eSMART MATTERS
GAMING
By Rowan Walker (eLearning Coordinator)
The older I get the more I am forced to accept that I can’t keep up with the pace of technology. Recently I decided to get an Xbox console after many years of not owning a video game console. While the number of games that are available can be quite overwhelming, I was struck by how many carry a restricted rating. As someone who is able to exercise discernment about the content that I consume, I find this a valuable tool to help me decide which games I want to play, but even still those games with lower ratings held surprises for me.
Having chosen a popular car racing game, one which carries a “G” rating in Australia and “E – Everyone” rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board, I soon came to find that there is no option to play this game without an active internet connection and, as far as I’ve been able to find to this point, it is not possible to play the game without “sharing” the gameplay with other players around the world. I have no control over who I am inadvertently connected with through this game, people who can contact me directly through the game. While I can choose to ignore the other players, it has led me to wonder how other users may choose to interact with each other, and particularly, how younger users might respond to contact from random individuals who appear through these shared environments.
The most important thing that we can do to prepare our children to exist in these worlds is to talk to them about what they are doing. We can arm ourselves with information about the content they are consuming and ensure that, especially young children, are only accessing content that is appropriate for their age. Taking an interest in the games that they are playing and joining them in playing the games can open wonderful opportunities to learn together and experience first-hand the potential dangers that may be hidden in these games.
For more information about ratings and things to be aware of in regard to the games your children may be playing, please refer to the following websites:
https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/gaming
https://www.classification.gov.au/classification-ratings/what-are-ratings
DIGITAL MEDIA LITERACY & SAFETY
We would like to invite families to attend an exclusive webinar supporting primary and secondary students.
WEBINAR: Digital Media Literacy & Safety (Part 1)DATE: Wednesday, 19 March 2025TIME: 7:00 pm
This presentation is Part 1 of a two-part series.
Join us for an exclusive session with two of Australia's leading experts in youth wellbeing and cybersafety, Dr Michael Carr-Gregg and Susan McLean. Gain invaluable insights on how to empower young people to navigate the online world safely and responsibly.
Topics in this session will include:
New Regulations on Social Media
Cyberbullying
Exposure to Hate Speech
