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Your Guide to Video Game Safety for Safer Internet Day 2025

Whether you’re an eSports pro, killing a few spare minutes on your phone, or enjoying an endless fantasy realm for hours, who doesn’t love online gaming? Whether you’re a parent, guardian, teacher, coach, or community member, this knowledge helps you better support the young people around you. Every day, children navigate an increasingly complex digital world. Yes, this guide includes supportive steps and resources for families facing these challenges. This guide provides exactly what parents need to navigate these difficult conversations with confidence and care.”— Rachel R., Licensed Clinical Social Worker We’ve put together a helpful guide that covers connecting with people online, identifying grooming behavior, and covers the increasing threat of sextortion.
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. Additionally, online multiplayer games often lack sufficient moderation, allowing inappropriate language, behaviors, and even predatory interactions to occur. Installing parental control software, limiting game time, and having open conversations about online dangers are all important steps.
This exposure can have harmful effects on children’s mental and emotional development, influencing their understanding of body image, relationships, and consent at a stage when they are still forming their identities. The anonymity and lack of supervision in many online games makes them prime hunting grounds for predators looking to target vulnerable children. Visually stunning graphics, intense action sequences, and fast-paced gameplay provide a high level of sensory stimulation that captivates children and teens. Online gaming devices are just like a computer and a lot of parents don’t realize that. 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.
Safer Internet Day is a great reminder to make sure your kids are having fun and staying safe when playing video games online. Explore tech tools to help you find the right balance between engaging safeguards and building your child’s skills to use gaming features safely. Learn how to identify competition scams and get tips to help you stay safe online.

Personal wellbeing

Some games have content that might upset you or you may see something that makes you feel upset. Game ratings are another source of support for you in making healthy choices to ensure you will have a good experience gaming. Remember to be aware and tell your parents or another trusted adult if you feel upset or uncomfortable about what someone is saying to you or sending you. Some of the people you might be playing with could be older than you.

Furthermore, VR can blur the line between the virtual and real world, making it harder for children to distinguish what is real, which can lead to confusion, distress, or inappropriate behavior. Virtual Reality (VR) introduces unique risks to children who engage in online gaming. Artificial intelligence (AI) can pose several risks to children who engage in online gaming.

Share with care

• Keeping your accounts safe online is crucial for protecting your personal information from unauthorised access.
• Boundaries may need to be re-established, but it’s often more effective to gradually reduce gaming time and replace it with other engaging, real-world activities.
• Lots of games allow players to talk to one another while they play.
• 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.
• 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.

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.
“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 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.

• The right amount of game time is different for each child and family.
• This guide provides exactly what parents need to navigate these difficult conversations with confidence and care.”— Rachel R., Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• It’s also helpful to guide children toward games that have natural stopping points and avoid those designed to be endlessly engaging or addictive.
• Learn what to teach kids before giving them a phone and discover tips for parenting through online dangers.This comprehensive online grooming prevention resource is for parents with children beginning to build connections online.
• There is also the risk of AI being used to collect and analyze children’s personal data without proper consent, raising concerns about privacy and data security.

Parents and caregivers need to be proactive and informed before allowing children and youth to take part in online gaming. There is also the risk of AI being used to collect and analyze children’s personal data without proper consent, raising concerns about privacy and data security. It can also be used to create chatbots or fake profiles that mimic real people. Ultimately, the focus should be on fostering open communication, strengthening real-world connections, and supporting the child in building a healthier relationship with technology. If a child has already developed signs of this disorder, it’s crucial for parents to respond with empathy rather than anger. Teaching children to be self-aware of how gaming affects their mood and behavior can encourage healthier habits, and parents should model balanced tech use themselves to reinforce the importance of moderation.

“Tools” A Parent’s Defensive Strategy (“Technical Measures”)

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.
Thorn, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting children from sexual exploitation in the digital age, developed this guide with child safety experts. Whether you’re deciding when kids should get their first phone or how to prepare kids for online access, this guide covers essential steps. Here are some tips and resources to help you make sure your kids continue to stay safe when playing games online. 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. Keeping your accounts safe online https://lussurio.co.uk/ is crucial for protecting your personal information from unauthorised access.

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.