Online gaming

Online games can be great fun for your child, but make sure you can help them manage the risks.

Many games can improve your child’s coordination, problem-solving and multi-tasking skills, as well as help build social skills through online interactivity with other players. But it is also important to understand what might go wrong and have a negative impact on
your child. 

How common is it?

81% of children aged 8 to 17 have played an online game

64% have played a multiplayer online game with others

52% have played with people they did not know

17% have experienced bullying or abuse while playing a network game with others

34% have made an in-game purchase and this rose to 45% when they played a network game with others

How to create a safer gaming environment for your child

Prepare

• Locate the computer or games console in an open area of your home, or if your child is playing on their handheld device, get them to do it in the family room.
• Install current security software on all devices to protect against viruses, malware and other online threats. 
• Activate parental controls and safety features on the device or in the app or browser. These controls can help restrict access to certain content and limit spending on in-game and in-app purchases.

Build good habits

• Help your child to protect their privacy online — get them to use a screen name that does not reveal their real name. 
• Teach your child not to click on links provided by strangers, like ‘cheat’ programs to help with game play, which might expose their device to viruses or malware.
• Agree on strategies to help them to switch off, like a timer that signals game time is nearly over, with consequences for not switching off.

Stay involved

• Talk regularly with your child about their gaming interests and who they play with online. Help them understand the risks.
• Play alongside your child to get a better sense of how they are handling their personal information and who they are communicating with.
• Monitor the time your child spends online and keep a look out for any changes in their activity, school or social behaviours.
• Encourage your child to tell you if they experience anything that worries them or makes them uncomfortable. 

Be aware of what they are playing

• Games vary in their level of violent or sexual content, and may contain themes, language and images that are unsuitable for your child. 
• You can check the age guidelines and classification for an individual game on its website or product packaging, or from the Australian Classification Board’s public database.
• The Australian Classification Board also has useful information on violent video games to help parents and their children decide what video games are appropriate for them.
• Useful information about games ratings can also be obtained from the Pan European Game Information (PEGI) and the US Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB).
• Review sites can also be a good source of information about age appropriate content – check out the Australian Council on Children and the Media, Kiwi Families (NZ), Common Sense Media (US), Parents’ Choice (US) and Ask About Games (UK).

Empower your child

• Wherever possible, help them make wise decisions for themselves, rather than tell them what to do. 
• Try to provide them with strategies for dealing with negative online experiences that will build their confidence and resilience.
  
  

Is your child spending too much time gaming?

There is no magic number of hours, but your child may be spending too much time playing games if their gaming starts to have negative impacts on them or your family. 

Look out for signs such as:

• less interest in social activities like meeting friends or playing sport
• not doing so well at school  
• tiredness, sleep disturbance, headaches or eye strain 
• changes in eating patterns
• reduced personal hygiene
• obsession with particular websites or games
• anger when being asked to take a break from online activity, or appearing anxious or irritable when away from the computer
• becoming withdrawn from friends and family

In some cases, setting firm limits as a family may be enough to help address too much gaming. But there may also be underlying problems like depression and anxiety that are linked to problematic internet use.