Gaming
What is Context ?
How young people experience life online
Online gaming is a very popular pastime for many people from a young age. There are an estimated 1 billion online gamers worldwide and the games industry is worth hundreds of millions of pounds annually.
People can play video games on:
- consoles, like Xbox and PlayStation
- mobile devices and tablets
- PCs and laptops
- virtual reality headsets
Popular online gaming genres for young people include:
- first-person shooters (FPS) like Call of Duty
- multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBA) like League of Legends
- racing and sports
- battle royales, like Fortnite
- massive multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) like World of Warcraft
- non-fungible token-based (NFT) games, like Axie Infinity
Young people can often feel a pressure to spend money in online games, often using virtual currencies.
Motivations and risks
Risks
Online gaming can expose children and young people to related risks like:
Motivations
There are several reasons why a young person might game, or be interested in online gaming. This could be:
- for entertainment and fun
- to socialise and join communities
- to express themselves creatively
- make money
- for a career
- to invest time and effort in a game
- because of an interest in activities like coding, modding, or live-streaming
Gaming and activities associated with it can offer benefits and opportunities to a young person. These could be to:
- build confidence
- make friends and connect with like-minded people
- learn the importance of teamwork and commitment
- develop cognitive skills, like problem-solving, multi-tasking and memory
- join online communities
- relax and relieve stress
- explore activities like modding, coding, or live-streaming
- explore career opportunities, like game design or professional gaming
Young people’s voice
Young people’s experience of the context
For me it’s that I love gaming but I don’t have an X box like my friends so I [can’t] join them so I get left out and I suffer mental health in bed . Plus I wish robux (in game currency on Roblox ) was free so I could have more fun and so can other people. (:
Digital playgrounds Children’s views on video gaming: Children's commissioner 2024
I could go out with my friends but then I realise they’re the friends I’m playing with…I’ve got to persuade them [to stop playing the game].
Gaming the system: Children's Commissioner 2019
Where young people explore gaming online
Read more about gaming
Share your experience of gaming
You can tell us about:
- other terms you might have heard
- conversations you’ve had with young people
- a related platform or app
- another related risk or harm