The Power of Pixels: Understanding the World of Gaming

Last Updated on 3rd September 2025

Reading Time: 5.9 mins

Published: September 3, 2025

In this ever-changing digital age, the lines between different forms of media are constantly being blurred. We’re witnessing a new era where gaming is being intertwined with other industries to engage audiences and enhance entertainment experiences like never before.

The gaming industry is thriving and constantly growing, with a fanbase and community that is arguably unmatched. In the UK, the gaming industry was worth £7.7bn in 2022, and made more money globally than the music, television and film industries combined.

Exploring Gaming Beyond Consoles

When you think of gaming, you may think of a computer, a console, or a mobile phone. However, the industry of gaming has expanded far beyond this, from establishing itself in Hollywood with highly anticipated movies to award-winning soundtracks.

Film and Television

Some of the most popular films and television shows in recent years have been based on video games, including The Last of Us, Five Nights at Freddy’s, Fallout and Borderlands. These adaptations of games stir plenty of discussions online, allowing them to reach a new audience as well as supercharging fan engagement.

Music

The mixing of the gaming and music industries has garnered significant popularity from various audiences. This has been seen most recently on Fortnite, where it hosted live virtual musical performances in-game and featured a world-famous line-up including Snoop Dogg, Ice Spice, Eminem and Juice WRLD. This online event amassed an audience of over 14 million players, breaking Fortnite’s record for an in-game concert.

Alternatively, we can see gaming soundtracks evolving from the traditional ‘pixelated’ music of 80s-esque gaming. In 2024, the Recording Academy added a new category: best score soundtrack for video games and other interactive media. Winners of the award has included Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord. This recognition of music artistry within the gaming industry is significant, with the Recording Academy stating that music is an important factor when experiencing video games.

Live Events

Gaming has further expanded into tangible real-world events, with countless conventions being held globally such as TwitchCon and Blizzcon. These events often seek to celebrate various aspects of gaming, such as cosplaying as favourite characters, listening to commentary from panels of voice actors and game creators, as well as socialising with other game fanatics.

However, when it comes to gaming and live events, the esports industry takes the lead and has boomed majorly in the UK. Valued at £111.5m in 2020 and growing significantly since, esports has opened a new door for many young gamers to use their talents and passion to play on the world stage and be watched by millions of people, both online and in-person.

Online Communities

When you think of a gamer, you probably think of the stereotype: a lonely teen gamer in their darkened room, glued to a screen and locked away from the outside world. However, this is no longer the case. Many modern gamers are actively social through many digital and in-person means, connecting through their shared interests and passionate pastimes.

Platforms like Twitch and Discord cater to people who want to discuss their passion for gaming, whether it’s sharing theories on character lore or discussions about upcoming releases. Some people will meet in these communities and become great friends even though they’re dotted around the globe and may have never actually met in-person.

What Does This Mean for Children and Young People?

Benefits

Opportunities for socialising – Gaming offers a way to build friendships for those who may struggle to do so through in-person settings.
Developing transferable skills – Teamwork, problem solving and coding are all skills that can be built through gaming.
Transforming a hobby into a career – Esports and other sectors related to gaming offer young people opportunities to pursue a career in something they enjoy.

Risks

Interaction with strangers – Due to the multiplayer element of many online games, it exposes children and young people to adults who might seek to groom or exploit them.
Exposure to harmful content – Children and young people can come across content that makes them uncomfortable or scared. This is most often when they are playing games that are not age-appropriate.
Normalising inappropriate behaviours – Other users may use language that is offensive or derogatory and this can make children and young people think that it is normal.

Top Tips for Safer Gaming

Have Open Conversations

Speak non-confrontationally and frequently to the child in your care about their gaming habits. Ask them questions like, “what games do you like to play?” and “what makes that game so fun for you?” This will foster an environment of trust, allowing them to open up to you more.

Check Game Content

Although games come with an age rating, children and young people process themes differently, depending on their abilities. Take time to look at the games they’re playing and assess if they are appropriate for the child in your care.

Teach Suitable Online Behaviour

Just like the real-world, how you act online matters! Let the child in your care know this, explaining that you shouldn’t do anything online that you wouldn’t offline. You should also practice what you preach by ensuring you behave appropriately online as children often look to their parents or carers as an example!

Utilise Parental Controls

Most gaming consoles offer settings to restrict and tailor your child’s gaming activity. Ensure you enable them effectively and monitor them.

Discuss Safety Settings

Have conversations with the child in your care about what they can do if another player makes them feel uncomfortable or upset. This includes blocking, reporting and muting other users. Also, you should ensure they know who their trusted adults are if they need to talk about something that has happened when gaming.

Set Spending Limits

Games will keep releasing new content, and children don’t need to buy everything that comes out. Explain to the child in your care that they should always ask your permission when they want to buy something and should properly consider if it is really worth the money.

Agree on Appropriate Screen Time

Come to an agreement with the child in your care about how much time they should be spending gaming. This can differ on different days, and you should consider their personal needs. For example, some children feel more comfortable socialising through gaming than in person.

Explain That Personal Information Should Stay Private

Children and young people should be taught that their personal, identifiable information is very special and should not be shared online. They should always consider why a person or platform needs their details if they are asked to share them. If they are unsure of the answer, they should ask a trusted adult for advice. This includes their full name, age, school, address, birthday and phone number.

Want to know how to make gaming safer for the children and young people in your care?

Register for the Safer Schools App today to access our library of expert safeguarding resources, including our tips and resources on gaming.

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Who are your Trusted Adults?

The Trusted Adult video explains who young people might speak to and includes examples of trusted adults, charities and organisations.

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Discussing Online Life With Your Child

Use our video for guidance and advice around constructing conversations about the online world with the children in your care.

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