Friendship, Loneliness & Belonging
Can Online Gaming Help Lonely Children Make Friends?
Yes, online gaming can help children make friends. When children share an interest in a game, they have something to talk about, work towards and enjoy together.
For children who find face-to-face social situations challenging, gaming can offer another way to connect. However, the environment and people they play with matter.
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What Are the Benefits?
Friendships often begin with shared interests. Online games give children opportunities to cooperate, solve problems, communicate and celebrate achievements together.
For some children, particularly those who experience social anxiety or communication difficulties, having a shared activity can make starting conversations feel less intimidating.
Gaming can also help children connect with peers beyond their school or neighbourhood, including those who share similar interests.
What Should Parents Consider?
Not every online gaming experience is positive.
Children may encounter bullying, exclusion, inappropriate language or unwanted contact. Some games also encourage competition or extended play, which may not suit every child.
Online friendships can be meaningful, but children still need support to recognise unhealthy interactions and maintain a balance between gaming and other activities.
What Does the Research Say?
Research from Australia's eSafety Commissioner suggests that gaming can provide valuable opportunities for social connection.
In its 2025 research into the online gaming experiences of children and young people with disability, 63% reported that gaming helped them feel socially connected.
This is encouraging evidence, although it does not mean every child will benefit or that gaming automatically leads to lasting friendships.
How Does FriendWorX Approach This?
FriendWorX uses cooperative gaming to create structured opportunities for children to connect.
Participants join small, age-matched groups of up to four young people, supported by an adult Guide.
The focus is on shared activities, communication and building familiarity over recurring sessions.
Participants use gaming identities that do not reveal their appearance or full names to other players, helping reduce opportunities for appearance-based judgement.
Sessions last up to 90 minutes, with parents remaining responsible for gaming time outside FriendWorX.
What Can Parents Do?
Encourage your child to play games that involve cooperation rather than competition alone.
Ask who they enjoy playing with, how other players treat them and whether they feel included.
Look for gaming environments with appropriate supervision, clear expectations and opportunities to play with familiar peers.
Sources and Further Reading
- It's more than fun and games: The online gaming experiences of children and young people with disability (Australian eSafety Commissioner, 2025)
- More than 40 percent of young Aussies are lonely as experts call for national loneliness strategy (University of Sydney, 2025)