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Online Gaming 101: Risks, Safety Tips & Parent Guidance

The immersive nature of VR also heightens concerns about exposure to violent, sexual, or disturbing content, as it can feel more personal and immediate than traditional gaming. With the advent of Artificial Intelligence, I can now simply machine learn someone’s profile and groom children at mass. AI can be exploited by malicious users to create realistic deepfakes or fake profiles that deceive and potentially groom vulnerable players.
Hurtful comments online can have a real impact on your mental health — if you feel like hurting yourself, you should reach out to someone you trust immediately. We have a database with info on blocking people on a bunch of platforms. Are you suiting up and playing with people you don’t know? Think about how much personal information you provide on gaming account profiles. The more information you post, the easier it may be for a criminal to use that information to steal your identity, access your data, or commit other crimes, such as stalking.
It’s critical that parents closely monitor their children’s online activities, set strict rules, and educate them on online safety to help mitigate these risks. As entertaining as interactive gaming can be, parents should be aware that their children can speak using their own voice with strangers online. Further, online gaming incorporates the free use of video and audio chat, as well as voice-masking technology which increases new channels of access by a sexual predator to a child. However, several concerns have emerged of which parents should be aware of as games become more realistic and playing partners can include anonymous strangers engaging in unmoderated chats. Limiting your use of voice chat to only people you are friends with in the real world can help avoid any unwanted contact.

Take action: Protect your child now

In the digital age, it is so much easier for young people to connect and form relationships with individuals they only know online. “Stranger danger” is no longer a cut-and-dry piece of advice.

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The guide includes easy-to-follow discussion scripts to help you start these critical conversations. Learning about social media safety for kids is crucial in today’s connected world. These conversations may happen every day through social media, messaging, or gaming platforms.
Implementing both Safety “Rules” and Software “Tools” on all digital devices, online platforms and services used by your child will help to ensure a safer online experience for them, and peace of mind for you. These risks highlight the need for stronger safety regulations and parental oversight in AI-powered gaming environments to protect young users. Involving the child in the process of setting new routines can give them a sense of control and responsibility.

• If anyone asks you to share your password or any personal information with them, don’t send it.
• Thorn, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting children from sexual exploitation in the digital age, developed this guide with child safety experts.
• Apps, short for applications, are software-enabling tasks on computers, mobiles, tablets, or wearable devices.
• The lack of strict age verification and effective parental controls can make it difficult to shield young players from these influences, raising serious concerns about their safety and well-being in digital environments.
• And if a stranger asks you to share this information, say no.
• Yes, this guide includes supportive steps and resources for families facing these challenges.

What you’ll learn

Respect other players and don’t intentionally upset anyone in order to get ahead. It’s a good idea to be aware of some of the risks and how to keep yourself safe. Online gaming can be fun, but sometimes there are things people do that could make you feel awkward. Remember, technology tools are not a substitute for parental supervision as determined kids can usually find a work-around. Most operating systems – such as Windows (Microsoft accounts), macOS (Apple ID), Chrome OS (Chromebook accounts), and Android (Google accounts) – offer built-in parental controls, as do app stores and some routers. Parental controls should be utilized on all internet-enabled devices and platforms including desktops, laptops, gaming consoles, mobile phones, music devices and related apps.
Be wary of clicking on links or downloading anything that comes from a stranger or that you were not expecting. We recommend keeping your gaming hardware and software as updated as possible. Just because a game is available on a trusted app store, doesn’t guarantee it is a safe app to download. Here are our 10 top tips for staying safe online with a joystick, or angry bird, in your hand!

“This is a worthy mission and I feel good knowing that I can help Thorn use data and technology to protect kids.”RAJEN, SOFTWARE DEVELOPER IN ARLINGTON, VA These aren’t distant problems, they’re happening in our communities, and even in our homes. From https://lussurio.co.uk/ grooming and sextortion to AI-generated deepfake nudes, the threats are real — but so are the solutions. This resource is 100% free to help parents and caregivers navigate digital safety conversations. “As both a parent and licensed therapist, I’ve seen firsthand how digital threats affect young people’s mental health.

• Even when we’re enjoying gaming, after long periods it can impact the quality of our sleep, our moods and our balance and relationships in the real world.
• Be wary of clicking on links or downloading anything that comes from a stranger or that you were not expecting.
• Netsafe’s Youth Action Squad (YAS) empowers young people to speak up, take action and support each other on the online safety issues that affect them.
• Here are some tips and resources to help you make sure your kids continue to stay safe when playing games online.
• Gaming consoles operate much in the same way as a computer—children can log online, put on a headset, turn on a webcam, and talk to and play with any of the millions of gamers around the world.
• Just because a game is available on a trusted app store, doesn’t guarantee it is a safe app to download.

Many gaming platforms have parental controls, which can help families to manage things like stranger access and screen time limits. You should report or block other players who behave inappropriately. If anyone asks you to share your password or any personal information with them, don’t send it. Offensive and defensive strategies designed to protect the innocence and safety of children in the digital world. Be open to listening if they seem upset about something that happened while playing, and guide them to use good judgment when choosing games. Lastly, VR gaming typically involves physical movement, which, while beneficial for exercise, can increase the risk of injury if children aren’t properly monitored or if the play area isn’t safe.
I was experiencing a lot of turmoil as a fifth, sixth grader, transitioning into middle school …I found a lot of solace in online gaming… I finally met a friend, his name was Adam, I was 12 years old. Online games allow for a high degree of interactivity, where players can directly impact the game world and outcomes through their actions. 84% of teens say they have or have access to a game console at home.90% say they play video games of any kind (whether on a computer, game console or cellphone). Even if you’re in the game, somebody who has your game ID or screen name can send a text message to you and it will pop up on the screen and you can chat just like you do on a computer. More than 8 in 10 teens say they have a game console at home or have access to one, and 90% say they play video games on a computer, game console or cellphone, according to the Pew Research Center.