A Parent’s Guide to Digital Safety for Young Gamers

Online gaming is top of the list for most kids as a leisure activity in the modern world.

While games provide a social opportunity and teach problem-solving skills as well as entertain them, it is not without risks.

As parents, it can be tough to protect a child from virtual risks such as cyberthreats, exposure to indecent materials, and online predators. There is a lot to contend with, and it is a genuine concern.

Today we’ll talk you through some of the risks your kids can potentially encounter and how best to protect them and keep their gaming experiences safe as well as fun.

Online Gaming Risks for Children: An Overview

We all want to safeguard our children but we don’t want them to miss out. Keeping them safe while they game like the rest of their peers requires safety measures but before we delve into them parents first need to understand what they are up against.

Worryingly, as many as 72% of children worldwide have experienced at least one type of cyberthreat. Whether it is cyberbullying, digital identity theft, or exposure to inappropriate content, let’s discuss these dangers and address them head-on.

A Cyberbully’s Playground

Kids can be cruel, and much like the school playground, online games with chat features give bullies a screen to hide behind, and often, anonymity gives them the license to be meaner. 

Around 80% of 2- to 18-year-olds spend at least 30% of their free time gaming. So, it’s crucial to protect them during this time.

It isn’t always other children either shamefully, many gamers in general are more offensive than they might otherwise be.

The only real thing you can do is advise your kids not to chat with those they don’t know, explain that they may encounter this kind of negative behavior in others, and talk them through how to deal with it. Disabling in-game chats is a solid solution.

Digital Identity Theft & Privacy Concerns

When creating gaming accounts your children need to provide a fair bit of personal data that can become vulnerable to exploitation. Malicious actors quill often try to get ahold of this information for account access and extortion.

Strong passwords can really help to secure their access as can enabling two-factor authentication. Also, be sure to teach them not to share their account information.

Unsuitable Content

Online games typically have adverts, and the content isn’t always vetted, so in addition to foul language in chat features, your kids could potentially view inappropriate content, such as explicit material.

They may even follow these links elsewhere to potentially malicious sites. Parental control features can help with this as well as content filters.

Using Parental Controls

Fortunately, most gaming consoles PC platforms, and devices have some form of parental controls available to users to help restrict content and limit playtime.

Content Filtering

PlayStation, Xbox, and most PC gaming services have content filters to help parents restrict access to games with adult themes and keep their downtime age-appropriate.

A Screen Time Warning

The studies show that too much screen time is really harmful for younger consumers, mentally and physically. So be sure to discuss the topic with your kids to educate them on self-regulation and use parental controls to set limits.

Monitor Your Child’s Interactions

Make sure you talk through the risks of interacting with strangers online to limit them to known friends. Monitor chat logs and check their friend lists from time to time to keep an eye on their activities and prevent danger.

Safe Online Practices for Young Gamers

Another great tool in your arsenal is to empower your children to make responsible choices themselves. This starts with educating them on the dangers and encouraging safe online practices while they game.

Age-Appropriate Games

Games come with ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) ratings or some sort of classification to help parents out with selection. Explain to your kids why it is important they play things that are fit for their maturity levels.

Explain the Importance of Strong Passwords

Teach children how to create complex passwords to help prevent unauthorized access and explain why they should never share the details with anyone.

Securing Internet Connections

When our kids aren’t home they may be connecting to public Wi-Fi networks to play. This poses a risk because hackers will often try to intercept details on unsecured networks.

We recommend you keep them on a secured home internet connection and download VPN client software for additional encryption.

Further Educating Children: Online Threats

Awareness is key, as it is a preventative strategy with the right knowledge about digital threats kids can enjoy safer gaming experiences.

Scams and Phishing Attack Red Flags

Younger gamers are usually scammed via fake giveaways, such as fraudulent in-game currency or “free” downloadable content.

They may also receive phishing emails and messages with malicious links. Children should be taught that if it seems too good to be true, it probably is and how to spot these attempted attacks.

Encourage Them to Report Issues

Reporting issues is vital in helping the platforms and software developers keep the environment safe, so encourage your kids to report anything suspicious or inappropriate.

Open Communication is Key

Be black and white, instill your children with trust, and make sure they feel comfortable discussing any concerns with you surrounding their gaming experiences.

Conclusion

While the risks are very real and the statistics concerning gaming is a fun enrichment activity with social and creative benefits.

In order for it to stay a positive experience, parents have to supervise and proactively keep it safe.

The biggest tool is education. Be honest and discuss the dangers with them to instill safe gaming practices and use parental controls to secure their digital environment.