In the wake of the pandemic, more and more kids are using video and app games not just to play, but to connect with friends. An MLN Research study among kids aged 7-10 and their parents found that gaming is the second most popular way that kids are socializing virtually, after video calls. A majority of kids use app games or video games to interact with their friends, and around half of these kids do so daily. In fact, more kids use games than video calls to socialize on a daily basis.
Having always been used as a source for entertainment, gaming has also become a way for kids to socialize when they haven’t been able to physically spend time with their friends. In turn, many parents have been supportive of games as a social outlet for their kids during the pandemic:
“Our kids have been on screens a great deal more than they were previously. This is the first time they started playing games where they could interact with friends and family on their iPad.”
Roblox and Minecraft are the top games kids use for socializing (Roblox’s daily active users have exploded during the pandemic), while Among Us and Fortnite are other popular games that kids use for interacting with friends.