There is potential for gaming to negatively impact a child’s social development regardless of gender. Boys tend to spend more time gaming overall, mostly in groups while girls were more apt to game for lesser periods, alone. Researchers have recently discovered that young girls are more prone to social shortcomings after observing this marked difference in how boys and girls game.

Beate Hygen of the University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway, has explained that time spent gaming held no obvious impact on social development for boys but girls may have lesser chances for nongaming social interaction with their peers.

In 873 Norwegian schoolchildren who were observed over six years, researchers didn’t find any connection between time spent gaming and social skills for boys but did notice that girls who spent more time gaming at age 10 exhibited poor social skills two years later compared to girls who devoted less time to video games.However, poor “social competence” of both boys and girls below 10 predicted more time spent gaming two years later – this was based on their general aptitude for following directions, controlling behaviour and confidence in social settings.

Despite other factors that can independently influence social skills or behavioural skills, such as bullying, older children and teens might gravitate toward gaming precisely because it is “safer” and doesn’t require actual social interaction, according to Dr. Suzy Tomopoulos, of the NYU School of Medicine in US.

As more interactive gaming experiences comes into play, with group games and activities, the study team has noted that there might be a subconscious improvement in cognitive, emotional and social skills in children.

It is necessary that parents should ensure that their children play video games in moderation. Tomopoulos has advised against using online screen time as a replacement to socialisation and play, sleep or physical activity that is essential to a child’s health.