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Normalizing Harm Through Teenagers’ Everyday Experiences with Video Games
Key insights
6 takeaways- 01Teenagers aged 13–17 are aware of manipulative game design, including predatory monetization and engagement-driven reward systems, but they rationalize these practices as expected trade-offs for social belonging and progression.See it on page 15
- 02Harmful gaming experiences are normalized through routine, everyday play, causing teenagers to view exhaustion and compulsive engagement as standard components of the gaming experience rather than signs of harm.See it on page 1
- 03Teenagers shift the responsibility for online safety away from platforms and toward themselves and their parents, emphasizing personal self-control as the primary defense against manipulative mechanics.See it on page 17
- 04Participants distinguish between 'fair' and 'unfair' mechanics, generally accepting time-intensive 'grinding' as earned progression while criticizing gambling-like features like loot boxes and pay-to-win systems as disruptive to competitive integrity.See it on page 12
- 05Gaming is deeply embedded in the social ecologies of teenagers, serving as a critical tool for managing loneliness, stress, and peer relationships, which makes it difficult for them to disengage even when they recognize negative impacts.See it on page 16
- 06The normalization of harm is reinforced by social pressure, as teenagers often continue playing specific titles solely because their peer groups remain active in those environments.See it on page 14
Summary
Normalizing Harm Through Teenagers' Everyday Experiences NICK ABEGG∗, Indiana University, USA RITIKA GAIROLA∗, Indiana University, USA APU KAPADIA, Indiana University, USA CHRISTENA NIPPERT-ENG, Indiana University, USA Video games are deeply embedded in teenagers' lives, shaping their social lives while exposing them to prolonged engagement and gambling-like mechanisms.
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