One in 5 boys say their best adventures are in video games
TEENAGE boys are missing out on real-life adventures – as one in five say their most memorable experience has been during a video game, a survey has found.
A poll of youngsters found half were afraid of trying new things, with a quarter saying they prefer spending time indoors over outdoors.
The findings come at a time when increasing numbers of very young children are spending long periods of time on iPads, smartphones and computers.
Some experts have complained that parents are using electronic devices as ‘babysitters’ – and the latest statistics show this may be having an effect on outdoor play.
The survey was published by the National Citizen Service, a government- backed charity which helps youngsters take part in character-building activities in the school holidays.
Psychotherapist Dr Aaron Balick, author of The Psychodynamics of Social Networking, said: ‘There is nothing in the digital world, even virtual reality that can match the complex and multi-sensory experiences of a real-life situation.
‘ Live adventures offer the opportunity to encounter new and exciting environments where individuals engage in assessing real-world risk alongside enjoying the satisfaction of resolving physical and interpersonal challenges.’
He explained: ‘These experiences not only create lifelong memories due to the high level of emotional complexity and full five- senses engagement, but are an important part of the developmental process for encountering challenges, building resilience, and assessing risk and reward in future real-world situations.’
The study of 1,000 youngsters found that more than a quarter
‘No substitute for real experiences’
of the youngsters polled believed an online adventure was as satisfying as real life.
And a third of boys admitted most of the adventures they have had are through gaming and virtual experiences rather than in real life.
Furthermore, when the teenagers were asked their most memorable experience from the last 12 months, 27 per cent of boys said playing a new video game, 12 per cent said watching a new series on Netflix and 8 per cent even answered discovering the Faceswap app.
Explorer and NCS ambassador, Levison Wood said: ‘It’s fascinating to see this trend of younger people turning to virtual experiences to satisfy their hunger for adventure.
‘While online videos, photos, and even gaming can be a great way of seeing what’s out there and building confidence, there is no substitute for trying things out in real life.
‘We need to re- energise the next generation to get out there and start having the experiences that will change their lives before it’s too late.’
The study also polled 2,000 adults, with most claiming they were adventurous teenagers and agreed ages 15-20 were the most adventurous of their lives.
Older generations consider going on holiday for the first time without parents as one of the teenage adventures that changed their life.
Yet two thirds of adults acknowledge that today’s young people are more protected compared to the freedom they had growing up.
Some 41 per cent said that they would not let a teenager hitchhike, while 25 per cent would forbid a teenager from going away on holiday without an adult.
Meanwhile one in ten would not even allow them to get a taxi on their own.