Do Video Games Promote Social Interactions?

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Social interaction is the very basis of social life and the foundation of society. Further growth and progress in society would not be possible without interactions between individuals. However, the presence of an individual as a function of society does not bind them into a social unit. It is when a group of people cooperate that allows society to develop. Therefore, interaction is the very essence of social process. Furthermore, communication is the medium of interaction. The ability to communicate with other individuals is an important element of human life in terms of interacting and developing our society. Individuals thrive from success through the approval of others. In communication, an individual develops from the views and opinions of another person. It is important to consider that as a result of society's development, our system of communication also changed. While maintaining the traditional way of communicating such as physical interactions, individuals turn to other forms of socializing through the use of video games and the internet. The traditional way of socializing limits our ability to meet other people around the world. Virtual interactions offers a more possible means to communicate in today's society. Furthermore, the growth of the video game community such as in the genre of MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games) allows for a high level medium that enable individuals to create small factions and perform social interactions. According to Bishop, "The existence of such communities is often brought about by people who share similar goals, beliefs or values, with such commonality forming the basis of an agreement to form and sustain a virtual existence" (1). Having shared similar goals... ... middle of paper ... ...efficiently to continue the growth of their community. Although video game interaction is boundless, gaming can't be referred to as the new way of socializing because it revolves around on the game itself. In the video game community, a player is assumed to have a neutral identity. Even though social interactions are present in MMORPG's, these interactions are not about the individual's traits, emotions, memories, or other personal characteristics; it is all about the game and the environment that surrounds it. Works Cited Bishop, Jonathan. "Increasing Participation in Online Communities: A Framework for human– computer Interaction." Computers in Human Behavior 23.4 (2007): 1881-93. Web. Boyd, Danah M., and Nicole B. Ellison. "Social Network Sites: Definition, History, and Scholarship." Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication 13.1 (2007): 210-30. Web.

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