A key aspect in actually “coming down” to PC cafes is the in-person element, with its attendant social benefits.
Research has found that proximity and easy access to gaming devices, for instance in the bedroom, can be a potential risk factor contributing to youths developing excessive gaming habits, compared to having such devices in common areas.
Dr Choo Hyekyung, a youth gaming researcher who conducted the study with her team, said PC cafes on the other hand can help youths – and for that matter, seniors as well – gel over shared interests, and build and strengthen friendships both offline and online.
That’s not to say that overly frequent visits won’t lead to problematic gaming habits.
Youths should thus strike a delicate balance by approaching visits to PC cafes as opportunities to interact face-to-face with fellow gamers, rather than focusing solely on the gaming itself, said Dr Choo, an associate professor in the department of social work at the National University of Singapore.
