[EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a Letter to the Editor, written and submitted by a verified resident. It represents the opinion of the author, and does not necessarily reflect the views of South King Media or its staff.]
To The Editor:
With summer break beginning for many college students across Washington, a lot of us are finally getting a chance to decompress after a demanding school year. For me, that usually means throwing on my headset, loading into a game, and hopping into Discord with friends after long nursing clinicals and study sessions.
As a nursing student, gaming has become one of the main ways I unwind and stay connected. Some nights we are playing together. Other nights we are just sitting in voice chat talking about our day while someone studies or finishes homework. What starts as gaming usually turns into community.
That is what many people misunderstand about gaming today. It is not just about staring at a screen alone. Platforms like Discord, Xbox Party Chat, Steam Chat, Twitch, and TeamSpeak have become social spaces where people build friendships and support systems outside of work or school.
That connection matters, especially for young adults facing growing levels of stress and burnout. A 2025 global “Power of Play” report found that 77% of players said gaming helps reduce stress, while 64% said it helps combat loneliness by connecting them with others.
As conversations continue in Washington around young people and online platforms, I hope people remember there are millions of students using these spaces positively every day. For many of us, gaming is not just entertainment. It is stress relief, friendship, and community all at once.
– Taylor Morgan
Burien
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