Research Reveals Free Game Bullying Tied to Kids Not Paying

• Impact of video games on children's social and spending behaviors.
• Role of in-game appearance in social interactions.
• Interconnection of children's digital and real lives.
• Pressure to fit in through in-game purchases and trends.
• Exploitation by publishers and scammers through ads and in-app purchases.

How Video Games Impact Children's Social and Spending Behaviors

Photograph: Epic / Neilson Barnard (Getty Images)

Recent findings from Norway shed light on the manner in which video games affect children, their social interactions, and their spending patterns. Surprisingly, younger players are bullied due to their lack of cosmetic enhancements, use in-game items to boost popularity, and struggle to evade numerous ads and user-generated scams linked to popular online games like FIFA, Fortnite, and Warzone.

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Impact of Video Games on Children's Social Lives

As reported by Crossplay—a gaming newsletter aimed at parents and children established by former writer Patrick Klepek—two studies conducted by Norwegian researchers include startling details about how children aged between 10-15 engage with video games and how these popular games significantly influence their social lives.

How Appearance in Games Affects Social Interactions

According to Reich, one of the researchers, a child's in-game appearance plays a crucial role in how they are treated by others. Children who don't invest money in their in-game character may be labeled as poor, while those who do often receive more attention and other benefits, effectively buying popularity.

The Confluence of Digital and Real Lives

Children's digital and real lives have now become intertwined. Having the right skin in Fortnite is equally important as dressing appropriately for school, according to the studies. Children who can't afford the right gear or who don't play games often struggle to fit in.

The Pressure to Fit In

Kids who enjoy football play FIFA and spend money on in-game items for status, while others follow trends on platforms like TikTok. The pressure to fit in is similar to what's already occurring in other contexts, but it has taken on new forms in the gaming world.

Exploitation by Publishers and Scammers

Video game publishers are becoming increasingly adept at continuously advertising games and in-app purchases to children. This makes it difficult for children to focus on other aspects of their lives, exacerbating the pressure to have the most sought-after skin. For kids who can't afford to fit in, they may be bullied or poorly treated by their peers. This abuse is often worse for girls, both within and outside of games.

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