Social Gaming, The generation Z guide to making friends.
I grew up on a rural rainforest property in Queensland, Australia. Making friends in this area was challenging to say the least, up until the age of 12 we were living majority off the grid with limited technology. While growing up I learnt skills of permaculture, cooking and creativity. At the age of 16 we got the internet, I was of course already using the internet in school, my brother 9 at the time delved into social gaming online for a form of connection and way to forge friendships. Social gaming evolved into a way my brother could stay connected to the outside world and his friends from school.
Fast forward to 2021, we are all craving that sense of connection after being separated from our loved ones, friends and even the potential of making new connections during the COVID-19 pandemic. But what if we could build meaningful and engaging experiences through our social networks, well, we can, with social gaming we can form digital communities and strengthen friendships.
This week’s blog is about social gaming, if you are new to my blog welcome to ISLA Talks, we are all about modern conversations of the millennial mind.
Social gaming is a term to describe a game with multiple players that operates through a social networking platform. Social gaming includes in app features that enable users to be able to message or video other players allowing players to interact, form tactics and work together as a team on the game. Social gaming creates meaningful social experiences, friendly competition, skill building, interaction, mental stimulation, relaxation and stress relief. Some social gamer favourites include, Farmville, Angry Bird Friends, Dragon City, Casino and Words With Friends.
Game designer Jane McGonigal argues in her Ted Talk Gaming Can Make a Better World “Playing a game together actually builds up bonds and trust and cooperation. And we actually build stronger social relationships as a result.” (McGonigal 2010)
In Feburary of 2020, global downloads of mobile social games reached 284.3 million consumer downloads with growing numbers experts expect “$98 billion in revenue by 2024, and 56% of the 2.3 billion global mobile gamers play more than ten times every week.” (Hartery 2021). The COVID 19 pandemic has pushed games developers to offer more social gaming features such as messaging functions and multi-player options on already established fan favourites. With the rise of social gaming demand as a form of connectivity and building digital communities and friendships, are we at a turning point of human interaction?
Well.. not exactly…. Generation Z have grown up building friendships online.
As with the theme of many of my blogs, I like to dig into some of the negatives and positives of the digital world, when talking about subjects such as gaming and social media I feel it is important to raise the subject of addictions and the rise of psychological disorders from over using these platforms.
If you struggle with these issues, Remember you are never alone:
Kids Help Line: 1800 55 1800
https://kidshelpline.com.au/teens/issues/bullying
Headspace:
https://headspace.org.au/young-people/what-is-bullying-and-the-effects-on-mental-health/
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
Generation Z have been heavily scrutinised for their online gaming addictions and isolating internet behaviours, however with the rapid evolution of the internet, these disorders are just a part of the process of adaptation to technological forces.
“Generation Z—those born between 1997 and 2012—who face the most severe consequences of iDisorder, a condition where the brain’s ability to process information changes because of overexposure to technology.” (Holfstra University Relations 2021)
iDisorder comes with risks of depression, anxiety, repetitive motion disorder and sleeping issues. While the risk of iDisorder is high amongst generation Z, they have grown up in a world with an evolving technology and their social and learning experiences have been intrinsically bound to new technologies and the internet. Now classrooms in schools are filled with computers and kids as young as two are using iPads and iPhones.
I like to think of all this as a prelude to what I am about to say.
Generation Z have had the rough end of the stick, with many growing into adulthood during the Covid-19 pandemic, their lives have been even more reliant on technology then any other generation for social interaction.
However as the primary generation of Social gamers, Generation Z are clearly getting one thing right.
“Gen Z – have perfected the art of building communities in and around video games. Gamers don’t just compete with strangers on the internet, but forge genuine, enduring friendships. In this age of long-haul social distancing and mental-health strains, gamers have long had a tool that’s now bringing some relief to those who’ve never picked up a controller before. The explosive growth of gaming during the pandemic has shown that many have found a new outlet for much-needed connection in isolation.” ( Lufkin 2020)
I will leave this week with an activity,
For my audiences in Australia, participate in a social game with friends that are in lockdown.
Xoxo ISLA Talks
References|
Griffiths, M., 2020. Coronavirus: making friends through online video games. [online] The Conversation. Available at: <https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-making-friends-through-online-video-games-134459> [Accessed 15 September 2021].
Hartery, D., 2021. Your complete guide to social mobile games. | Adjust. [online] Adjust.com. Available at: <https://www.adjust.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-now-about-social-mobile-games/> [Accessed 15 September 2021].
Logan, B., n.d. Social gaming – A usability perspective | Spotless. [online] Spotless. Available at: <https://www.spotless.co.uk/insights/social-gaming-usability/> [Accessed 15 September 2021].
Lufkin, B., 2020. How online gaming has become a social lifeline. [online] Bbc.com. Available at: <https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20201215-how-online-gaming-has-become-a-social-lifeline> [Accessed 15 September 2021].
Mtltimes.ca. 2021. 5 Reasons why are social games so popular lately - Mtltimes.ca. [online] Available at: <https://mtltimes.ca/life/5-reasons-why-are-social-games-so-popular-lately/> [Accessed 15 September 2021].
Muzychenko, O., 2020. Building Socially Connected Instant Games. [online] Building Socially Connected Instant Games. Available at: <https://www.facebook.com/fbgaminghome/blog/building-socially-connected-instant-games> [Accessed 15 September 2021].
News | Hofstra University, New York. 2021. How Technology Addiction Is Impacting Generation Z - News | Hofstra University, New York. [online] Available at: <https://news.hofstra.edu/2021/03/26/how-technology-addiction-is-impacting-generation-z/> [Accessed 15 September 2021].
TED, 2021. Gaming can make a better world | Jane McGonigal. [video] Available at: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE1DuBesGYM> [Accessed 15 September 2021].
TechBoomers.com. 2021. Top 10 Free Facebook Games to Play with Friends. [online] Available at: <https://techboomers.com/best-facebook-games> [Accessed 15 September 2021].
Thompson, H., 2021. Best Social Gaming Apps for 2021. [online] The Nerd Stash. Available at: <https://thenerdstash.com/best-social-gaming-apps-for-2021/> [Accessed 15 September 2021].