A recent study indicates that young male gamers in the UK are twice as likely to believe conspiracy theories when compared to the general population of the country. This finding comes from a report by the research firm More in Common and The AKO Storytelling Institute at the University of Arts London.
The study aimed to explore whether video games could serve as a conduit to reach individuals who may have disengaged from mainstream media and instead consume misinformation. Intriguingly, the segment of gamers who most strongly agreed with the notion that "secret groups are controlling global events" also expressed greater confidence in their ability to identify misinformation.
The research polled 2,000 British men aged 18 to 24, a demographic identified as "Sceptical Scrollers." This group constitutes 10% of the UK population and tends to have lower incomes, higher rates of debt, and are more likely to reside in social housing within their hometowns. These individuals are less likely to consume traditional media like terrestrial television, radio, or newspapers, instead relying on sources such as YouTube, podcasts, and social media for news and information. Notably, this demographic engages with video games more frequently than other groups.
The study's findings on whether video games can be utilized to influence this group's beliefs were mixed. The participants valued video games as an escape and a space perceived as "free of political ideology," preferring them as an alternative to their lived realities and wishing to maintain this separation. When presented with games designed with subtle messages about manipulation or susceptibility to misinformation, some participants reported feeling betrayed once the games' purpose was revealed.
While direct intervention through games designed to counter conspiracy theories may not be effective, the study does suggest that video games can be a positive influence for this disenfranchised group, providing a sense of common ground. The report implies that games fostering critical thinking skills, such as social deduction games like Among Us or simulation titles like Papers, Please, could still be beneficial, even if the "Sceptical Scrollers" are not inclined to play games explicitly designed to challenge conspiracy theories.