7 risks in the world of gaming
Gaming, or playing video games, is a popular activity among children and teens. They play video games on computers, consoles, or mobile devices. These games can range from simple puzzles to complex strategy games involving many players.
Some games are played alone, some side by side sharing a gaming console, while other games allow players to connect with fellow gamers from all over the world.
Both online and offline games offer various ways to play, including single-player and multiplayer modes, with the latter often involving cooperation or competition with other players online.
For many children, gaming is not just a hobby but a significant part of their social life, where they interact with friends both in and outside the game.
Besides entertainment, in many cases, the social aspect of gaming is the reason why kids play video games in the first place.
While there can be many benefits of video games for children, there are also several aspects of gaming that parents should be mindful of.
To ensure a positive impact of gaming on children, parents of young gamers should teach their kids how to navigate these 7 pitfalls of the gaming world.
1. Gaming communities and online communication
Although games can be a source of social interaction and gaming communities can offer valuable support and foster true friendships, they can also be a platform for bullying or unwanted contact from strangers.
To ensure online gaming safety for kids, it's important to be aware of the extent to which and how children interact with others in the game and ensure that it takes place in a safe environment.
Many games offer the ability to talk or chat while playing, either with friends or unknown players on the platform. Unfortunately, online multiplayer games are a favoured location for online predators looking for their next victim.
So, if you are wondering how to keep kids safe in online games, it is first of all advised that younger children don’t interact with strangers when playing online.
Privacy settings can be adjusted to fit the age and maturity of the player to prevent kids talking to strangers online and ensure gaming chat safety.
Kids also need to be guided in how they themselves can contribute to a positive atmosphere online when communicating. Especially when communication happens in chats with strangers, misunderstandings happen easily, and empathy can be challenged.
Parents of both boys and girls should also be aware that girls, especially, can experience discrimination or bullying from gaming communities. Parents can play an important role in making sure that girls are supported and protected in the gaming world.
2. Microtransactions
Many games offer the option to buy virtual currency to spend in the game or to purchase virtual items such as skins, loot boxes, and battle passes.
This can result in kids spending money on games, and sometimes more than parents would like.
Is spending money on games bad, or can it be a way to teach budgeting? The answer is both. Without limitations, microtransactions and spending in video games can easily get out of hand.
However, there can also be a benefit to allow your child a limited amount of virtual currency on their gaming account. It can be a way for them to learn how to budget with their resources and cope with the limitations when they can't access or acquire every cool object they desire in the game.
We can use this as an opportunity to talk to our children about the importance of healthy spending habits and how to cope with feelings of pressure to buy virtual accessories to fit in.
Game settings and parental control can be a way for how to stop kids from buying in-game items on their own. Be very mindful that your payment details are not stored on the gaming account from a previous purchase.
Some parents have learned this the costly way, finding that thousands of dollars have been withdrawn from their account after their child saw the opportunity to go on a virtual spending spree.
3. Gambling elements
There are some online games with gambling features that parents should be aware of. This is especially the case with games where skin trading is common, such as Counter-Strike.
The gambling element comes in when games offer the possibility to buy so-called ‘loot boxes’ or something similar, when you take the chance to buy random virtual items, such as skins, for your game for a small amount.
There is a minor chance that you might receive rare or valuable items that you can then sell to earn virtual or real money. For some kids, it can be tempting to try again and again, hoping for a lucky outcome. They might see it as a risky way to make a profit.
So, to what extent are loot boxes gambling? And should parents be worried about video games teaching gambling to kids? Of course, these features can turn into a kind of ‘kids gambling’ in video games if they get out of hand, but when used with care and balance, the games can still be enjoyed healthily.
Instead, we can see it as a unique opportunity to talk with our kids about how to resist the temptation of a quick win. In addition, we can help kids get an insight into how these features are designed as a way for the game creators to make money, and not the other way around.
4. Screen time
‘How to limit screen time for kids without power battles or conflict?’ This is the million-dollar question we are all looking for the answer to when we feel our child is spending too much time gaming.
To get an idea about how much video game time is too much, we can look at screen time guidelines by age to, first of all, know the official age-appropriate screen time limit.
Second, we need to assess what fits our child. Every child is unique, and how they use the screen and react to the content can vary. We have to be sure they keep a balanced life, with versatile activities, fulfilling relationships, physical activity, and getting enough sleep.
Balancing gaming with other activities is crucial, as well as being critical about what type of content and games our kids engage with when they are on the screen.
5. Understanding business models
Knowledge is power, and teaching how video games make money from kids is the key to making sure your child is not controlled by the screen and manipulating features in the game design.
Having these discussions will spark their critical thinking and help them understand the mechanisms at play when they feel pulled to spend money buying virtual items in the game, or find it hard to turn off the screen.
Advertising in kids' games is another way companies make money from children's video games. Many games targeting kids with ads promote themselves as free. However, instead, children will pay to play the game with the time they spend watching commercials.
There are plenty of kid games without ads. Usually, free games have more commercials, while games you have paid for are without advertisements.
6. Inappropriate content
When our kids love gaming, we must be mindful that not all video games are equally good for all kids. It’s a good idea to be curious about what’s on the screen and how the content of the game affects your child.
Some scary video games for kids might be okay for some children, while others would be too affected. Some kids need to be careful with very stimulating, stressful games with high intensity and time pressure.
Be aware that your child is playing age-appropriate video games that don’t leave them scared, overstimulated, or tense after playing.
We also need to accept that not all parents agree on what they consider age-appropriate games for kids. Each family can have different rules around what games their child can play, which is something to consider when your child is going on a playdate or having friends over.
It can be a good idea for parents to agree on which games they are comfortable with on playdates.
Besides checking official age limits, we should also note that some games do not have an official age limit for video game content for children. For example, Roblox consists of a large collection of very different games created by other users with no official age limits other than the ones the creators have added themselves.
Some games can be very scary or violent, while others can be full of commercials. Some are very hectic and stressful to keep up with, with fast and changing images and time pressure, not suitable for playing for long periods.
If you haven't tried the game yourself, a great way to get a nuanced insight into whether a game is suitable for your child is to check online reviews or a video game guide for parents, to hear what other users and parents share about their experience.
7. Addictive elements
Some games are designed to be addictive and hard to let go of, with elements that purposely make it difficult to end the game and keep users playing longer than intended.
It’s in the platform's interest to keep the user engaged as much as possible, and for some games, retaining attention means that the player will stay to watch commercials during the game.
Whether retaining features or not, video games are created for entertainment and can have a stimulating effect on the brain, which is why gaming can be addictive for kids in some cases.
Signs and symptoms of video game addiction in children can look like:
- Losing interest in activities they used to love
- Being more isolated and avoiding friends to play video games
- Hiding how much time they spend on video games
- Having strong reactions like anger or anxiety when they are not able to play
- Not being able to cut down on playing despite the negative effects that video games have on their life.
If you suspect your child might be addicted to video games, it’s crucial to get the right help by contacting your healthcare provider for a professional assessment and treatment.
