As children and young people are increasingly immersed in interactive worlds, especially in the online gaming universe, global studies indicate that a child can spend even more time, money, and experience more anxiety than a professional gambler. Faced with this scenario, Vivo (the commercial brand of telecommunications company Telefônica Brasil) and the Africa Creative agency, with the technical support of the Regional Psychology Council of São Paulo (CRP-SP), have created a platform aimed at creating more conscious consumption of online games by younger audiences.
The online platform, named Vegas Generation, was created to help parents, guardians, caregivers, and educators promote a more healthy, responsible approach to children’s online gaming activity. Vegas Generation serves as a clear guide that can help detect problematic usage of online games by children, something that has concerned parents, caregivers, educators, and young people’s advocates around the world. Additionally, Vegas Generation’s platform provides caregivers with access to relevant information on the subject. While video games can be a source of entertainment and learning for youngsters, it’s important to raise awareness about the pitfalls as well, promoting healthy and responsible involvement in gaming.
Helping to raise such awareness–of the problem and the new website designed to help deal with it–is this “Vegas Generation” video from Africa Creative, directed by Vellas and Rafa Di Celio via production company Saigon Filmes. The piece underscores that the stakes are quite high when it comes to online gaming for kids.
“Ideating this project alongside Vivo has been a tremendous source of pride for me and for Africa Creative. As a father, I couldn’t help but worry about children and teenagers who are increasingly absorbed within the gaming universe. It is crucial to use all of Africa Creative’s and Vivo’s influence to help families improve in this situation in the best possible way: with accurate and actionable information. New times call for new discussions: we need to use creativity to support social good and keep up with digital trends,” commented Sergio Gordilho, co-president and chief creative officer of Africa Creative.
All content production of the platform and support were done in partnership with Luiza Brandão, a psychologist specializing in children and adolescent behavior, who has been assisting families facing this problem for seven years. As part of her investigation into the problems of kids and gaming, Brandão wrote an article for her postgraduate degree in clinical psychology at the University of São Paulo (USP) on factors associated with the misuse of video games among Brazilian teenagers.
