A gamer plays a network game/ShutterStock
About 70% of teenagers play online games. Many studies link computer games to a decrease in social skills and an increase in violence, and it has even been found that more than 40% of teenagers who play online games are exposed to violence, shaming, sexual content and obscene offers. (The data from the "Risks in the Gaming World" survey of the National Headquarters for the Protection of Children on the Internet).
Such studies and data, which are published from time to time, cause every parent anxiety and fear every time the children play on the computer or mobile phone. However, Nir Miretzky, director of innovation at the gaming company CrazyLabs, thinks otherwise, Miretzky will participate in a gaming panel at the Tel Aviv Sparks Innovation Summit, on April 10-12, with the support of the Innovation Authority, the Local Government Center and Tel Aviv University.
Miretsky, a parent and a gamer himself, explains why gaming actually prepares children for the social skills they will need in 2030, and why parents should stop being afraid:
8 reasons to let children play on the computer
1. English
- most of the conduct in international network games is in English, mainly from elementary school age. While the parents' generation learned English from television, today children are exposed to English, written and spoken, and receive a foundation for the international language, jargon and slang at a younger age. And as the age increases the language becomes richer and allows for planning, making alliances and revealing plots during EVE Online games for example.
in 2030?
If today parents complain that their children do not know how to speak English even after high school, network players develop a rich spoken language with international players, which helps in global interactions, even in the future.
2. Global culture
- as part of the interaction in the game, the children are exposed to hundreds of millions of partners in the same hobby. This is a significant ice breaker that helps them instantly connect with people in all corners of the world. On such a basis, for example, the association Games for Peace promotes cooperation between rival nations in the Minecraft chat.
In 2030:
the reluctance and fear of international meetings whether as part of trips, business or social meetings decreases significantly. Because the fear of the new and different disappeared in childhood.
3. Technical capabilities
- installing a network game such as Fortnite, adjusting the network to improve reactivity, frequent upgrades and updates upgrade the technical capabilities and remove barriers. Already today many parents are helping their children with technological solutions and the phenomenon will only increase.
2030:
Technological literacy will help children in a world that will become more digital in all areas of life.
4. Digital suspicion
- multiplayer games such as Counter Strike also invite cheater activity. "Cheaters", meaning improper use of digital means in order to win the game. Being a cheater is a significant insult to gamers. Cheater will steal swords, diamonds and any game resource. Alternatively, the Zither uses autonomous driving in a car race against manual console users or autonomously aiming weapons to upgrade shooting capabilities. The heartache of meeting a cheater, makes children learn to recognize and quickly identify signs of deception and not to put their trust in anyone.
2030:
Identifying digital frauds, as well as fraudsters/predators without seeing the person physically is a skill that will accompany them in the digital world, whether it is the business or personal world.
Fortnite/Giphy
5. Dealing with frequent changes
- when a new game comes out, it is often not perfect and contains broken features or ones that users dislike. The developers will fix, balance and improve even in the first day, compared to cautious apps like WhatsApp or Facebook that change only after months and years of testing. For example, a character that was significant in a Royal Match can, after an occasional update, lose its value and power following the update of the speed, strength or magic indicators. The gamers discover a quick understanding of the new power relations in the game after the update as well as learning, research and adaptation abilities.
2030:
Such mental flexibility, for constant technological and interface change, which is developed from a young age, will help in the future in all areas of life, when the constant is the frequent change. In workplaces, in personal life by means of transportation and more.
6. Digital money
- players are used to coins, diamonds, flowers or other resources used to upgrade characters, updates and other game options. That is, virtual currencies (which are not physical). The players learn to understand that such a currency has value, and it changes dynamically. Gamers were also the first to adopt the coins. For them, cash is the odd one out. They are used to a currency that cannot be held in the hand, even if it will only exist as a number in the user interface or literally in the cryptocurrency market. They trust, for example, the Supersale company with the Brawl Stars coins, since being the developer, it is also in practice the bank and the money printer. Therefore, regular trading and investment in financial funds of the crypto market is no stranger to them and they are not afraid to invest with the help of these currencies even in real estate.
2030:
The cryptographic currency is natural, they will use it frequently safely and without fearing the significant frequent changes in the currency rate (because they will work, for example, to spread risks in several currencies).
7. Parallel realities
- veteran gamers often tend to play several games at the same time, and each of them has its own rules on how to buy ammunition for the game, what is the money in it and is, for example, consultations in conference calls in the real world while playing Among Us a cheat (cheating) or are seen in the game as legitimate consultation.
2030:
Such adaptability helps to understand how to operate simultaneously in several different legal systems (both legal and cultural)
8. Co-Pilot in the field of artificial intelligence means an AI-based "co-pilot"
that helps the user perform tasks, gather information and make decisions. In computer games, it can for example help a Minecraft player discover missing components for creation, suggest parts to share with a friend and what should be asked to take from him. The Co-Pilot helps to make the most of the game's capabilities. It can also translate and enable an Israeli player in Hebrew with a Japanese gamer when each reads, writes and plays in their own language.
2030:
It will be possible to perform complex tasks with the artificial intelligence partner, such as a two-way conversation with Wiz during the trip in order to make him more precise: "I'm looking for parking here (therefore there is no need to continue giving the intentions to the destination), I missed a turn (therefore find me a parking lot closer and not the one that requires rotation) etc.
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