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The global video game industry is thriving, but so too are video game scams. An increasing concern is how children are becoming targets of scammers while they’re innocently playing games and interacting with people online.
Sadly, the rising potential of fraudsters targeting children has resulted in some apathy, with 30% of parents feeling that fraud is inevitable and will occur in ‘only a matter of time’, according to UK-based bank, Lloyds Bank.
Few can stop children playing online. According to research by Lloyds Bank, over half (56%) of 6–10-year-olds now play video games between six and 20 hours each week. The most common ages for children to start playing video games with parental permission are four to six years old.
If you don’t want to stop your children from playing online but you’re also worried about your child falling victim to scammers, here’s what you can do.
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Monitor your children
It may not sound like a ‘cool’ thing to do, but one way to ensure that your kids can still play while keeping them safe is to keep an eye on what they do and with whom they communicate. The cost varies, but it can range in price from R100 a month to around R250 a month.
The good news is that this can be done digitally and with minimal interference. Also, unsubscribing is relatively easy. You can just cancel the service in that specific month as you would with other apps.
‘My biggest piece of advice is to choose a service that monitors all the apps your child uses. Especially if they are a gamer, make sure that the in-game chats are also monitored – there is a risk of online grooming and bullying in the chat rooms of some games.
‘It is also a good idea to choose a monitoring service where you cannot see all the content of your child’s device, but only get alerted if there is something to worry about. This helps to build the trust relationship between parent and child,’ says Rachelle Best, CEO and Founder of FYI play it safe.
Be aware of who your child is playing with
Do you know who your child is playing with? Set ground rules and make sure they are only playing with trusted friends and relatives.
‘One of the most common parental fears is that gaming can certainly open the virtual doors to your child being exposed to cyberbullying and online predators. If your child does game then you do need to ensure that you are aware of who your child is engaging with, and that they understand the difference between the actual person and the avatar representing them,’ says Best.
Reduce their screen time
Expert recommendations about the amount of screen time to which you should be exposing your children vary. The American Academy of Paediatrics suggests time allotted should be under 60 minutes a day on school days and two hours or less on non-school days.
‘Parents also need to set the limits and ensure that their child is gaming in moderation. Warning signs are social withdrawal, secretive behaviour, and mood swings when they must stop gaming and transition to other activities,’ adds Best.
Make sure that your children are also gaming in age-appropriate games and that they get lots of breaks in between gaming.
Educate your child
If you’re going to expose your child to the online world, make sure they are educated about the benefits as well as the dangers.
‘Your child needs to know about the risks of participating in in-game chats or interacting on gaming-related messaging platforms, and together you need to agree on the best ways to keep them safe while gaming,’ says Best.
She adds: ‘Whether it is gaming or interacting on social media and other platforms, our children need to learn how to engage safely in the digital world, just as they learn to ride a bike or cross the road safely in the real world.
‘As parents we need to know the risks and then use the tools available in the online safety ecosystem to mitigate them. That way we can help our kids develop resilience and learn how to become adept, responsible digital citizens.
