Exploring The Digital Playground

Online gaming has evolved from pixelated characters to life-like computer simulations. Its digital land stretches across global communities and offers experiences as diverse as the gamers themselves. But gaming also poses risks such as loot boxes and skin betting, and opens children to grooming, scamming and abuse. Presented by broadcaster and online safety advocate Myleene Klass.

The Digital Playground

In the same way that playgrounds promote children’s exploration of the physical environment and development of motor and social skills, digital play platforms offer a space for children to explore and develop different sets of skills. Yet, unlike the playground, most digital play spaces also corral children into a confined space that limits their autonomy and open exploration. Using examples from various online games and platforms, Grimes explains how commercial innovation and corporate priorities continue to influence which and how children’s digital games are designed. As a result, the vast majority of digital play spaces fail to effectively support children’s culture, rights, and – ironically – play.

Imagine if teddy bears tracked children’s sleep habits, toys spewed racist vitriol or walkie-talkies linked them up with sexual predators. These are just some of the many societal concerns that stem from young people’s constant immersion in an online world that has been designed without their best interests in mind.

The Game

Imagine you’re dead, but have been given the chance to live again in a fantasy world. It’s a story you’ve heard before, but this time you have a choice to make. This is the premise behind Unveiled, a video game that puts your decision making abilities to the test. The popularity of online games has seen them evolve from pixelated graphics to life-like computer simulations, and their attraction extends far beyond the monitors they are played on. Just as important as the games themselves are the communities that form around them, with people sharing interests and passions that their real-life acquaintances may care little about.

At WSP, we have been exploring the potential of online slot gacor gaming for our clients by designing a scenario planning game that adds a dynamic dimension to our conversations around sustainability. This news release contains certain statements that may be considered forward-looking information under applicable securities laws. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the impact of general economic conditions, industry competition, and other factors discussed from time to time in WSP’s filings with the Canadian Securities Exchange and elsewhere.

The World

Whether it’s the real world of planets, stars, and galaxies or the fictional world of video games, the world is vast and exciting. It encompasses a range of different activities and relationships, from the excitement of rivalry to the friendships created within virtual communities. The world of online gaming is often complex, with its own rules and dynamics. It has been linked to various issues such as gambling, online bullying and social distancing, but it also encourages creativity, self-confidence, and social awareness.

The world of online gaming is diverse, and it’s important for trusted adults to understand it in order to support children and young people’s use of it safely. This webinar will look at the online game world and its unique features, as well as exploring some of the challenges that it may pose.

The Community

With the emergence of online game platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Giphy, and Roblox, it’s important to understand how children and young consumers interact with these digital playgrounds. These platforms are a powerful marketing opportunity for brands who can tap into their unique features and dynamics to connect with these future consumers. Grimes explores the underlying issues that shape and determine how these digital playgrounds are used by children, parents, and developers. She identifies trends, debates, and controversies that have shaped the development of online games.

One such issue is privacy and how it has shaped the development of these online playgrounds. Grimes explains how trends in game design, privacy policies, and marketing discourses have contributed to the ways in which children’s online games are structured and played. These structures limit the opportunities for risky play and transgression in the virtual world. They also shape ideas about who children are as players and citizens. These assumptions are then reflected in how these children’s digital games are played.

Conclusion

An online game is a computer or console game that requires a connection to the Internet to play. It’s normally platform independent, relying on a Web browser and a plug-in to work. Online gaming offers players an engaging source of entertainment and interaction. Some games also promote cognitive skills like problem-solving and critical thinking.