How-Online-Gaming-Can-Support-Emotional-Sensitivity-i
Online gaming is the use of an Internet connection to play computer or video games on a PC, smartphone, virtual reality headset or specialised gaming console. This can involve competing against or cooperating with other players. It can also be used to socialise with friends. It can have a positive effect on children and young people’s lives but it can also expose them to risks like cyberbullying, sexual grooming or gambling, which can be dangerous for some young people.
There are many online games available to play, from a simple click and tap of a mouse button or touch screen to a complex multi-player role playing game in a virtual world with thousands of other users simultaneously connected to the same server. Some games can be played locally on the same computer system (couch co-op) or over a local area network, such as a home Wi-Fi, while others require multiple computers to connect via a wide area network, such as the Internet. Multiplayer games can be single-player, cooperative or competitive and may take place in fantasy worlds, historical settings or contemporary society.
Some online games can be very addictive and may have a negative impact on a player’s wellbeing, particularly for those who spend hours or days playing them. It is recommended that parents and carers talk to their child about how much time they spend playing online games and try to encourage them to use their gaming skills in other ways, such as by participating in physical activities, learning a new language or volunteering.
It is also important that they help their child set limits around their gaming time and ensure that their computer or mobile device is protected from accessing illegal or restricted content, such as material that shows or encourages child sexual abuse or terrorism. They should also advise them to use a screen name and password for their online gaming account to protect their privacy and prevent them from clicking on links provided by strangers or 'cheat' programs that could expose the device to viruses and malware.
Previous research has shown that mediated spaces such as online gaming environments can provide tangible social benefits for socially inhibited individuals, including those who are shy, anxious or inept. Royal188 However, it is unknown whether such spaces can also act as social accomodators for those with high levels of emotional sensitivity (ES). This study aimed to evaluate the extent to which gaming-related friendships might support ES by providing a range of social accommodators associated with mediated, socially interactive spaces. It also sought to evaluate the nature of these relationships, assessing the extent to which they might form and maintain through modality switching between offline and online social contact.
