Online Gaming Communities As Social Outlets
- Marisa Silverman
- Mar 23, 2021
- 2 min read
The roots of gaming as a basis for socialization goes back to the origin of digital gaming in arcades, and since 1993 and LAN networks people who are not physically together have been playing together (Chikhani, “The History Of Gaming: An Evolving Community”). However, the real take off of online gaming came with the release of Runescape in 2001, and so began the age of online multiplayer gaming (Chikhani). According to a 2015 report, 1.5 billion people with internet access play video games, and 54 percent of “frequent gamers” feel that gaming connects them with their friends (Chikani). It’s been known since the mid 2000s that MMORPGs (massively multiplayer online role-playing games) have high chances of creating strong, long-lasting relationships between dedicated users (Griffiths, “Coronavirus: making friends through online video games”) Gaming can both help people make friends with people that have similar hobbies as well as continue friendships made in real life. As senior lecturer at Edge Hill University Dr. Linda Kaye put it, “Gamers often report that that common interest in itself can actually build friendships and relationships — so that common focus can be really important socially”(Gossett, “The Real Social Benefits Of Video Games”). Furthermore, a study by Jennifer Gallup et al., p has proven that adolescents with autism benefit greatly socially from MMORPGS, as it lessens the pressure of face-to-face communication and gives users a goal to complete (225-227). During the pandemic, with in person socialization halted, people have turned online to create strong bonds with new friends as well as interact with existing ones--- causing an expected 20% increase in the already-huge gaming market, causing games like Among Us and Animal Crossing: New Horizon to shoot into popularity and popular culture, and allowing an escapist outlet for a hard year (Lufkin, “How online gaming has become a social lifeline”). Schools, musicians and friends alike have turned to games like Roblox, Fortnite and Minecraft to hold virtual gatherings, graduations and concerts (Lufkin). This included Lil Nas X’s Roblox concert that was attended a whopping 33 million times and Travis Scott’s Fortnite concert that drew over 45 million attendees, though over five days and therefore includes repeat viewers (Kastrenakes, “Lil Nas X’s Roblox concert was attended 33 million times”). As Jason Hawreliak et al. write about in an article for Inverse, video games help foster feelings of camaraderie and can help people that are struggling with the isolation of quarantine (Hawreliak et. al, “Video Games Can Ease Loneliness During a Pandemic”).
Works Cited
Chikhani, Riad. “The History Of Gaming: An Evolving Community.” TechCrunch,
Gallup, Jennifer, et al. “An Exploration of Friendships and Socialization for Adolescents with Autism Engaged in Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPG).” Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, vol. 51, no.3, 223-237. Retrieved from https://www.jstor.org/stable/24827520.
Gossett, Stephen. “The Real Social Benefits Of Video Games.” Built In, https://builtin.com/media-gaming/online-gaming-social-benefits. 20 March 2020.
Griffiths, Mark. “Coronavirus: Making Friends Through Online Video Games.” The Conversation, https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-making-friends-through-online-video-games-134459. 24 March 2020.
Hawreliak, Jason et al. “Video Games Can Ease Loneliness During a Pandemic.” Inverse, https://www.inverse.com/gaming/video-games-covid-19-mental-health. 12 April 2020.
Kastrenakes, Bryan. “Lil Nas X’s Roblox Concert Was Attended 33 Million Times.” The Verge, https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/16/21570454/lil-nas-x-roblox-concert-33-million-views. 16 November 2020.
Lufkin, Bryan. “How Online Gaming Has Become A Social Lifeline.” BBC, https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20201215-how-online-gaming-has-become-a-social-lifeline. 16 December 2020.
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