The spread of the internet has fundamentally altered just about every aspect of modern life. It’s changed the way we work, play, shop, and talk. It’s changed some industries beyond recognition, and allowed entirely new ones to emerge, too.
Among the more obvious of these new industries has been the online gaming industry. It’s now possible to play online games of just about every conceivable kind. But doing so safely means taking a few key precautions and abiding by a few simple rules of thumb.
Protect Your Personal Information
Never hand over your personal information to a website that you don’t trust. Unscrupulous hackers might use chat rooms, emails, and even spoofed websites to trick victims into entering key details, like phone numbers, sort codes, and real names.
For example, bubble games often come equipped with chat features that allow you to connect with other players. In these cases, you should ensure conversations remain fun and that you do not reveal any personal information about yourself.
Recognise and Avoid Scams
We’ve mentioned the danger of spoofed websites and apps. But it isn’t always easy to distinguish a trustworthy site from a non-trustworthy one. Check that the website you’re using is legitimate by looking at the URL, or by navigating to the real site manually. You can protect your accounts using two-factor authentication – which in most cases means using your phone to log in whenever you’re doing so from an unfamiliar device.
Use Parental Controls and Age-Appropriate Settings
If you know that your children are going to be gaming online, then it’s worth making yourself aware of exactly the sorts of content they’re being exposed to. Even seemingly innocent games might carry a PEGI 16 rating, which might mean bad language, drug use, and violence. It’s worth making yourself aware of the PEGI rating of a given game, as well as any special content warnings attached to it.
The regulator, Ofcom, is bringing new child safety rules, which service providers are obliged to implement from 25 July.
Know How to Report and Block Harmful Behaviour
Of course, in gaming environments where you’re exposed to other players, there’s always the risk of bad behaviour getting in the way of a good time. Make sure, therefore, that you’re aware of the tools available to you, which might variously allow you to block, mute, or report players who aren’t abiding by the rules.
It’s also worth having a conversation with your children and making clear that they should come to you if they see anything online that confuses or upsets them. Remember that the internet can be a channel for bullying, and it’s important to take the threat seriously.
