New data from Norway examines how Video games influence children, their social behavior and their spending habits. It turns out that younger players are being bullied due to the lack of cosmetic skins, using in-game items to become more popular, and struggling to avoid it all Advertising and user-created scams associated with popular online games like FIFA, Fourteen days, And War zone.
As reported by Cross play– a gaming newsletter aimed at parents and children, founded by former My city Writer Patrick Klepek—a pair of studies by Norwegian researchers contain some alarming information about how children between the ages of 10 and 15 interact with video games and how these popular games can have a major impact on their social lives. The studies were conducted by researchers Kamilla Knutsen Steinnes and Clara Julia Reich from Oslo Metropolitan University as part of a larger Norwegian government initiative to understand the relationship between children and games.
Reich says their results show that a child’s appearance in a game can play a “crucial” role in how other children treat them.
“Children may be labeled poor if they have not spent any money on their figure. Children who have spent money on their character can gain more attention and other benefits, thereby buying popularity,” Steinnes said.
Because these days, children’s digital and real lives are one and the same. Wear the right skin Fourteen days According to studies, it is just as important as wearing the right clothes at school. And kids who can’t afford the right equipment or play games struggle to adapt.
“There is no sharp distinction between their online and offline worlds. These are just different parts of the social world that they navigate, and appearance or skin are important markers of identity,” Steinnes said.
A 13-year-old, Frank, added: “If you don’t play with anyone, you kind of have nothing to talk about at school.”
“Children love playing football Fifa and spend money on in-game items that grant status, while others spend money on effects from Nike, Balenciaga, or others War of stars. They are influenced by memes and trends on platforms like TikTok,” Reich said.
Speak with Cross playthe researchers continued:
The pressure to adapt is similar to what is already happening in other contexts, but is taking on new forms. Some children may feel excluded if they lack the resources (e.g. Wi-Fi, gaming equipment, in-game currency) to play with their friends, or are singled out based on the “skin” they wear.
Publishers and fraudsters exploit children
That makes things worse Video game publishers have become very competent constantly advertising games and in-app purchases for children. This means it’s becoming increasingly difficult for kids to focus on other things in their lives, increasing the pressure to have the coolest skin. And children who cannot afford to fit in may be bullied or treated poorly by their peers. For girlsthis abuse is often worse, both in and out of games.
“I heard things like, ‘Go back to the kitchen,’ and it was like, ‘You’re a girl, die, die, die.’ It was very graphic,” said Sidra, a 14-year-old girl who took part in the study participated. The study also showed that skins and in-game cosmetics can also lead to “digital body image” issues.
Another problem found in the studies is that children report being cheated on. The researchers believe this is because children lack “consumer skills” but are placed in situations where they encounter high-pressure sales tactics designed to make them feel like they have to act quickly , otherwise you might miss something. And if someone comes along promising them cheap money or a good deal, the kids may not realize it’s a scam until it’s too late.
“This is problematic because children and young people are a vulnerable group of consumers who find their way alone in almost unregulated markets,” said Reich.
Overall, it’s enough to make me grateful that I don’t have kids and don’t have to help them navigate the modern world of free video games, which often have more in common with casinos than other games you play for fun. And as the internet becomes more of a part of our lives and gaming on mobile devices becomes more popular, the situation may only get worse.
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