“You Feel Like You’ve Found a Place Where You Belong”: Symbolic Interactionism and Online Social Video Games in the Age of COVID-19

Online social video games functioned as essential conduits for human connection and social development during the COVID-19 pandemic. By providing structured, collaborative environments, these digital spaces allowed young adults to navigate the isolation of lockdowns while actively practicing and refining critical social skills. The core thesis posits that these platforms operate as high-value social arenas where the ability to manage digital identities and maintain anonymity significantly lowers the risk profile of interpersonal engagement, thereby fostering a profound sense of belonging.

Through the lens of symbolic interactionism, these virtual communities emerge as vital testing grounds for social behavior. Participants reported that the cooperative nature of gameplay reframed social interaction, shifting the focus from individual performance to collective goal-oriented success. This dynamic proved particularly beneficial for individuals experiencing social anxiety or those with disabilities, as the controlled nature of the digital environment provided a safe space to experiment with communication styles and build interpersonal confidence. These experiences often mirrored or exceeded the emotional significance of offline interactions, demonstrating that virtual spaces are not merely escapist but are integral to modern social health.

The scope of this analysis encompasses the experiences of young adults during the height of the pandemic, highlighting a shift in how digital platforms are perceived within sociological frameworks. By facilitating meaningful connections in a low-risk setting, online social games effectively mitigated the psychological impacts of physical distancing. Ultimately, these findings suggest that digital environments serve as sophisticated tools for social maintenance, offering a robust infrastructure for community building and personal development that remains relevant well beyond the constraints of the pandemic era.