For many children who are exposed to the internet early, the concept of travelling and adventure is far less romanticized and ideal like it was for many of the older generations. Simply put, being so connected with almost everything else on a virtual level has decreased the sense of wonder and curiosity about “what is out there” since all the information and answers can be found online.
Sure, we can all say that actually climbing the top of a mountain is different from seeing it in a picture, but children are also smart enough to know that the treks are often long, expensive, effort some and ultimately, full of danger that could end up badly (blame all those horror stories and real life testaments online).
And this is just the internet we are talking about. Thanks to this, we can instantly get videos and images in HD quality showing us the world as if we were really there. With the coming of 3D technology, the experience is bound to get even more immersive and it will really be hard to convince the younger generation that travelling is something that is worth the time to do.
Aside from being able to see the world online, children are also able to explore locations that are completely fictional –in the world of video games. And this is where the immersion becomes harder to beat.
Thanks to multiplayer games, there is not only a sense of exploration; there is also that fulfillment of the need to socialize –another major factor keeping children glued to the monitor. Many parent are already worried about the possible effects of social gaming for children –and unlike the scare with violent games, there is something actually real to be worried about.
Social gaming is not about changing who people are, but changing the world they prefer to be in. With games being instantly more rewarding than in real life, many would prefer to excel easily in an online community than in reality.
Tags: Internet, Internet-Addiction, travel