Gaming online is a popular activity for children and teens. They enjoy connecting with friends, the challenges of the game, and developing skills including reasoning and problem-solving. However, ensuring online safety is crucial for young gamers and should be a priority for parents.
A recent study from the Pew Research Center reveals that 85% of U.S. teens play video games online, with about four out of ten doing so daily.
Many gamers report positive experiences while playing online and feel that the activity benefits their mental health. However, there is a downside. According to the survey, 80% of the teens surveyed believe that online harassment is a problem. Forty percent of teen gamers say they have been seriously bullied or harassed while playing online.
A newly released report from Transunion reveals that online gaming has one of the highest potentials for digital fraud as incidents are up 9% year over year. The study also found that one out of ten transactions in the gaming industry associated with online account creation were suspected as fraudulent.
The evidence is clear: teenagers are increasingly gaming online. How can parents ensure their safety? The tactics parents should use to protect their children are not much different from what they should do to protect themselves. These include:
- Be cautious with Personal Information and avoid sharing personal details like real names, location, age, or other identifying information. Use an anonymous username that doesn’t reveal any personal information. Also, monitor for oversharing on social media platforms connected to your gaming accounts.
- Review the privacy settings for your child’s gaming accounts and platforms. Limit the visibility of your child’s profile, activity, and personal information. Make the profile as private as possible to prevent unauthorized access to gaming history, location, and other sensitive data.
- Remember to use separate email and payment methods for gaming. Create a dedicated email address for gaming accounts to separate them from your primary personal or work email. Consider using virtual credit card numbers or other secure payment methods to protect your financial information when making in-game purchases. Regularly review your bank and credit card statements for any suspicious activity. Also, make sure that your child cannot make purchases without your approval.
- Parental controls are powerful tools that can enhance online safety. Explore and utilize the various parental control options for gaming platforms, devices, and internet service providers. Most gaming platforms offer built-in parental control features, allowing you to set age restrictions, limit playtime, and control in-app purchases. Familiarize yourself with these features and adjust them according to your child’s age and gaming habits. Smartphones, tablets, and gaming consoles also include parental control settings. Use these features to restrict access to inappropriate apps, websites, and content and monitor your child’s online activity.
- Scams and phishing attacks are a significant concern. Educating your teens on recognizing suspicious messages, including links sent by other gamers, is important even if they appear to be from a trusted source. Young gamers should never share account information including account passwords or other login details.
In order to ensure the safety of teens in the online gaming world, it is crucial to take proactive measures. This includes active monitoring of privacy settings, using separate emails for gaming, setting up strict parental controls, and educating teens about potential scams. Additionally, parents must actively engage in open communication about online safety and remain vigilant about the risks associated with online gaming. By taking these steps, parents can empower their teens to make smart decisions and enjoy gaming without compromising their safety.
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