How new data from Norway examines video games affect children, social behavior and spending habits. It seems that young players are being bullied for their lack of cosmetic appearances, using in-game items to become more popular and struggling to avoid all those goodies. ads and user-committed scams connected to popular online games like FIFA, Fortnite, And Battlefield.

As reported by cross play—a gaming newsletter focused on parents and kids, founded by former Kotaku author Patrick Klepek—A pair of studies by Norwegian researchers It contains alarming information about how children between the ages of 10 and 15 interact with video games and how these popular games can have a huge impact on their social lives. The studies were conducted by researchers Kamilla Knutsen Steinnes and Clara Julia Reich from Oslo Metropolitan University, as part of a larger initiative by the Norwegian government to understand the relationship between children and games.

According to Reich, their findings suggest that how a child appears in a game can play a “significant” role in how other children treat them.

“Children may experience being called poor if they haven’t spent money on their character. Kids who spend money on their in-game characters can get more attention and other benefits, thus gaining popularity,” said Steinnes.

Because today, children’s digital and real lives are one and the same. Wearing the right skin Fortnite According to research, it is as important as dressing correctly at school. Children who do not buy the right equipment or do not play games also have difficulty adapting to the environment.

“There is no sharp distinction between their online and offline worlds. They are just different parts of the social world that they navigate, and appearance or appearances are important identity markers,” Steinnes said.

Frank, 13, added: “If you’re not playing with anyone, you’ve got nothing to talk about at school.”

“Kids love playing football Fifa and spend money on in-game items that give status, while others buy Nike, Balenciaga or Star wars. They are influenced by memes and trends on platforms like TikTok,” Reich said.

talk with cross playThe researchers elaborated further:

The pressure to adapt is similar to what is already happening in other contexts, but is taking new forms. Some children may feel left out when they do not have the resources (e.g. Wi-Fi, gaming equipment, in-game currency) to play with their friends, or they may be singled out for the ‘skin’ they wear.

Publishers and scammers take advantage of children

That’s what makes things worse video game streamers have become very talented We constantly advertise games and in-app purchases to children. This means it’s becoming increasingly difficult for kids to focus on other things in their lives, and the pressure to grow the coolest skin is getting worse. Children who are unable to adapt may be bullied or mistreated by their peers. For girlsthis exploit is often worse both in-game and out-of-game.

“I heard things like, ‘Go back to the kitchen,’ and it was like, ‘You’re a girl, die, die, die.’ “It was very revealing,” said Sidra, 14, who was part of the study. The study also showed that skins and in-game cosmetics can also create “digital body image” issues.

Another problem that emerges from research is that children report being defrauded. Researchers suggest this is because kids lack “consumer competence,” but are faced with situations where they face high-pressure sales tactics designed to make them feel like they have to act fast or miss out. When someone comes along and promises them cheap money or a good deal, kids may not realize it’s a scam until it’s too late.

“This is problematic because children and teenagers are a vulnerable consumer group navigating virtually unregulated markets on their own,” Reich said.

Overall, that’s enough to make me thankful I don’t have kids and don’t have to help them navigate the modern world of free-to-play video games, which have more in common with casinos than any other game you play for fun. The situation may worsen as the Internet becomes a part of every moment of our lives and games on mobile devices become increasingly popular.

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