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((NewsNation) — 85% of American teens say they play video games, and about 40% say they do so every day, according to a new Pew Research survey.
The survey of 1,423 young people aged 13 to 17 found that most saw positive aspects of the game, with some recognizing the risks.
The social aspects are the most similar. 72% say they play video games to spend time with others, and 47% say gaming has led to friendships. Additionally, more than half of respondents say games help them improve their problem-solving skills.
On the downside, 41% said playing video games disrupted their sleep. And he said 8 out of 10 think online harassment is a problem. 41% said they had been called offensive names while playing.
There's also a big difference between playing games and identifying as a “gamer.”
97% of boys say they play video games, compared to 75% of girls. However, only 17% of girls identify themselves as gamers, compared to 62% of girls.
Gender also affects play time. 61% of male girlfriends say they play games every day, compared to 22% of female girlfriends.
Game consoles and smartphones are overwhelming hardware choices. 73% said they use their PlayStation, Switch, or Xbox, and 70% said they use their smartphone. 49% said they play on a computer, 33% play on a tablet, and 24% use a virtual reality headset.
Additionally, about half of the teens surveyed said they play games on two or three different devices.
