A study conducted by Norwegian researchers has suggested children feel increasing social pressure to spend money in games.
The study, commissioned by the Norwegian government’s Ministry of Children and Family Affairs, was conducted by researchers Clara Julia Reich and Kamilla Knutsen Steinnes at Oslo Metropolitan University’s National Institute for Consumer Research.
An overview of the two resulting reports, originally written in Norwegian, by ScienceNorway.no reveals children the pair spoke to worried about being bullied and being unable to make friends unless they spent money to buy cosmetic items (thanks, Crossplay).
Reich said the children are “influenced by memes and trends on platforms like TikTok”, and also buy in-game items which “confer status” either by having better stats or brand power. “There’s no sharp distinction between their online and offline world,” Steinnes added, calling them “different parts of the social world they navigate”.