PewDiePie, Social Media and Why Video Games Can Help You Do Better at Maths - Dispatch Weekly

A new study by the RMIT University that tested more than 12,000 Australian 15 year-olds in maths, science, reading and social media habits has found that those that play video games do educationally better whereas those that used social media do worse.

Playing Video Games Makes You Smarter at Science, Maths and Reading

The study’s author, Alberto Posso (@PossoAlb), from RMIT University in Melborne, published the research in the International Journal of Communication.

He said, “The analysis shows that those students who play online video games obtain higher scores on PISA (The Programme for International Student Assessment) tests, all other things being equal.”

“Students who play online games almost every day score 15 points above the average in maths and 17 points above the average in science.”

“When you play online games you’re solving puzzles to move to the next level and that involves using some of the general knowledge and skills in maths, reading and science that you’ve been taught during the day.”

He added, “Teachers should consider incorporating popular video games into teaching.”

Social Media Makes You Worse in Maths

Whereas Video games helped with reasoning and logics, social media usage such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat made students score 20 points worse in maths than students who did not use social media sites.

In the study collected by Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Program For International student Assessment, 2012, 79 percent of students said they used social media every day.

He said, “Students who are regularly on social media are, of course, losing time that could be spent on study-but it may also indicate that they are struggling with math, reading and science and are going online to socialize instead.” 

PewDiePie, Gaming and Net Worth

Felix Kjellberg and YouTuber, PewDiePie (@PewDiePie), 26 from Gothenburg, Sweden is a gamer and comedian and also a prime example of how gaming can add to logical skills and success.

PewDiePie has a massive social following with: 45m followers on YouTube, 9.8m on Instagram, 8.3m on Twitter and 7.3m followers on Facebook.

His huge social media influence holds huge power for his target audience, a legion of ‘bros’ and is known as the legend of the bro fist since he gives a fist pump at the end of videos.

He is no doubt the biggest vlogging sensation, having amassed over 11 billion YouTube views, which has garnered him a net worth of $61m.

From 2010, when felix kjellberg first registered his PewDiePie account with Youtube, he began earning $9m a year.

From 2011 he dropped out of Chalmers University of Technology where he was studying Industrial Economics and Technology Management.

He even worked in a hot dog stand to pay for his gaming hobby. From 2012, he gained over one million YouTube subscriptions.

According to TubeMogul, the ad firm, YouTube paid $9.35 for every 1,000 views through 2012.

With 45m subscribers, he makes a large amount, enough to pay for his house in Brighton, with his Italian Girlfriend, Marzia Bisognin (@CutiePieMarzia), and their two pugs named Maya and Edgar.