Teenagers and gaming

Video games are more popular than ever and, for a lot of teens, they’re more than just a fun activity. Many teens find that gaming helps them to relax and feel better about themselves.

This page will help you to:

• learn more about gaming

• understand why your teen plays video games

• understand the wellbeing benefits and impacts of gaming.

What is gaming?

‘Gaming’ refers to the act of playing video games. They can be played on consoles (such as PlayStation or Xbox), computers, smartphones, tablets and virtual reality headsets. A teen who enjoys gaming regularly might identify as a ‘gamer’.

For some teens, gaming isn’t just about playing video games; it’s also about engaging in communities made up of people with shared interests. Gaming communities interact with each other within the games, across social media or in person.

Why do teens game?

There are several reasons why teens play video games:

• Entertainment: One of the main reasons teens game is that it’s fun. The visuals, sound effects and storylines are usually designed to be immersive and enjoyable.

• Socialising: Gaming is a shared hobby for many teens. They might play with friends in person, or chat with them through text, voice or video while playing the game. Gaming is also an opportunity to connect with new people, either virtually or in person through community events and meetups.

• Distraction: Gaming can temporarily take your teen’s mind off some of the challenges they’re dealing with.

• Sense of achievement: The aim in most games is to progress through levels that become increasingly difficult. Improving their skills and being rewarded for it can feel fulfilling to teens.

• Sense of control: Teens are able to take charge and influence the outcome within a game in ways that might not feel possible for them in real life.

Popular games and gaming sites

There are countless different genres and sub-genres of gaming. These are just a few of the more common ones.

Action

These games involve the player adopting the role of a main character who must collect objects, overcome obstacles and fight enemies. Some examples of action games include Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda.

Role playing

In role-playing games, the player designs their character and goes through a series of quests. As they progress, their character develops new powers and skills. Examples of role-playing games include Pokémon and Final Fantasy.

Sandbox

Sandbox games don’t often have a set storyline or a goal that the player has to fulfil. Players can explore the game’s world more freely and creatively. Popular sandbox games are Minecraft and Grand Theft Auto.

Shooter

This type of video game is focused on defeating enemies or threats by using weapons. Fortnite and Call of Duty are some popular shooter games.

Sports

These games allow the player to simulate sports such as soccer, football and basketball. Examples of sports games include FIFA and NBA 2K.

Gaming sites

Aside from playing games, teens can connect with other gamers on gaming sites. Some of the popular ones include:

• Discord: This platform is primarily for chatting to people about common interests. 

• Twitch: This is a streaming platform where you can watch livestreams and prerecorded videos of other gamers as they play video games. You can chat to other people who are also watching the video. 

• Roblox: On this site, gamers can create their own video games and share them with others to play. 

Is gaming violent? 

Some games contain violence, while many others don’t. Like movies, video games are classified to help teens and their parents or carers decide whether they are appropriate for their age. Read more about video game classifications.

While violent and graphic content can affect how teens feel, experts say that video games aren’t a direct cause of violent behaviour and that violence is a complex issue with multiple causes.

Positive effects of gaming on teen wellbeing and friendships

Gaming is a positive experience for a lot of teens. It can benefit their wellbeing by:

• providing stress relief and relaxation

• helping them to keep in touch with and feel connected to friends

• helping them to make new friends online, especially if they struggle with doing this in person

• strengthening family relationships when games are played together

• being a safe outlet for them to channel their anger and frustrations

• encouraging a sense of achievement.

One parent who was dealing with their teen’s school refusal shared in the ReachOut Parents Forum how gaming was helpful for their family:

Potential impacts on teen wellbeing and health

While most young people describe gaming as a positive experience on the whole, it also has the potential to have some other impacts on their wellbeing:

• Too much screentime: Along with monitoring the time they spend scrolling on their phone or watching TV, teens sometimes need your support in setting screentime boundaries when it comes to gaming. Learn about managing your family’s screen use in this guide.

• Lack of sleep: Gaming at night could mean your teen goes to bed late or struggles to fall asleep. You could encourage your teen to read up on the importance of getting enough sleep.

• Bullying: As with any place where friendships develop, there’s also the potential for bullying when gaming online. Learn more about cyberbullying.

• Gaming addiction: Gaming can become a problem if your teen feels unable to stop playing and it’s affecting other parts of their life. Read more about gaming addiction at Kids Helpline.

• Emotional reactions: While some teens find gaming to be a healthy outlet for their frustration, others might find that a game triggers angry reactions that can be harmful. Read about how you can help your teen to manage their anger.