How well do you know your friends? Where do you know them from? How often do you talk in person? Most young people have made friends through an online platform whether that be video games, social media or even mobile games. Friends are one of the best ways to socialize and feel comfortable talking to someone. It’s how we learn to fit in and be a part of society.
We are taught how to communicate from a young age, but social skills help develop this. Making friends helps you learn important social skills that help develop emotional maturity. Skills such as sensitivity to other people’s thoughts, feelings and wellbeing to cite just three examples. But is it important how we make friends? How do we develop the skills to interact and talk to people? Some 57% of teenagers claim to have met at least one new friend online. Social media and games are the most common places to meet friends. How does this affect social skills? We explore in this guide.
Why do people play video games to socialize?
Video games’ popularity continually rises especially since the COVID pandemic, which put the UK into three different lockdowns in two years. A particular rise of note was the rise of free online multiplayer games, where people could gather while still social distancing. Many people went to video games to escape from reality and feel less isolated from the world. Video games can be a safe space, sometimes the ability to hide your identity can give you a new sense of confidence and could make you push your own personal boundaries. This could offer a shy person the ability to meet and talk to strangers. Some of the reasons that people prefer to use video games to talk to others could be that they felt isolated and lonely in ‘real life’ or just find it easier to express themselves online.
Video games can be the place to go if you have had a bad day, need to get your anger out or let out some emotion. Sometimes the ability to go to a stranger helps relieve pressure. Making friends can be made easier online to some people, as you are focusing more on the game and helping or defeating your opponent or teammate. Since you have a mutual interest, the conversation is more likely to flow easier, relieving the pressure and anxieties for some who may find it difficult to speak to people.
Or, you can play with the friends that you already know. You can play various video games, you can play things like checkers against each other if that’s what you want to do, and genuinely just have fun together. Video games allow this bonding to take place which is massively handy for people who struggle in this area.
What are social skills?
Social skills encompass interaction and communication skills. It’s a fuzzy boundary but the context for these skills tend to be more casual, ‘social’ encounters, as oppposed to corporate, professional, transaction – any other form of more deliberate and strict encounter. Verbal and non-verbal communication – speech, facial expressions, gestures, and body language, for instance – are all umbrella’d under ‘social skills’.
Most of us communicate to at least one person every day. This is true whether we believe our social skills are good – or they are described as good by others. Accepting a coffee you ordered through an app? You’re communicating with someone. Opening a door for someone and nodding at them to pass through before you? You’re communicating with someone. Kissing your partner on the cheek while they’re asleep and you’re heading out to work? You’re communicating with someone. The frequency and ‘depth’ of this interaction may vary but how you interact with people matters. We learn as we go.
Playing video games can be a safe place for all, where people can relax from life and de-stress. The benefits of playing video games are good for developing your concentration, and your creativity, as well as it promotes teamwork and builds confidence. Like everything, there are advantages and disadvantages. Gaming can be addictive, it’s too easy to spend most of your time in another reality. The same reason video games are good to get a break from life can also turn bad as you stay away from living your life.
Conclusion
Video games give people the chance to improve social skills in a safe way without pressure and can create an environment where it is easier to find friends. There are both advantages and disadvantages of playing video games but ultimately it helps people of all ages and genders to get out of their shells and become more sociable and talk to those who they would usually not.
2 Responses
Games are essential for healthy development in early childhood. I advise you to with games, you should also provide printable and learning activities for kids. For these activities, you should follow this link https://wunderkiddy.com/materials through these learning activities they learn problem solving, strategizing, flexibility and also social skills.
I think playing games is not only fun but also helps you connect with the outside world!