Social media has become a powerhouse tool for every industry. This is down to the logistics of it. It’s a place for people to express themselves, interact and connect with people across the world. Not only this but due to advances it is now a place for shops to reach wider audiences, easier ways for people to educate others on what they do and even has a significant impact on the gaming sector. Especially now that gaming is more online than ever before.
The Link Between Social Media and Gaming
For the past 20+ years, developers have created some of the biggest social media platforms to exist that have outlasted others. From Facebook, to YouTube, twitter, Instagram and in recent years we have seen Tiktok rise in popularity. Nowadays we see updates making more personalized feeds to satisfy each user, video sharing and live streaming, all available for people on the go. Providing easier access to online casino games, or even mobile versions of their favorite console games. While it may seem that these two worlds are separate, social media platforms and gaming platforms are linked by technology like high-speed internet, cloud computing and mobile apps.
Social Media’s Role in the Gaming Space
The gamine sector and social media are two highly linked areas. We have seen them combined in discussions, collaborations an both have helped create a community that not only enhances the gaming experiences, but it has made what people love mor than just a hobby.
One platform can be used to discuss gaming strategies, share fan content and even help arrange gaming sessions for people playing from one end of the world to the other. Similarly, platforms that stream videos permit gamers from anywhere in the world to showcase highlights and tutorials on a game, that will help other gamers brush up on their skillsets and stay up to date with the latest gaming skills and potential sneak peaks into games.
Of course, online games hold the potential to be socially advantageous for shy individuals by allowing them to overcome their traditional social difficulties and generate new friendships.
For example, they can play video games without turning on their camera, giving them privacy but also a way to interact with others. They can also access online casino games such as poker, blackjack, roulette and slots, participating in a shared environment without pressure. Most of these platforms include chat features, allowing players to chime in when they want. Social media has enhanced this by providing additional spaces outside the game itself. Players can connect through forum discussions and online communities, building friendships based on their common interests.
What does social media generate in gaming?
With social media comes a vast number of its users and therefore it generates a lot of traffic to try out the gaming space. This is down to the advertisement element on social media. It has become a large part of social media sites and when it comes to gaming, their advertisements get significant exposure as their ads can be targeted, and their campaigns can go viral. They are highly utilizing as well for developers to gather data on their audiences. This helps them with their market research and can help them cater to their games and marketing schemes to better suit their audiences and potentially grow their player base.
Social media has changed the perception of gaming in the public sense as it has framed gaming as a mainstream form of entertainment rather than a solitary endeavor, helping to break stereotypes around gaming and encouraging more people to participate. On social media platforms, tournaments centered around gaming are widely advertised through event pages and sponsored posts, making them visible to both casual and experienced players. This has normalized the participation of gamers of all ages. It has also become a more inclusive space with women being interviewed and spotlighted with their skills and achievements in gaming, encouraging those who previously viewed gaming as a male only activity to join in.
The growing presence of gaming streamers has also changed the way people are engaging with gaming. This has been amplified by social media platforms like Twitch and TikTok which allows streamers to connect directly with their audiences by playing games in popular genres such as action-packed shooters or strategy based games. There are also more social media posts popping up discussing the rise of these streamers and how they have made a viable career path from gaming and sharing their gameplay. For the younger generations, this visibility has made gaming feel more accessible, allowing them to consider gaming content creation as a potential career path.
Social media’s influence on the gaming industry has revolutionized the way developers get their games out to their audience. Also gaming research on their audience to better improve their internal strategies when it comes to both creating a game and advertising it. Social media is for the people and helps people represent themselves in different digital forms.
These industries go hand in hand and will continue to do so until something new is created. This is down to there being approximately 5.41 billion people using some sort of social media outlet. This equates to around 67% of the world population. Showing its influence and possible outreach.