Parents should be proactive and teach their children protective measures, Enough is Enough says on its website. — Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
STATEN ISLAND: While online gaming is a fun way to connect, compete and interact with others, it can also be a hunting ground for sexual predators who use the platforms to stalk and groom youth, the FBI warns.
"Online gaming gives predators a logical topic to start a conversation with their intended victims: their common interest in the game," the FBI told Enough is Enough, a national non-profit involved in the fight for Internet safety. "Predators may pose as friendly adults or age-appropriate peers to form relationships with potential victims. They often befriend children by giving them game tips or providing game currency."
But an informed, equipped parent can help create a safer and more positive online gaming experience, according to Enough is Enough, whose website, Internetsafety101.org, offers tips and explanations about the gaming world to parents.
According to the Entertainment Software Association, 64% of US households own a device used to play video games, with children and teens under 18 making up more than 28% of all gamers.
Additional dangers and issues parents should consider include: violence and sexual content often depicted in the games; the presence of cyberbullies targeting players; voice-masking technology that allows predators to disguise their real voice, and the addictive nature of online gaming, which may interfere with family interaction, homework and friendships, according to Enough is Enough.
So, what can parents do?
Parents should be proactive and teach their children protective measures, Enough is Enough says on its website.
Children and teens should be encouraged to:
— Only play and use voice chat with friends they know in real life.
— Kick out/block any players who make them feel uncomfortable.
— Never share any personally identifiable information (birthday, address, school name).
Additionally, parents should set privacy settings, age-appropriate filters and parental controls on the gaming device (or using device settings if game is accessed by an app).
Parents should also learn and play the game along with their child, so they understand all the features and potential pitfalls of allowing access to the game, the organisation advises. – Staten Island Advance, N.Y./Tribune News Service
