Internet Safety for Kids: Social Gaming

Online gaming is a great way to connect with friends, but it also has its dark side. Children may face unpleasant situations such as cyberbullying while playing games online. In order to protect your kids, establish a dialogue with them, inform them about the potential risks and the importance of online security, and make sure that they feel comfortable coming to you whenever something worries them. Here are some useful safety tips for parents and kids regarding online gaming.

Blocking and reporting

Teach your kids to block and report players that make them feel uncomfortable. Build an atmosphere of trust to make sure they will come to you any time a red flag appears. 

Nicknames

Make sure your kids do not use their full names when playing with strangers. They should always come up with nicknames and use avatars instead of their actual photos.

Keeping personal information safe

Teach your kids not to share personal information such as addresses, phone numbers, passwords or pictures. 

Creating strong passwords

Make sure your kids understand that passwords are keys to their accounts containing personal information. They should be long and strong enough (forget using 123456!) to prevent unauthorized access. Teach your kids not to share passwords with anyone. If you’re worried that they might forget a password, make sure that you are familiar with how the account works and that you can reset it for them if they forget. Oftentimes, a parent email can be provided as a backup address for password reset features.

Software updates

Regular updates typically improve the performance of your computer and raise the level of protection against viruses, malware and other online threats. 

Parental controls

You can decide what your kids are allowed to do in the gaming environment and set limits. Such a solution doesn’t replace honest talks about online safety, but it’s a good resource to have regardless. Configure privacy settings together with your kids.

Game-check

Don’t forget to do your research. Check the reviews before downloading a new gaming software on your kids’ devices. You may also try playing the games yourself to explore their features and learn how your children experience the online environment. 

Breaks

Make sure your kids take breaks while playing and look out for early signs of addiction. If you notice that your little ones are getting too emotional about online gaming, forget to eat or don’t get enough sleep - it’s time to react.