Julia Stoll
Research expert covering TV and video media
Video gaming of children and teens in the United States - Statistics & Facts
If you know a tween or teenager, chances are good that you know a passionate gamer. In the United States, 85 percent of teens play video games, with over 40 percent claiming to do so daily. However, the popularity of video games is not without risks – as online gaming spaces have become popular hangout options for young gamers to socialize with their friends, many parents feel increasingly concerned about how and with whom their children are spending time online while gaming.
Multiplayer games are very popular among young gamers. Especially online gaming titles like Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, FIFA, and Call of Duty consistently rank among the top games for teenage players. When looking at mobile devices, some of the most downloaded gaming app titles explicitly labelled for kids include Toca Boca World, Avatar World, and Bluey: Let’s Play.
While offline friends still were the most common gaming partners of U.S. teens, boys were more likely to engage in social gaming with a wide range of gaming partners including online strangers than girls, who tended to play with known contacts like friends or family.
Virtually all online gaming titles have codes of conduct which prohibit abusive behavior, and yet 41 percent of U.S. gaming teens have been called an offensive name when playing video games, making it the most common form of in-game harassment experienced among teen gamers. Boys aged 13 to 17 years were more likely to be physically threatened , while girls were most likely to receive unwanted sexually explicit things.
In addition to encountering troubling behavior of other players, online gaming platforms like Roblox, which are centered on user-generated content, are frequently criticized in lacking sufficient content moderation to protect their most vulnerable users from being exposed to inappropriate content.
However, all these options take time to be implemented, so in the end, there is one powerful action that parents can take by themselves: talking to their kids. By educating their children and themselves about online safety risks and being available to talk, parents can help their children make good choices about their gaming activities in an environment that is usually geared towards monetization.
What is popular with young gamers in the United States?
More than six in ten teenagers in the United States started gaming between six and ten years old. On non-school days, boys and girls spent a significant amount of time playing video games on portable gaming devices, highlighting the appeal of the Nintendo Switch console for younger gamers as well as the ready availability of smartphones and tablets in gaming households.Multiplayer games are very popular among young gamers. Especially online gaming titles like Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite, FIFA, and Call of Duty consistently rank among the top games for teenage players. When looking at mobile devices, some of the most downloaded gaming app titles explicitly labelled for kids include Toca Boca World, Avatar World, and Bluey: Let’s Play.
Social interactions through gaming
For many young gamers, online gaming is an important outlet for social interaction and provides a so-called "third place", an informal gathering place separate from school or home where interactions are based on mutual interests. A survey from 2023 revealed that almost half of U.S. teens who played video games had made a friend online because of gaming.While offline friends still were the most common gaming partners of U.S. teens, boys were more likely to engage in social gaming with a wide range of gaming partners including online strangers than girls, who tended to play with known contacts like friends or family.
Online gaming safety concerns
However, these online spaces do not come without risks. As many competitive gaming titles popular with kids and teens are intended for mature audiences, younger gamers often encounter players outside their age group, as well as content unsuitable for them.Virtually all online gaming titles have codes of conduct which prohibit abusive behavior, and yet 41 percent of U.S. gaming teens have been called an offensive name when playing video games, making it the most common form of in-game harassment experienced among teen gamers. Boys aged 13 to 17 years were more likely to be physically threatened , while girls were most likely to receive unwanted sexually explicit things.
In addition to encountering troubling behavior of other players, online gaming platforms like Roblox, which are centered on user-generated content, are frequently criticized in lacking sufficient content moderation to protect their most vulnerable users from being exposed to inappropriate content.
A way forward for young gamers
While strong in-game parental controls are important tools for families to create a safe environment for online gaming, it is also up to gaming companies and platforms to step up their content moderation and user safety procedures. Some online gaming brands and platforms like Call of Duty and Xbox are already employing AI-powered tools for voice chat and disruptive messaging moderation, and other gaming providers are sure to follow. Another aspect of improving the gaming experiences of children is legislation to hold platforms accountable. This includes age verification to ensure that players are only given access to age-appropriate experiences.However, all these options take time to be implemented, so in the end, there is one powerful action that parents can take by themselves: talking to their kids. By educating their children and themselves about online safety risks and being available to talk, parents can help their children make good choices about their gaming activities in an environment that is usually geared towards monetization.
