• Wed. Dec 11th, 2024

The Phenomenon of Social Gaming and its Psychological Impact on Community Building

Byzestful Grace

May 13, 2024

Technology has boosted the popularity of video gaming, making it more than just entertainment.  It is now a venue for people to be united. About 3.4 billion people worldwide indulged in video games during the past 6 months as proof that many of us like to interact and have friends in the digital world. The approximate value of the worldwide game video market was about $217.6 billion in 2022, and experts believe it will keep increasing by an annual rate of 13.4% annually, until 2030. This growth not only refers to money being made but also to an opportunity for people to party and socialize with others. 

But there’s also a downside. Several individuals are concerned about the gaming addiction that occurs when playing a game becomes a problem. It is presumed that from 1% to 9% of the gamers could have a gaming disorder, which is about 8% as well. 5% of the youth in the U.S.  are at risk. Even though these numbers don’t look that big compared to those who play games, it’s still necessary to be aware of them. This is especially true for adults, who seem to be more Journal of Behavioral Addictions than kids and teens. Another study brought forth the revelation that about 3% of the global population is addicted to video games; hence, a mitigation measure is a necessity. 

In this way, whether gaming is connected to others or not, we still need to be careful about how much time we spend on gaming and see to it that it does not turn into a serious issue. 

Benefits of Social Gaming to Communities from a Positive Psychology Perspective 

Social gaming is a good way to make friends and stay in touch with the ones you have. Quite a number of Canadians, like 70%, tend to make new friends through video games. Approximately 40% of them indicate that gaming assists them in making friends that they normally wouldn’t. This is especially crucial now, with all the globalization. It highlights how online gaming is a great tool for people to develop communication skills as well as care for each other.  

Studies, like the ones looking at “Animal Crossing: “New Horizons,” have hinted that playing games is a mood enhancer. 67% of Canadians regard gaming as a reason for their happiness, and more than half say it’s helped them get through hard times. This shows that games are not only entertaining but also increase our mental health and unity. 

It is clear that by playing games together, we become friendlier and happier. Through games, a feeling of togetherness and being part of a group is created, just like being part of a wider community. This is especially true when you must cooperate with each other, which in turn fosters strong internet relationships.  

Online poker platforms also use social elements by letting their players chat and connect while playing. This proves that games and socializing get interwoven, hence, gaming is becoming a key part of online interaction now. 

Meeting the Challenges and Looking Forward 

Finding out the perfect equilibrium between the good and the annoying side of social gaming is like walking between a tiger and a lion. Others may suffer from negative consequences of gaming, but most people find their friends and being part of a community is more valuable than personal harm.  

To add to this, teamwork is key between game developers, rule-makers and mental health experts in order to ensure that things go according to plan. They need to develop approaches for monitoring the number of hours spent playing and to create places online where people can offer each other support. The game itself should also consider other ways to promote the mental health of the players. 

In addition to this, informing people on what is healthy when it comes to playing and how it is beneficial to get some rest can also help to prevent addiction. 

Social gaming having a positive psychological impact. 

Concerns about excessive gaming are justified, thus, we would be remiss if we did not investigate the positive psychological effects that social gaming can have on individuals and communities. Besides serving as a source of fun, social gaming acts as a place for real and genuine social interaction as well as emotional support. 

The Role of Social Gaming in Tackling Social Isolation 

Poker games online where you can interact with others help a lot now, especially with everything like COVID-19 going around. When we couldn’t hang out in person, games like “Animal Crossing: These “New Horizons” were our way of staying together. It seemed that we could still be together even though we were miles away. Research has proven that these games could be a great relief mentally, as they make us feel less lonely and happier in general. 

Another exciting factor about online games is that they unify people from different parts of the world. It’s not about where you’re from or what your physical abilities are.  Everyone can join in and have a great time. It’s like bringing together the walls that sometimes distance us in real life. 

The Therapeutic Potential of Social Gaming

Social gaming helps promote people’s mental health. When stress and worries are high, games may prove to be a perfect source of fun and relaxation. Of course, playing video games enables you to temporarily disengage from the real world and concentrate on objectives and issues inside the game.  

Also, when you play games together as a team, it promotes teamwork and is supportive. The online gaming area is a platform where people can talk about their experiences and support each other, especially when it relates to mental health issues. 

Make social gaming Work for social good. 

As social gaming spreads, there is a possibility of employing it for a purpose. In the games, the makers can add things that make players kind and assist society at large. Leaders can cooperate with game makers to make sure gaming is done in the right way, and help is there for people who need it.  

Therefore, we can say that social gaming is the intersection of technology, our thought process, and being with others. Yes, there are people who get too carried away with it, but it can also make people happy and bring them together. When we value these good aspects, we will turn gaming into a friendly, helping, and improving world domain.