[dmya] Pew Report on Gaming and Civic Engagement Released
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About a year ago, I wrote about GK teens assisting the Pew Internet and American Life Project in developing a survey about the effects of game play in young peoples' lives. On Monday, I got an email from Amanda Lenhart of Pew letting me know that the results of the survey, the first comprehensive study on teen gaming habits and their relationship to civic life, has just been released.
From the report, which can be downloaded here [pdf]:
The first national survey of its kind finds that virtually all American teens play computer, console, or cell phone games and that the gaming experience is rich and varied, with a significant amount of social interaction and potential for civic engagement.
There are many juicy tidbits in it; my favorites talk about how there is positive correlation between kids who play games with others in person and civic outcomes, as well as results that show that teen gamers that get involved in commenting on gaming websites and discussions boards are more engaged civically and politically than their peers that don't.
This is an incredibly powerful and important report, and has already helped shift the conversation in the media about what role video games play in the lives of youth. On CBS Evening News this week, Connie Yowell of the MacArthur Foundation and Amanda Lenhart from Pew spoke about the report's findings. Check out the clips below:
Connie Yowell on CBS Evening News
Amanda Lenhart on CBS Evening News
