New Pew Research shows the importance of empowering students to strike a balance over summer break
Be sure to check out the suggested Huddle question at the bottom of this article to discuss this important topic with your students in class, if you feel it is appropriate.
As the countdown to summer break begins, students are gearing up for more free time. As a new study by the Pew Research Center shows, 4 in 10 U.S. students aged 13 to 17 play video games daily, and many students are looking forward to spending a few of their extra free hours gaming. This study also shows that for many students, gaming is a positive experience, with 72% saying that they play video games to spend time with others and over half saying video games help them develop problem-solving skills.
Even though there are benefits to online gaming, educators can empower students to strike a balance with tech, especially now that summer break is approaching and more of students’ time will be spent on screens. When students are equipped to balance their time online and offline, they can value the real-life moments and memories that summer break can bring, such as spending quality time with family and friends.
Pew Research Center study reveals the effects online gaming has on students
In 2023, from September 26th to October 23rd, the Pew Research Center surveyed 1,453 teens in the U.S. to explore their video game habits and how those habits impacted them. 85% of students reported playing video games, and with the extra time that summer break brings, many will likely spend their time doing so this summer.
As educators, understanding how students navigate their social worlds, both online and offline, which include online gaming, allows us to support students better and provide strategies for positive tech use. These were the key findings from the survey:
- Many students find that gaming is a positive experience. 47% of students say online gaming has helped their friendships, 41% say gaming has helped them work with others, and 32% say gaming has helped their mental health.
- 73% of students play video games on gaming consoles, 70% play on smartphones, and less than half play on computers, tablets, and VR headsets.
- Boys are more likely to play video games daily than girls (61% vs. 22%). They are also more likely to experience the negatives of gaming – almost half of boys who play video games have experienced cyberbullying.
- Many students use social media to engage with gaming communities online. 44% of students who play video games use Discord, and 30% use Twitch.
- 89% of students who play video games say they play with others online or in person, while only 11% reported playing on their own. 47% say they have made a friend online through online gaming.
- 80% of students agree that cyberbullying is an issue in online gaming.
These findings provide valuable insights into how online gaming impacts students and highlight the importance of empowering them to navigate social media and technology in ways that support their well-being. For instance, 89% of students who play online games do so to socialize, build friendships, and foster a sense of community. This social interaction often extends to platforms like Discord, where students engage with gaming communities.
However, online engagement also presents challenges, such as cyberbullying – especially for boys. Despite these challenges, socializing and engaging with online communities remains a primary reason for gaming, with 72% of students reporting it as a major or minor motivation.
As educators, understanding these dynamics allows us to stay informed about how students navigate social media and technology, enabling us to offer better support and guidance. Additionally, this research underscores the importance of reminding students to balance their online and offline interactions, promoting healthy engagement both on and off their devices during the summer break. By addressing these aspects, we can help students develop positive and balanced tech strategies, fostering their overall well-being.
And gaming goes beyond just Fortnite and Minecraft. Students worldwide engage in competitive online gaming, strengthening their teamwork and critical thinking skills by encouraging them to work with others and solve problems. Even schools are joining in – many schools are promoting a sense of community in their student body by introducing esports clubs and teams, which is online competitive gaming. This sense of community that gaming can bring improves students’ feelings of belonging and can even help them deal with stress. One study by Texas A&M University School of Public Health shows that being a part of online gaming communities improves well-being by helping people connect and cope with stress.
By learning about the benefits of online gaming communities and gaining insights into how students navigate gaming, educators can create a more positive overall gaming experience for students.
Challenges students can face with too much gaming and why educators should care
While the positives of gaming are great, educators recognize the challenges students may be facing, such as addictive behavior related to unregulated gaming time, lack of sleep, and cyberbullying. Addictive behavior related to screens impacts students beyond just gaming – with one study showing that too much screen time can lead to difficulties managing and expressing emotions and impacts math and literacy skills in school.
When students find a platform or game they enjoy, it can be hard to log off when they don’t have the tools to strike a balance. In fact, 41% of students report that playing video games has negatively impacted their sleep schedules, and lack of sleep can affect students’ concentration and contribute to poor grades. It’s clear educators have an opportunity to help students know when it’s time to step back from their screens. When they have these skills, they can navigate their video games, social media, and tech in a balanced way throughout the year, not just during the summer months.
The great news? When students prioritize striking a balance with screens, they aren’t just getting more sleep—they can prioritize in-person friendships, get more exercise, and go outside. Let’s dive deeper into how we can empower students to find this balance.
TSI’s Take
By understanding how students navigate online gaming, educators are better equipped to empower students to strike a balance with their screen time and use it to fuel their well-being, even during summer break. Maintaining this balance promotes a healthy lifestyle that will help students navigate tech positively over the summer and successfully transition back into the classroom in the fall.
There are many ways students can strike a balance with their screen time over the summer, like planning in-person activities with family and using social media to stay connected with friends. Educators can use TSI’s Screen Time Pyramid to help students discover how not all screen time is equal and educate them to make more informed decisions about their tech use. The Screen Time Pyramid shows the different levels of screen time, from passive scrolling on social media to playing online games with friends and family.
Studies show the educational benefits of video games include stimulating creativity, focus, and memory, as well as improving strategy and leadership. This is why video gaming falls under the active learning and socializing category, like sharpening students’ minds through educational and creative games. So, when played in moderation, video gaming can fuel student well-being.
Using the Screen Time Pyramid, educators can better inform students to strike a balance and navigate tech with purpose. This approach empowers students to lean in on the positives of tech use, such as connecting with others and fostering creativity. Here are some more tips on empowering students to strike a balance with tech this summer:
- Map Out Screen time: Equip students to keep track of their screen time and reflect on their hobbies, interests, and goals that don’t involve a screen. Share the Student Challenge on striking a balance with students!
- Maintain a healthy sleep schedule: Some students might like to game late at night, but good sleep habits are important, even over summer break. Encourage students to find a healthy time to wind down from tech before going to bed.
- Not all screen time is equal: Gaming can allow students to socialize with their friends. Encourage students to make it even more social by connecting with their friends to play a game in person.
Striking a balance between tech and gaming helps students overcome challenges, like lack of sleep, and take hold of the positives of gaming, such as the sense of connection that gaming communities can bring. To further empower students to strike a balance with their screens this summer, check out the #WinAtSocial Lesson, Learning from the pros and balancing time on tech to reach our goals.
#WinAtSocial Huddle Question
Huddle with your students
With summer break approaching, how are you planning to strike a balance with your screen time so you can make the most of your summer? Share your ideas with your classmates.
The Social Institute (TSI) is the leader in empowering students by understanding students. Through #WinAtSocial, our gamified, peer-to-peer learning platform, we equip students, educators, and families to navigate their social world – in the classroom and beyond, online and offline – in healthy, high-character ways. Our unique, student-respected approach empowers and equips, rather than scares and restricts. We incorporate timely topics about social media, tech use, and current events that are impacting student well-being and learning. #WinAtSocial Lessons teach life skills for the modern day, capture student voice, and provide school leaders with actionable insights. Through these insights, students play an essential role in school efforts to support their own health, happiness, and future success as we enable high-impact teaching, meaningful family conversations, and a healthy school culture.