3 ms·

I still think video games are a net negative on society. How come so few women play - their lives are so much more balanced and successful - are games a symptom

by rr808 1y ago

I still think video games are a net negative on society. How come so few women play - their lives are so much more balanced and successful - are games a symptom or a cause?

Lalabadie 1y ago
Isn't it a myth that women don't play as much? If I recall correctly, they just don't play the same games. Much like women-dominated professions, their choices tend to end up labeled "not real games". Cozy games, social games, mobile arcade à la Candy Crush, etc. You need that exclusionary lens applied to what is a game to then get a tally where women comparatively don't play.
- card_zero 1y ago
  Not even sure this is true. Perhaps a skew toward survival horror. OK, here's a 2024 survey: https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/technology/digital-media-trends-consumption-habits-survey/2024/how-can-gaming-industry-get-more-female-gamers.html https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/technology... Deloitte says women prefer solo story-driven games and dislike multiplayer.
Trasmatta 1y ago
> How come so few women play I feel like you really need to update your priors here? It's 2025, not 2000, and games are immensely popular for both men and women. Almost all women I know play at least some games these days.
Jedd 1y ago
I'd guess a symptom rather than a cause, but I'm not sure what of. Curious about your evidence and metrics for your claims of: 'net negative', 'few women play', 'more balanced' and 'more successful'.
Krssst 1y ago
It's leisure. I don't see how they are worse than movies or watching sports. There are bad actors out there with gambling mechanics or addiction exploitation but the article is not about those. (and sports have their variant of it with sports betting)
Loughla 1y ago
What about movies, television, books, hiking, riding atv's, fishing, drawing, etc.? Are those a net negative? They're also hobbies or entertainment.
add-sub-mul-div 1y ago
> How come so few women play Are you living in 1997? Do you also think men are from Mars, women are from Venus?
drannex 1y ago
Women make up just about 50% of all gamers, and in many cases they make up the vast majority when you include mobile related games. This has been the case since about 2015.

by rr808 1y ago

I still think video games are a net negative on society. How come so few women play - their lives are so much more balanced and successful - are games a symptom or a cause?

Lalabadie 1y ago

Isn't it a myth that women don't play as much? If I recall correctly, they just don't play the same games. Much like women-dominated professions, their choices tend to end up labeled "not real games". Cozy games, social games, mobile arcade à la Candy Crush, etc. You need that exclusionary lens applied to what is a game to then get a tally where women comparatively don't play.

card_zero 1y ago
Not even sure this is true. Perhaps a skew toward survival horror. OK, here's a 2024 survey: https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/technology/digital-media-trends-consumption-habits-survey/2024/how-can-gaming-industry-get-more-female-gamers.html https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/industry/technology... Deloitte says women prefer solo story-driven games and dislike multiplayer.

Trasmatta 1y ago

> How come so few women play I feel like you really need to update your priors here? It's 2025, not 2000, and games are immensely popular for both men and women. Almost all women I know play at least some games these days.

Jedd 1y ago

I'd guess a symptom rather than a cause, but I'm not sure what of. Curious about your evidence and metrics for your claims of: 'net negative', 'few women play', 'more balanced' and 'more successful'.

Krssst 1y ago

It's leisure. I don't see how they are worse than movies or watching sports. There are bad actors out there with gambling mechanics or addiction exploitation but the article is not about those. (and sports have their variant of it with sports betting)

Loughla 1y ago

What about movies, television, books, hiking, riding atv's, fishing, drawing, etc.? Are those a net negative? They're also hobbies or entertainment.

add-sub-mul-div 1y ago

> How come so few women play Are you living in 1997? Do you also think men are from Mars, women are from Venus?

drannex 1y ago

Women make up just about 50% of all gamers, and in many cases they make up the vast majority when you include mobile related games. This has been the case since about 2015.