Leveling the playing field through Facebook: how females construct online playspaces

Abstract

As we move further into the millennium, it has become increasingly evident that computer play features prominently in the leisure activities of young people today. Although frequently characterized as a male-dominated space, recent evidence indicates that the gender gap is narrowing, particularly when considering how females engage in social networking sites (SNSs) for social and recreational purposes. This qualitative study investigates how 27 girls and young women in Hong Kong go beyond the current reading of computer gaming to establish playscapes through their communication exchanges on Facebook. By analyzing forms of ‘Facebook play’, this research offers not only new possibilities for understanding how SNSs provide a platform of digital play but also offers a venue for applying traditional theories of play in a more modern and updated context.

Keywords:

• gender
• computer games
• social networking
• Facebook

Notes

1. The total population of Hong Kong approximates 7.07 million people with females representing 53% of the total (Hong Kong Census and Statistics 2012).