Online games
Video games are popular with children of all ages, especially boys. Some games allow interactivity with other players online. Games can be educational or may be purely developed for fun. Games vary in terms of their content with some having high levels of violent or sexual content. Checking age guidelines and ratings can help to guide your child’s online game use. Advice about how to manage violent content is available in the Tips below.
Some online games encourage team work and interaction with others online. This can include adults. Teens will be best protected if they keep their personal information to themselves and don’t engage in personal conversations in online games. If children are using sites that enable direct interaction with others it is a good idea for adults to supervise their interactions and perhaps to establish rules about the information they are allowed to provide to others. Setting rules about what to do if they encounter disturbing content or contact from others is also useful.
Video – parent understanding of online games and how to manage the risks
Violent content—tips for parents of young children (PDF 92KB)
Violent content—tips for parents of older children (PDF 92KB)
Violent content—tips for parents of teenagers (PDF 91KB)