New Study Finds Online Gaming Good For Kids
A new study released today by the MacArthur Foundation indicated that contrary to popular belief, online gaming is actually good for children. The study cited several different factors that contribute to the personal, mental and social development of a child when they take part in online gaming. Experts are discussing the news, and although the usual caveats are present regarding the type of game played, it does appear that the conclusions of the study are solid.
In addition to online gaming, the prevalence of online social networks is assisting children in learning better social skills. The lead author of the study, Mizuko Ito, who is a research scientist in UC Irvine’s department of informatics, stated that there is a big difference among children that are not exposed to online gaming, such as a lack of social skills, and an inability to interact on the same level as their peers.
The study followed a group of 800 teens and monitored them for more than 5,000 hours. During the course of the study, which began in 2005, several different variables were studied, such as participation in social networks, the use of instant messenger, as well as time spent playing different online games. In addition to the benefits reaped socially, the researchers also noted that the children who spent more time playing online games ended up being much more technically proficient than their peers who did not. In one example cited, children were able to easily fix computer hardware, change advanced settings on their computer and even create hacks for the very games they were playing.
Although scientists aren’t quite encouraging kids to rush online to play violent games, other online games such as Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games or MMORPG’s are considered to be beneficial. The interaction that takes place between players in these games is vital for children, and apparently contributes greatly to their growth as a well-rounded person. Other online games that encourage interaction are also considered to be beneficial but the results did not indicate whether single player games had any effect on developmental growth.
The study suggested that schools also begin to adapt by allowing students to spend more time online, so long as it is balanced with other learning. Games such as MapleStory, Runescape and other free online games are among the most popular with children and their non-violent story lines are palatable to parents.
