Nearly All Kids a Gamer: Study

A new national survey from the Pew Internet & American Life Project titled "Teens, Video Games and Civics" shows that virtually all American teens play video games, whether computer, console, or cell phone games --- go figure! While some might say, "you needed to do a study to figure this out?," the study (.PDF) shows a lot of interesting (and perhaps, for parents, frightening) data.

As opposed to many past studies which, according to this one, have focused on the effects of violence in games on teenagers, this one considered the effect of video games on civic responsibilities and actions (anything from political involvement to raising money for charity) of the teenagers. The study found no difference between the most dedicated gamers and those who did not game, in terms of civic and political participation.

Some of the key findings:

• Nearly all American teens (97%) ages 12-17 play computer, web, console, or mobile games. This includes 99% of boys and 94% of girls.

• The study asked game-playing teens whether or not they played games “yesterday,” and if so, for how long. On any given day, 50% of teen gamers reported playing games. About half of those who did play a game “yesterday” (or 24% of all teen gamers) said they played for up to an hour.
  

• Boys typically play games with greater frequency and duration than girls.

• Older teens are less likely than younger teens to play games on a typical day. More than half (54%) of 12- to 14-year-olds played games yesterday, whereas 46% of 15- to 17-year-olds did so (it's that dating thing and hormones, right?).
  

• Broadband users are slightly more likely to play for longer periods of time than teens who reside in homes without broadband. Broadband users are more likely to report playing for two hours; 14% reporting game play for that long on a typical day, compared with just 8% of dial-up users.
  

• Frequent game players are not socially isolated. The survey refuted this stereotype, revealing that the most avid, frequent gamers are just as communicative and socially engaged as less-active gamers.
  

• Consoles are the most common way to play games (86%), PCs are next (73%), followed by a portable gaming device (e.g., PSP, 60%), and finally cell phones (48%).
  

• Most teens own multiple gaming devices.
  

• Nearly one-third (32%) of young teens play M- or AO-rated games. Of these M- and AO-rated game players, 79% are boys and 21% were girls. 12- to 14-year-olds were just as likely to play M- or AO-rated games as their 15- to 17-year-old counterparts. 28% of 12- to 14-year-olds listed an M- or AO-rated game as a favorite, as did 36% of teens ages 15-17.

Some interesting tidbits about parents and gaming:

• 90% of parents say they always or sometimes know what games their children play.

• 72% say they always or sometimes check the ratings before their children are allowed to play a game.

• 46% of parents say they always or sometimes stop their kids from playing a game.

• 31% of parents say they always or sometimes play games with their children.

At the same time, most parents feel that games don't affect their children. Don't take this question to my wife, BTW.

• 62% of parents of gamers say video games have no effect on their child one way or the other.
  

• 19% of parents of gamers say video games have a positive influence on their child.

• 13% of parents of gamers say video games have a negative influence on their child.

• 5% of parents of gamers say gaming has some negative influence/some positive influence, but it depends on the game.

The top games teens listed as their favorites in the survey:

1. Guitar Hero
2. Halo 3
3. Madden NFL
4. Solitaire (yes, Solitaire)
5. Dance Dance Revolution

This study was a random digit dial telephone survey conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates between November 1, 2007, and February 5, 2008, among a sample of 1102 teens ages 12-17 and a parent or guardian. For results based on the total sample, margin of sampling error is +/- 3%. For those teens who game (1064), the margin of sampling error is +/- 3%.