Students who while away the hours playing online games like Everquest and World of Warcraft aren’t usually thought of as social creatures. But a new report suggests that they may be just as socially active as their more conventionally gregarious classmates, according to Reuters.
The report, written by professors at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, says that children who play online games are often thought to be isolating themselves from others. In fact, the researchers argue, multi-player games—which often involve various forms of haggling and social networking—are digital gathering spots that should rightfully be compared to pubs and coffee shops. —Brock Read
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