The Transformation of leisure Activities among the Youth and the Influence of Online Gaming in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

This study explores the significant changes in how urban youth in Dhaka, Bangladesh spend their leisure time, prompted by technological advances and socio-economic factors. The research highlights a shift from traditional leisure activities among the children and youth to digital gaming, influenced by concerns about safety, parental focus on academic and career success, and the overall pressures of urban living. Using the Theory of Attainment, the study suggests this shift is an adaptive response to the modern urban environment, meeting essential needs for connectivity, entertainment, and security. Additionally, drawing on Benedict Anderson’s concept of “imagined communities,” the research shows how digital platforms create new forms of social interaction and community among youth, even as physical communal activities decline. The findings indicate that while traditional leisure activities are being replaced by digital ones, these virtual spaces offer alternative ways for socializing and playing, which are crucial in Dhaka’s changing urban landscape. This shift points to a broader cultural move towards digital engagement, changing how leisure and social interactions are understood and experienced. The study also explores the impact of family dynamics, where the decline of extended families and the rise of nuclear families, along with urban safety concerns, lead parents to favor digital solutions for their children’s leisure. This research sheds light on global trends in urban leisure practices, highlighting the social and cultural effects of digital leisure and its role in modern family life.