Gaming and Social Media Basics

Students spend a great deal of their free time online. While this is a good way for them to connect to friends, both gaming and social media carry a level of danger and distraction. This page will give you some basic information you can use when discussing the topic with your student.

Social Media refers to websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or participate in social networking activities. Here are some of the most popular platforms your student may be using. There are dozens of other platforms that are less popular, but with features common to those listed below. It's always best to know what software is on your student's devices.

Facebook - With almost 3 billion users, Facebook is the most used social media platform. It allows users to create profiles, connect with others and share content. Users with common interests can create community pages to gather. Facebook also has a Messenger app which students may use to send private communications.

Instagram - App connecting users with a focus on pictures, videos, and stories. Often used by businesses to market products or services.

X/Twitter - X (formerly Twitter) is a short-form networking tool that allows for the sharing of posts, videos, and photos, but with a limited amount of text to focus on rapid consumption.

TikTok - Focuses on the sharing of short-form videos. Has become very popular in the past few years. This platform is under scrutiny by some government agencies over privacy concerns.

WhatsApp - Messaging app owned by Meta (owners of Facebook). This platform allows users send messages and make calls over the internet. Arguably more secure than text messaging due to encryption methods, parents should be aware that students may be using this platform to circumvent detection if their parents monitor texts.

Discord - Platform that allows groups of people to form common communities with message boards, direct messaging, and voice calling. Popular with gamers who use it to connect for gaming sessions, especially cross-platform.

Snapchat - Messaging platform that allows users to send and receive 'self-destructing' photos and messages. Images sent via these messages are meant to disappear after a short period of time, leaving no trace. This leads to the concern of inappropriate material being shared on the platform.

YouTube - While not often thought of as social media in same way Facebook or Instagram are, YouTube still allows users to connect and share content. This makes it one of the most popular social media sites in the world. YouTube is primarily meant as a tool for sharing videos.

Consoles - A console is an electronic device used specifically for playing games. The most common consoles are Playstation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Each manufacturer has had several generation of consoles which are updated every few years.

PC - Personal computer. Computers vary widely in shape, size, and specifications. The most common variety of gaming PC is a desktop hooked up to a monitor. Laptops can also be used for gaming, but usually come with performance restrictions based off of their form factor.

Handhelds - Designated gaming devices which are meant to be portable for on-the-go gaming. Nintendo's Switch can convert from a docked console to a portable gaming machine. Newer instances include the Steam Deck and Playstation Portal.

Mobile - Most cell phones are capable of gaming on some level. Since most people own a cell phone, mobile gaming has surged in popularity. The games are usually easy to pick up, quick to master, and often include monetary transactions to gain advantage. If not monitored, students can easily spend significant amounts of time, and money on these games.

VR - Virtual Reality. Users wear specialized gear (usually a headset and hand controllers) that immerses them in a virtual world by blocking their perception of the real one. This cutting edge technology is not recommended for younger children by health professionals. It can also be dangerous to adults who can get disoriented.

Decades ago, most gaming was a single-player experience meant to be enjoyed one person at a time. Games that were meant to be played by multiple players required both individuals to play on the same screen. With the advent of the internet, the opportunity to make connections through gaming increased exponentially. Today, millions of gamers compete with each other across the entire globe.

Cooperative Gaming - Players work together to achieve goals, complete levels, or simply enjoy strange worlds. Usually resources are shared and the games have a more relaxed feel.

Competitive Gaming - As the name suggests, the players compete against one another. Games are usually more aggressive (or violent) and there is a heightened level of emotional attachment to the result.

eSports - Competitive games with organized leagues and competitions. Titles can be from any genre such as sports simulations like football, soccer, and racing, or other, more violent genres such as First-person shooters (FPS) and open world (sandbox) games.

MMOs - MMO stands for Massively Multiplayer Online game. These games provide a common space for users to meet and interact. From there they can take on missions or tasks to gain rewards. While many of these games focus on the actual game content, some are more known for the social spaces they provide. Some are even targeted towards younger audiences. Parents should be aware of the obvious dangers that come with strangers interacting with their children.

MOBAs - Multiplayer (or massive) Online Battle Arena. MOBAs place teams in a large playing field with the goal of capturing the other team's base, eliminating the other team's players, or completing specific objectives.

Fortnite - Shooting game that blends construction, survival, and last-man-standing competition. Known for over-the-top events (like in-game concerts) and ever-evolving settings, the game has become culturally relevant enough to create dance moves that nearly every middle-schooler knows.

Minecraft - Despite its intentionally blocky graphics, Minecraft rose to popularity by giving players the ability to explore unfathomably vast areas while providing them with the ability to create whatever they can dream up (so long as it was made out of blocks).

Roblox - Not so much a game as it is a social media platform which allows users to create, share, and play their own games. Roblox attracts a younger audience. While a great introduction to both gaming and social spaces for children, parents should be aware of the potential risks associated.

Grand Theft Auto - Extremely mature series that is listed for ages 17+. The latest iteration introduced an online space where players could gather and either complete missions together or hunt each other down. Not recommended for students.

Call of Duty - This series started two decades ago as a single-player experience. Today it is one of the most-played online shooters. Players are given an assortment of period-specific weaponry and put on different teams to rack up kill totals. Recently, the 'Warzone' mode provides a last-man-standing experience which is very popular with fans.

League of Legends - LoL as it is often called, is a team-based MOBA which has a very large number of characters to choose from. An incredibly popular eSports title, the game is played worldwide.

World of Warcraft - MMORPG (role playing game) where players can choose from several fantasy-related classes and collaborate with other players to complete quests. Long-running game with many established communities online.

ERSB family gaming guide.

Gaming safety guide from InternetMatters.

Gaming basics for parents from InternetMatters.

Comprehensive guide to social media for parents from Common Sense Media.

Parent guide to social media from Kids Health.