I wonder how many social media users feel adressed by this video. It doesn’t provoke me at all and I use facebook, twitter, linkedin etc. both professionally and personally. I feel that this anti-social media sentiment mostly stems from not knowing how you can put it to good use.

Source: vimeo.com

As a thirty-someting gamer and father of 2 boys I can really relate to this. On the one hand it strengthens me in my belief that my kids playing these silly videogames is not a bad thing, even a good thing. On the other hand it worries me that escapism could lurk around the corner. Something to be watchful of as a parent.

But indeed fondly remembering the uplifting moments of true teamwork and cooperative gameplay, meeting great people from the world over, even creating some deep friendships and relationships that withstand the test of time (and less frequent gaming together) is something I hope my kids will experience too.

And if they, as a byproduct, solve the problems of humanity then that’s a nice bonus.

Jane McGonigal’s book ‘The Reality is Broken’ is now available in Dutch as ‘Beter dan Echt: Hoe games ons gelukkiger, socialer en slimmer maken?’. One that is surely on my to-read list now.

Source: bright.nl