[knollimar]

Even the types of games I believe are shifting to less third spaces. Matchmaking is replacing the MMO beginner town where a lot of the socialization happens.

I'd wager a lot of it is "to protect the kids" (read: remove socialization since platforms don't want to expend the effort to police bsd actors)

[alephnerd]

This underestimates how friendships are made by younger people even via matchmaking in lobbies depending on the game.

Heck, I have friends who are slightly younger than me who made durable friendships in League via matchmaking.

[knollimar]

I think there's no zero friendship making power, but matchmaking is certainly less.

I have online friends from matchmaking, but it's certainly much harder. I'm not underestimating it, but my language might have been too strong.

Consider the average young person's discord group.