10 Online Safety Tips for Gaming National Cybersecurity Alliance

It is commonly used in everyday language, particularly by concerned parents, educators, or the media, and does not have a standardized definition or recognized medical criteria. If kids play online, that is a pornographer’s heyday for marketing, grooming and hooking young consumers. Additionally, online multiplayer games often lack sufficient moderation, allowing inappropriate language, behaviors, and even predatory interactions to occur.
AI-driven recommendation systems (like in chat or game suggestions) can inadvertently expose children to inappropriate content or conversations that are not age-appropriate. Artificial intelligence (AI) can pose several risks to children who engage in online gaming. There is growing concern about the presence of sex and hypersexualized content in online games played by children.
Find out how children and young people socialise online and what to be aware of. Community is one of the many reasons that players choose to engage with different games for hours on end. Many players also use it as an opportunity to compete and socialise with others whether it be in person or online. Depending on the type of game, it can also offer players a platform where they can be imaginative and explore their own creativity. Usually there is a degree of skill involved that players need to develop in order to progress.

Recognize phishing and social engineering

We recommend keeping your gaming hardware and software as updated as possible. Before downloading any new gaming app on your device, make sure it’s legitimate. And, yes, you should have a unique password for each online account. Remember, though, that you shouldn’t lower your cybersecurity defenses just because you’re racking up points. Remember, technology tools are not a substitute for parental supervision as determined kids can usually find a work-around. You can help make their gaming experience safe, friendly, playbunny and even educational by learning about the gaming community, checking game ratings, and using built-in privacy and safety tools available in most games.

Top tips to help kids have a safer gaming experience

Help children use gaming as a way to build on their skills and have fun in a safer way. As soon as you get a new gaming console or try out a new game, open its privacy and security settings. Are you suiting up and playing with people you don’t know? 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? 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.
This means that if your child browses the console store, they can only access appropriate games. Popular video games consoles, including PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo, let you customise access to content based on age. Limit your child’s access to games which are rated well above their age. Use device settings as well as in-game controls to help manage your child’s safety. Games where users communicate with each other generally have tools to block and report users. Make sure your child knows that a friend will never pressure them to share information or content that makes them uncomfortable.

Protect what you share on social media

• Reviewing your privacy settings is a quick, high-value task — set profiles to private where possible, and avoid posting real-time location information publicly.
• AI-powered algorithms are often used in games to enhance user engagement, which can lead to addictive behaviors, especially in children whose self-regulation skills are still developing.
• This digital dependency bears striking similarities to substance abuse, providing both temporary relief and the risk of dangerous dependence.
• However, several concerns have emerged of which parents should be aware of as games become more realistic and playing partners can include anonymous strangers engaging in unmoderated chats.
• Set controls on the console, platform or app your child plays video games on.
• It is commonly used in everyday language, particularly by concerned parents, educators, or the media, and does not have a standardized definition or recognized medical criteria.

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. Many of these games, while seemingly age-appropriate on the surface, contain avatars, dialogue, or user-generated content that promote unrealistic and often adult-themed depictions of sexuality. The anonymity and lack of supervision in many online games makes them prime hunting grounds for predators looking to target vulnerable children. Online games allow for a high degree of interactivity, where players can directly impact the game world and outcomes through their actions. 84% of teens say they have or have access to a game console at home.90% say they play video games of any kind (whether on a computer, game console or cellphone).

Sexualized Content & Gaming

• 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.
• For everyday home browsing, strong passwords, MFA, and updated software matter more.
• Parents should also watch for emotional or behavioral changes, as gaming addiction can sometimes be linked to anxiety, depression, or social withdrawal.
• Ask about the friends they play with — are they friends from school or did they meet in the game?
• Attackers use publicly available information to make phishing attempts more convincing and to answer account-recovery security questions.
• Software updates aren’t just new features — they frequently patch security vulnerabilities that are actively being exploited.

In some instances, it can even lead towards more radical content off platform. As it is in the real world, gaming communities can range from supportive and educational, to toxic and harmful. Some games have rich storylines and memorable characters that can elevate the experience beyond gameplay. Unlike many other forms of media, gaming brings a sense of challenge to the player. Gaming is always looking todevelop, often improving on graphical features, accessibility and user engagement as years go by.

Flip on MFA

However, several concerns have emerged of which parents should be aware of as games become more realistic and playing partners can include anonymous strangers engaging in unmoderated chats. 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. Reviewing your privacy settings is a quick, high-value task — set profiles to private where possible, and avoid posting real-time location information publicly. You can naturally develop a child’s digital resilience through regular conversations like those outlined above. If gaming starts to get in the way of other activities, it’s time to revisit the boundaries you set. So, it’s important to read up on the games they want to play before allowing access.
Parents and caregivers need to be proactive and informed before allowing children and youth to take part in online gaming. Lastly, VR gaming typically involves physical movement, which, while beneficial for exercise, can increase the risk of injury if children aren’t properly monitored or if the play area isn’t safe. 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. 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. If a child has already developed signs of this disorder, it’s crucial for parents to respond with empathy rather than anger.