The Impact of Digital Play: Unlocking the Conversation for a Healthier Future
In today's digital age, the role of video games and online play is a topic that demands our attention. With the World Health Organization (WHO) placing a new focus on social health, it's time to delve into the complex relationship between digital play and our overall well-being.
But here's where it gets controversial... while video games have become an integral part of many people's lives, the evidence surrounding their impact on social connection, isolation, and loneliness is limited and often conflicting. This is where our conversation begins.
On January 14, 2026, the WHO's Frontier Technologies and AI Unit, in collaboration with the social connection team, will host a public webinar to address these very issues. The aim? To spark a global dialogue on the importance of social connection and its role as a key determinant of health.
This webinar is not about reaching definitive conclusions. Instead, it's an open invitation to explore the existing and emerging evidence on digital play, and to consider how we can shape healthier digital environments.
Objectives:
- Share insights from WHO's research on social connection and the current understanding of digital technologies' impact on social interaction.
- Highlight social health as a critical dimension when assessing the potential benefits and harms of video gameplay, alongside physical and mental health considerations.
- Reflect on the broader public health implications of video games, including physical activity, mental health, gaming disorders, and the influence of commercial determinants.
- Identify knowledge gaps and generate ideas for future research and policy development.
Background:
The WHO Commission on Social Connection released a groundbreaking report in June 2025, shedding light on social isolation and loneliness as significant public health concerns with detrimental effects on overall health and well-being. Interestingly, while the growing concern over digital technologies has brought loneliness to the forefront, the evidence linking digital technologies, including video games, to social connection is still evolving.
Other initiatives, such as the Lancet Commission's investigation into problematic internet usage and WHO's recognition of gaming disorder in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), further emphasize the need for comprehensive research in this area.
Video games, as one of the largest digital communities and industries globally, warrant our attention and high-quality scientific inquiry into their impact on health and well-being. Emerging technologies like virtual reality and artificial intelligence add another layer of complexity, potentially increasing both opportunities and risks for physical, mental, and social health.
During this webinar, we will explore how various stakeholders can contribute to a deeper understanding, grounded in robust science and evidence, of how individuals can engage with the digital video game space in ways that promote health, maximize benefits, and minimize risks. This includes considering population-based prevention strategies and learning from frameworks related to commercial determinants of health and mental health.
As part of WHO's commitment to engaging with people in their digital spaces, this webinar is a crucial step towards understanding the intersection of video games, their communities, and the video game industry's commercial interests with social connection. By doing so, we can shape future approaches to health, well-being, and the creation of healthy digital environments.
Join us on this journey of exploration and conversation. Your insights and perspectives are invaluable as we navigate these complex issues together.
