Mobile Games and Mental Health
Many young adults who play mobile games report feeling more anxious or depressed than their peers. They also report feeling more isolated socially, which may explain the association between mobile game addiction and mental health. The World Health Organization has identified gaming disorder as a separate category of disease. In addition to being a calming escape, mobile games have been shown to increase moods and brain power. They also create a sense of community. However, there is some controversy regarding the potential dangers of this addiction.
For years, misconceptions about mobile games existed, from the notion that they were for kids only to the candy-crunching moms. But recent studies show that mobile games are popular amongst all age groups, including teenagers. According to the Microsoft Devices Blog, 62% of smartphone owners installed a game within a week of purchasing the device. Some experts estimate that up to 50% of all mobile game usage is spent playing them.
A study in 2011 found that mobile games were linked to higher levels of loneliness, depression, and social anxiety among male adolescents. This may be due to the fact that males who played mobile games for longer periods of time were more likely to develop these negative emotions. While this is still a small sample size, the results of this study suggest that mobile games are an important part of our society. The use of mobile games is increasing as the world moves toward a more technologically advanced lifestyle.
While this study is a positive development for the mobile gaming industry, it should be viewed with a grain of salt. The sample population was homogenous, with a significant number of middle-school students. Nevertheless, the results are not generalizable to all young adults, and further research is needed to determine whether this trend holds for all groups of youth. The benefits of mobile gaming outweigh any potential risks, making them an increasingly popular choice amongst teens.
The in-app ad format of mobile games is beneficial for both users and advertisers. It helps advertisers reach a large audience in a small space and increases their exposure. Besides promoting products, in-app advertisements can boost revenue. But it is important to note that rewarded ads can disrupt the game experience. Hence, timing is critical. Because the mobile users hate disruptive advertisements, they tend to ignore them. This is the reason why rewarded ads are important in mobile game apps.
Mobile games can be downloaded from apps stores or from mobile operators’ portals. Some are preloaded by mobile operators or OEMs. Others are side loaded with a cable or memory card. In Japan, downloadable mobile games were first commercialised in 1999. They were available on various platforms by the early 2000s and had become available in most regions by the mid-2000s. But the popularity of downloadable mobile games is not universal. It varies by country, and is largely dependent on a person’s personality, age and preferences.