Let’s keep our kids safe gaming online!
Online gaming is one of the most popular activities for children and teens. Playing games is a great way to connect with others, express creativity, and have fun. But here’s the problem…
Not all gaming communities are as safe as they should be. In fact, 90% of adult gamers surveyed would not allow a child under 13 years old to play online multiplayer games. Let that sink in for a second. Even the most seasoned of gamers, who have likely been playing online since they were the target age group, don’t think these spaces are safe enough for kids.
Online gaming safety and community standards that put the needs of children first can help parents and gaming platforms work together to create gaming environments where all kids can succeed. The recent increased focus on platform accountability, including discussions about the Roblox sexual abuse lawsuit, have shined a light on just how important strong safety measures are to making safe and positive gaming communities.
What you’ll learn:
- The Importance of Gaming Community Safety Right Now
- Building Blocks Of Safe Gaming Communities
- The Responsibility & Accountability of Platforms
- Empowering Parents with the Right Tools
- Positive Gaming Community Culture
The Importance of Gaming Community Safety Right Now
One in three boys ages 9-12 reported having an online sexual experience in 2024. Cybercriminals are preying on young gamers like never before as well, with an observed 30% surge in attacks against young gamers in the first half of 2024 alone.
These numbers aren’t just stats on a page. They represent real children who are being exposed to very real dangers while doing something they love.
Gaming platforms have evolved into virtual communities where millions of young people spend hours each day. The social connection is real and meaningful. The risks posed by poorly moderated or supervised communities, though, can have lasting negative impacts.
Consider this:
When your child logs into a game and starts playing, they’re not just interacting with their friends. They are entering an environment where they could interact with complete strangers.
Some of those strangers will have bad intentions.
Building Safe Gaming Communities From the Ground Up
Creating a safe online environment isn’t just about barring bad actors. It takes a complete ecosystem of protective measures that function at multiple levels.
Strong Moderation Systems
Every platform needs strong moderation, including:
- Real-time monitoring of both chat and voice communications
- AI-powered detection tools that can flag concerning language or behavior
- Moderators with the training to make nuanced judgements
- Rapid response to any reported issues
But moderation tools alone won’t fix the problem. The most successful gaming communities utilize a combination of technology and clearly articulated community standards that are well-communicated to all users.
Age-Appropriate Content Controls
Not all games are appropriate for all ages. Full stop.
Platforms also need to ensure they are doing proper age verification. Accurate age gating, having specific spaces for age groups, and robust parental controls that are easy to understand and manage are key.
The difficulty? Most platforms have flailed in the past at finding the balance between accessibility and safety.
Platform Responsibility & Accountability: More Than Just Words
Let me just say this first…
Gaming companies have a responsibility to keep their youngest players safe. Period.
This isn’t optional. It is absolutely necessary.
When companies fail to put the proper safety infrastructure in place, the results can be catastrophic. This is why legal responsibility has become such a hot button issue in recent years.
But what exactly must Platforms do?
Well, it all starts with companies stepping up and:
Transparent Reporting
Parents should have a clear understanding of what safety measures are in place, and platforms need to provide these details. How many moderators are active? What is the average response time for a report? This information should be public and easy to find.
Regular Safety Audits
Safety measures should be routinely tested by independent audits. These checks help identify potential gaps before issues arise. Audits should be conducted by experts in child safety online.
Investment In Protection
Platforms making billions in revenue off of younger users need to be investing a significant percentage back into safety.
Accountability For Mistakes
When safety fails, platforms need to be held accountable for the gaps. Mistakes will happen, but accountability for those mistakes is key.
Equipping Parents With The Right Tools
One key thing about parental controls is…
They are only useful if the parents even know they exist, and even more if they know how to use them. Parental controls have traditionally been buried deep in menus where few parents even find them.
Essential Parental Control Features
Every gaming platform should offer parents and guardians:
- Time limits for playing
- Approval or blocking of specific games
- Monitoring of who their child is interacting with
- Option to disable chat features or limit chat to approved friends
- In-game purchase restrictions
- Alerts for concerning interactions
Tools alone aren’t enough, though. Parents and guardians also need to be educated.
Starting The Conversation
Safety discussions in the home should start before kids are allowed to play online, but once they do, that discussion needs to continue.
- Talk to your children about online safety often. Ask about the games they play and who they play with.
- Play with your kids. Understand their online world firsthand.
- Set clear rules around both playing time and online conduct.
- Encourage children not to feel shame or blame for reporting anything that made them uncomfortable.
- Listen when children have a concern about their gaming experiences.
Fostering Positive Gaming Community Culture
Here’s something else that makes the biggest difference…
The culture of a gaming community shapes the experience more than any safety feature could.
Encouraging Positive Behavior
Positive gaming communities don’t just happen. They are built through active efforts to:
Recognition Systems: Reward positive player behavior, like many games now have commendation systems.
Clear Consequences: All players need to clearly understand what happens when rules are broken. Consistent enforcement is important.
Player Education: Teach digital citizenship and proper online behavior to create a culture of kindness.
Combating Toxicity
Negative behavior, from hate speech to harassment, ruins gaming for everyone. Community standards need to make it clear that the following behaviors will not be tolerated:
- Hate Speech & Slurs
- Bullying & Harassment
- Threats of violence
- Sexual content involving minors
- Doxxing/sharing personal information
Zero tolerance, one strike policies on these serious offenses send a clear message these actions are not welcome in these spaces.
The Responsibility Of Community Members
One final thing many people don’t think about is…
Every member of a gaming community has a role in keeping it safe.
Bystander Intervention
When players witness concerning or inappropriate behavior, they should report it immediately through in-game tools. Do not participate in that behavior or encourage it in any way. Support the person on the receiving end of harassment.
Player Behavior
Experienced players and gamers can have a role in educating newer players about appropriate etiquette and behavior. Peer-to-peer education can be more powerful than rules and policies handed down from a platform.
Wrapping Things Up
Creating safe online gaming communities isn’t the responsibility of just one group.
Platforms need to build and maintain safety infrastructure and take accountability seriously. Parents need both tools and education to keep their children safe. Gamers themselves must commit to being the positive role models their children need.
The stakes are too high for children to continue to ignore this issue. Millions of young people spend hours and hours each day playing online games. Ensuring those spaces are as safe as they can possibly be isn’t optional anymore. It’s an absolute necessity.
Online gaming has so much incredible potential to bring people from different places and walks of life together. In those spaces, we can help kids learn teamwork and collaboration, problem-solving, and even help them develop real, positive friendships.
But only if those spaces are safe. Parents, gamers, and the platforms that enable these connections all have roles in making it happen.
Platform safety measures, accountability, and transparency are essential. Involved and informed parenting can go a long way toward making sure your kids are safe online. And finally, individual gamers themselves must commit to being the kinds of positive role models our children need.
The future of online gaming depends on all of us getting this right.