this is something that you would like your child to be exposed to. Equally, consider the costs of getting subscription services to play online like Xbox lie and PSN. Cost of hardware and extra controllers should be reviewed as some can run high.

Also, if you are planning to invest a lot, consider how long your child is likely to play the game to make sure it’s a good investment. Other costs might include needing to purchase additional controllers and get subscriptions to services that allow online play.

Genres of games available

Here is a summary of the types of games that are available for you to choose from..

Action – This is the most popular type of game that focuses on players reaction time and hand-eye coordination with progression through levels. As this is a catch-all, here are some sub-sections of the genre:

Shooter games: Challenges player to target ‘enemies’ in the game to take them out to win the game Example: Overwatch
Beat’em Ups: Most of these games are based on martial arts and focus on players ability to win a fight against an opponent in order to win. Example: Double Dragon
Platform games: This is the most well-known action game sub-genre as it features obstacles courses, numerous levels to move through and opponents to defeat. Example: Super Mario 3D Land
Adventure: These are games that focus on problem-solving and puzzles with limited action. Example: Minecraft
Action role-playing : Features avatars that players use to move through the game and usually emphasises real-time combat. Example: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Strategic: These games require the management of resources to survive and win the game. Example: Portal Knights

Point & click: Adventure games the characters are controlled on screen with a mouse. Example: Broken Age

Racing: Games featuring racing competitions with vehicles or characters Example: Forza Horizon 4

Massively multiplayer game Online: Features multiple players interacting with each other in real-time through voice or text-based communication online. Example: Fortnite

First-person: Games where players see the game through the eyes of the character throughout the game. Example: Apex Legends

Party mini-games: Multiplayer games that are short and simple with a focus on scoring points to win. Example: Mario Party 9

Sports: Features real-world games such as golf, football, etc. Example: FIFA 19

Turn-based: These types of games pause to allow either another player to make a move or the computer to take a turn. There are other sub-genres including turn-based strategy and turn-based role-playing. Example: Wargroove

Puzzle: Games with a focus on testing problem-solving skills, logic, patterns or word completion. Example: Tetris

Simulation games: These are games that closely simulate real-world activities. Example: The Sims

Learn how to keep your child safe while playing online games to ensure they get the best out of their experience.

In addition to making your child part of the process of creating clear boundaries on what games they can play, when and for how long, here are some more tips to help them stay healthy when gaming:

Aim for a break every 15 to 20 minutes, even if it’s just looking away from the screen or going to get a snack.
If they notice that they are starting to feel annoyed or frustrated this is a good time to take a break.

Play games in open spaces

Playing games in the living room or a shared space can help keep you engaged in what they are doing and create opportunities to step in if you’re concerned.
This will also make it more likely that you can play games together with your child.

Show them how to stay respectful while gaming

It can be fun to compete against others but remind your child to be a ‘good sport’ and only say things they would face-to-face to keep communications with others safe. Check out our top internet manners guide to help them.
Encourage them to apply ‘digital civility’ principles by being compassionate, respecting others differences and seeking help if they need it or support others who may be experiencing online abuse.

Help them see the bigger picture when it comes to gaming

Make them aware of how games are created, how they make money and why certain themes are featured in games so they have a more rounded view of the games they play

Ask About games: learning about the gaming industry

Help them understand how games make money and how they are advertised.

Encourage them to try challenging games that offer variation in activities

As well as staying entertained, playing games that challenge them and help them to develop life skills like problem-solving skills are a great way to benefit from their gameplay.

Encourage your child to notice enjoyment and frustrations

When a game hasn’t gone to plan it’s helpful to give your child space and help them process why it was frustrating.
This can lead to an understanding of emotions, as well as new strategies for how often they play and what they choose to play on.

Explain the importance of protecting their personal information

Help them understand that some people may not always be who they say they are in-game and could use their personal details to cause harm.
If they are under 12, it’s probably best to limit online interactions to video games where the other players that they know in real life. Also, most social networks have a minimum age requirement which you can use to decide whether they should be using these.

Make gaming active

Games like Pokemon Go and others encourage kids to game on the GO to combine what they love with physical activity. There are also plenty of motion-sensing ‘active’ games such as Just Dance or Zumba that they could play. See our active apps guide for some more suggestions.

Give them tools to use when things go wrong

Make sure they know how to report and block in-game abuse.
If they are playing multiplayer games, explain that if they see or hear anything that upsets them to talk to you or a trusted adult to deal with it

Resource for teens to learn about the risks of online gaming

Gaming advice by age

Under-5s: Just starting to game

Support older children who game

Gaming guide for teens

Download workbook.

To receive personalised online safety guidance in the future, we’d like to ask for your name and email. Simply fill your details below. You can choose to skip, if you prefer.
First name *
Last name *
Email Address *
I am a * Parent/Carer Teacher Professional
Organisation name
Skip and download
Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Online gaming: Advantages and Challenges Essay

Essay on online gaming: advantages and challenges for class 10, 12, mains exam (upsc, psc, ssc).

Online gaming: Advantages and Challenges Essay : Online games refers to the games that is played on a computer system with the help of an efficient network system. The evolution of online games dates back to 1970s when it was based on a packet-based networking. An early example of online games is MUD that was established in the year 1978 and in the beginning, it was restricted to an internal network before getting connected to ARPANET in 1980. The increased availability of the internet in the 1990s led to the popularity of online games having remarkable titles such as Nexus, Quake world, Lineage, StarCraft, and PlayStation. During the 2020s technology and internet server became cost effective due to which the use of online gaming has increased.

Advantages:

Online gaming has become a trend among the young generations with the advancement of the global internet. The gamers connect and interact with one another while playing online games. The gamers use gaming consoles, computers and smart phones with the internet connection to play online games. The advantages of online gaming are discussed below:

1.) There is always a tendency to socialize while playing online games as it enables communication to take place between the games who are located at different regions of the world. This helps to develop team spirit and cooperation.

2.) Online gaming helps to boost the concentration power of the individuals and develop the memory power. Some online games demand preparation and planning to complete the levels. The gamers therefore can develop a tendency to win to reach the extreme levels.

3.) Online gaming helps in developing the analytical skills and so the gamers can response to any actions very quickly. The analytical skills help them to anticipate a success or a failure.

4.) Certain online games generate a source of revenue for the gamers. Play Rummy, Swagbucks and Exodus 3000 helps some gamers to earn from online gaming.

5.) It serves as a source of entertainment and relaxation for the gamers and keeps them stress free.

Challenges:

The challenges of online gaming are discussed below as follows:

1.) The Internet Service provider is getting expensive day by day due to which online games are getting expensive. Besides this, some online gaming accounts needed paid subscription.

2.) Online gaming always pose a risk of hacking. The gaming sites require the personal information of the players which may be hacked for illegal activities.

3.) Online gaming has turned out to be an addiction for the young gamers who spend much time on gaming rather than studying.

4.) Cyber bullying is another such activity of online gaming wherein the gamers are taken advantage of. Certain gamers are also charged with money which is at times unethical.

5.) Prolonged period of online gaming affects the physical and mental health of the online gamers. Some might develop spondylitis while others end up having blurred vision.

Conclusion:

To conclude it can be said that the use of online gaming should be limited. Excessive use may land the online games in difficulties. Nevertheless, in order to lessen the stress online games can be played while keeping parity with the other important activities of the day.

For more Essay like Online gaming: Advantages and Challenges essay Students and Children can click this Essay link – Click here