Young people access virtual world sites for a variety of different reasons including the following:
- Interaction with friends in a new environment and in real time and sharing interests.
- Creating and joining communities or interest groups, e.g. music, football etc., communicating thoughts and information on areas of interest through blogs, instant messaging and other tools.
- Meeting new people and eventually making new friends.
- Creating and sharing original and personal content, such as images, pictures and videos, to expand opportunities for self-expression.
- Creating, publishing and sharing music.
- Playing games
- Having their own space, even when parents and carers are present.
- Experimenting with their identity, new social spaces and boundaries.
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-Excerpted from Gauntlett, David and Lizzie Jackson, Virtual worlds - Users and producers, Case study: Adventure Rock, Communication and Media Research Institute (CAMRI), University of Westminster, UK. |
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