Gaming addiction and Executive Function

I want to share a story with you—one that may hit close to home, especially if you're navigating the challenges of raising children in today's tech-driven world.

Jack is like most kids his age—curious, energetic, and always eager to explore. 

However, there's one thing that seems to capture his attention more than anything else…the glowing screen of a tablet. 

Whether it’s playing games, watching videos, or hopping from one app to another, Jack's little world is increasingly centered around that screen.

At first, it seemed like a harmless way to get a break. 

After all, what’s wrong with a bit of entertainment, right? 

But over time, something started to change. 

Jack's parents noticed that he was becoming more irritable, especially when they tried to limit his screen time. 

The tantrums were fierce, the fights overtaking the tablet away became daily battles, and Jack seemed to struggle with tasks that required patience or focus.

What Jack’s parents didn’t realize was that his developing brain was being shaped in ways they couldn’t see. 

Executive functioning skills—like working memory, self-control, and flexible thinking—are built through activities that engage a child's mind using all of their senses. 

When a child like Jack spends too much time on technology, they miss out on these essential activities. 

That is the emphasis here - too much screen time hurts their developing brain. 

Their brains are in a crucial period of development, highly plastic, and responsive to the environment around them. 

When that environment is dominated by instant gratification and constant stimulation from screens, it can hinder their ability to develop patience, self-regulation, and problem-solving skills.

Jack's story is not unique. 

Many parents are seeing similar patterns in their children—difficulties in focusing on tasks, managing time, and transitioning between activities. 

The constant dopamine hits from screen time can create an addiction that’s hard to break, leading to meltdowns when the tablet is taken away. 

The impact extends beyond the home—children may struggle academically and socially as their underdeveloped executive functioning skills make it harder to stay organized, manage emotions, and solve problems.

But it doesn't have to be this way. 

There are steps you can take to ensure your child’s brain is developing in a balanced, healthy environment. 

Here are some suggestions from Justin Coulson

AGE RECOMMENDATIONS AND THE LAW

Time to clarify a common misconception related to cyber safety, particularly regarding the age recommendations for social media apps and children having accounts below the suggested age of 13+.

CHECK GAMING CLASSIFICATIONS HERE

The continuous assertion that it’s “illegal” for children to have such accounts is incorrect. While it may be unwise due to its impact on a child’s digital footprint and potential harm to their mental health if exposed to age-inappropriate content, possessing a social media account below the age of 13 will not lead to any legal consequences.

Most social media apps have recommended age limits, usually around 13+, with some at 17+ or 14+. It’s essential to familiarise yourself with these recommendations in the app’s terms and conditions rather than relying on app store information. Age recommendations indicate the minimum age considered appropriate for a user, based on the content and concepts within the app. 

It’s relatively easy to provide false information when signing up for social media accounts, including birthdates. However, there is a widespread misunderstanding that age recommendations have legal implications or that someone could be prosecuted for violating them. This is not the case for children.

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) is a United States federal law enacted in 1998, aimed at protecting the privacy of children under the age of 13 who use the internet. COPPA requires operators of websites, apps, and online services directed at children or knowingly collecting personal information from children under 13 to comply with specific privacy requirements.

The main provisions of COPPA include:

1. Obtaining verifiable parental consent before collecting personal information from children under 13.
2. Providing parents with the ability to review and delete their child’s personal information.
3. Implementing reasonable security measures to protect the confidentiality, security, and integrity of children’s personal information.
4. Maintaining a privacy policy that clearly explains the website or service’s practices regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of children’s personal information.

Many social media apps and websites set their minimum age requirement at 13+ to avoid the need to comply with COPPA’s strict regulations. By targeting users aged 13 and older, these platforms can collect and process personal information without the need to obtain parental consent or implement additional privacy measures specifically for younger users. This simplifies the platforms’ operations and reduces potential legal liabilities associated with COPPA compliance.While it’s not illegal for children to have these accounts, it’s risky to allow them access before they are mature enough to manage their privacy settings, choose appropriate followers, and determine suitable content to post and view.

Taken from Safe on Social with permission of the director Kirra Pendergast

Ten things to keep your Tweens safe online

When your child reaches 10 – 11yrs, they may start asking for their first smartphone and to use social media. 

Here are my tips on what to do to keep them safe.

1. If your child is hassling for a phone, make sure that you get them to do a little presentation, or write a small project sheet, on a topic of cyber safety every week in the lead up to getting their phone.

2. Think about the age recommendations; it is not illegal for a child to use social media under the age of 13yrs with their parents’ permission. But they need to remember to update their age on any site that has asked for it when they actually turn 13yrs. 

Like Facebook, for example. This way, the app will not think they are older. 

As an extreme example...if your child signs up to use Facebook when they are 10yrs, and they have to lie and say they are 13yrs...so by the time they are 15yrs if they haven’t adjusted the year they were born, the app will think they are 18yrs. 

Then they can get a Tinder account as it relies on Facebook for verification!

3. Teach your kids to think twice before they accept a friend request. Just because someone is a friend of their big brother or sister or cousin who goes to another school does not mean they should let them into their life.

4. Engage with them about their favourite social media app and get them to teach you about it so you can at least know the basics. Get them to show you how to block and report so you can be sure they know how to.

5. Be a good role model. Keep your screen time in check. There is no use banning the phones from bedrooms if you go to bed with yours each night, for example.

6. Help them to check and manage privacy settings. This is something you can do together when they are younger by making it a shared experience.

7. Think twice before “sharenting.” Do not post photos of your kids in school uniform or school events or holding certificates with their full name and school name on it. You are letting the whole world know where they go to school. This can happen by “checking in” or geotagging a school as well. 

8. Ask them first when you are about to share their photo. Let your kids be involved in the decision making on whether they are ok with you posting a photo of them or not as young as possible. This will teach them to ask others first before they post pictures as they grow up.

9. Put healthy boundaries in place. Don’t ban them from their device if they forget to do a household chore or are naughty for something totally unrelated to their device. Do not take it off them if they speak up about something that has happened online because you are scared either. This is the quickest way to drive all the conversations that you want to be having underground. 

Instead, if you have a healthy boundary like all devices are banned from the bathroom or bedroom. So then if they are caught with their device in either place, you ban them for a week. This way, they will learn that it is safe to speak up about what is going on online without punishment unless they break the rules about device use.

10. Respect the classifications. The average age of a gamer is 35yrs old. Classifications are there for a reason. It is not ok for a child under the age of 18yrs to be playing R Rated games...even with their parents!!!

 If your child is playing online games, set healthy boundaries around time playing as well. 

All of the other tips above also apply to gaming. 

Taken from www.safeonsocial.com

Protect Your Child on Roblox: The Hidden Dangers Unveiled

The topic of Roblox in the classroom and at home continues here at school and so we’re bringing your attention again to this popular and concerning game. We’ve spoken to our online safety partners, Safe on Social, to update our parent community to some disturbing updates to this game that parents should be aware of.

Safe on Social revealed to us nearly one-third of the students they’ve spoken to have been asked to be someone's boyfriend or girlfriend on Roblox! As the popularity of Roblox skyrockets, it's crucial to pause and consider the darker side of this virtual playground. 

Safe on Social is stepping up to reveal the truths behind Roblox—a platform that offers boundless fun but also presents very real dangers lurking beneath its surface.

There is a feature on Roblox we wanted to bring to your attention. Ro-Meet on Roblox isn't just a game; it's a Pandora's box of danger, masquerading as a 'friendly' chat room. Despite Roblox's claims to clamp down on stranger interaction, especially for those under 13, Ro-Meet is skirting around these controls, leaving kids wide open to potential harm.

RoZoom is also a feature similar to Zoom where strangers can chat to children. Despite Roblox's assurances of making it "extremely difficult" for strangers to contact kids, Ro-Meet is freely available in an 'All Ages' section, raising significant concerns about our children's safety online.

What can parents do? Here are some tips from Safe on Social:

●  Have honest conversations with your kids about the real dangers of talking to strangers and oversharing online. Educate them about the risks they may encounter on Roblox.

●  teach your children to question every interaction and piece of content they encounter online. Empower them to make informed decisions.

●  Monitor what your children are playing, who they're chatting with, and where they're spending their time on Roblox.

●  Activate every safety feature available on Roblox to enhance your child's online safety.

Roblox is a metaverse game offering a virtual world where users can create, explore, and interact. With millions of active experiences and user-generated content, it’s crucial to talk to young people about the platform differently. 

We should encourage kids to think of  “going to” Roblox, rather than "playing" Roblox, as playing normalises so scary behaviours happening in Roblox. 

Virtual sexual assault, child predation, adult level sexualised content, and age inappropriate experience are all over it. So we should get kids to think of Roblox like visiting a shopping centre, to emphasise the need for safety and awareness that they would use if they were in a shopping centre on their own.

By using the shopping centre analogy, kids can better understand the diverse spaces and activities within Roblox and take steps to ensure their safety and well-being.

Here are a few of the things you could  talk to your children about:

Remind kids that the goal isn’t to stop them from playing, but to teach them how to be safer.

For primary school kids, suggest using a password system with their friends to ensure they are playing with the right people. Give a friend at school a password and when they connect on chat...ask for the password...and if they don't get it right immediately stop chat.

Encourage open communication so they feel comfortable discussing their online experiences.

There are now more than 6 million experiences within Roblox and growing by the minute. There is a big problem with experiences within Roblox being labelled "all ages" when they are most certainly not appropriate for young kids. Therefore parental controls are especially failing and parents need to be more involved rather than set and forget.

When exploring in Roblox think of it as a vast shopping centre where you can explore various shops, games, and activities. 

Kids love it as they can dress up their avatars, spend Robux, and interact with different environments and people and explore. Just like in a shopping centre, they have the freedom to explore and would usually do that with an adult present, but in Roblox on their own they need to be even more aware of their surroundings. You would not drop your young child off to wander a shopping centre on their own for an hour or two...yet Roblox is the exact online equivalent. 

Social Interactions

In a shopping centre, you meet and interact with various people. Similarly, in Roblox, players chat, team up, and make friends. It’s important for kids to know who they are interacting with, just as they would in real life.

Creation and Ownership

Think of children setting up their own shops in a shopping centre. In Roblox, they can create their own games and spaces, fostering creativity. This creativity must be balanced with safety. They should always follow the rules and ensure their creations are appropriate.

Safety and Supervision

Shopping centres have security, but parents still need to watch their children. Roblox has safety features like content filters and parental controls, but parental involvement is crucial. Kids must understand that parents set rules for how they spend time on Roblox, just like they would in a shopping centre.

Financial Transactions

Kids can spend money in both a shopping centre and Roblox. In Roblox, they can buy virtual items and currency (Robux). This can also be a great learning experience where kids monitor their spending and it can teach them the value of money in both worlds. Again they need to understand the risks.

If they were in a shopping centre and a random stranger walked up and started talking to them or suggested they go somewhere else they would tell a trusted adult immediately. In Roblox being moved to another platform (Snapchat, Tiktok, Omegle, Discord etc)by another "Robloxian" may have the same risk as getting in a car and going somewhere with a complete stranger. 

If you need tips about anything else please list them below and I will start sharing these things here. 

You can find our online learning modules here 

https://www.theonlinesafetyagency.com/category/parents 

and here

https://www.theonlinesafetyagency.com/category/free

'Get Paid to Play' games can be a minefield for both adults and children. These platforms, with their promises of easy money for playing games, can be particularly seductive. As a parent, you must equip your children with the knowledge and critical thinking skills they need to discern the legitimacy of these opportunities. Here's how you can approach the conversation:

Start with Curiosity, Not Judgment

Begin by expressing genuine interest in the games your children play or are interested in. Ask them what they enjoy about gaming and if they've encountered any 'Get Paid to Play' opportunities. Starting with an open and curious approach can lead to more productive conversations than immediately expressing concern or scepticism.

Share the Appeal and the Realities

Acknowledge that earning money through gaming is exciting and could seem like a dream come true. However, it's crucial to discuss the reality that not all opportunities are as lucrative or straightforward as they appear. While some platforms may offer legitimate rewards, many are designed to exploit players' time and money.

Discuss the Importance of Research

Emphasise the importance of thorough research before engaging with any 'Get Paid to Play' platform. Guide them on how to check reviews, read terms and conditions carefully, and verify the security of payment methods. Please encourage them to look for information beyond the game's website or advertisements, such as user experiences shared on forums or social media.

Teach Them to Spot Red Flags

Discuss common red flags, such as the requirement to pay money upfront, promises of unrealistically high rewards, or lack of clear information about how earnings are calculated. Teach them the value of scepticism in the online world and the importance of questioning offers that seem too good to be true.

Teach the Value of Privacy

Stress the importance of protecting personal and financial information online. Explain that legitimate games and platforms should never require invasive amounts of personal information or payment details without offering precise, secure processing methods.

Create an Atmosphere of Open Communication

Let your children know they can come to you with questions or concerns about online gaming opportunities. Assure them that you aim to support and protect them, not to restrict their fun. Creating an environment where they feel comfortable discussing their online activities will help keep them safe.

Lead by Example

Show them how you evaluate online offers and decide what to trust online. Your approach to showing them how to legitimise online content can serve as a powerful model for your children.

https://www.safeonsocial.com/post/how-to-talk-to-kids-about-get-paid-to-play-games

ARE YOU WATCHING WHAT YOUR CHILDREN ARE DOING 

AND WHO THEY ARE TALKING TO?

KNOW ABOUT RO-MEET and ROZOOM? 

YOU NEED TO KNOW IF YOUR CHILDREN PLAY THIS 'GAME.'

Parents, brace yourselves for this shocker! Ro-Meet on Roblox isn't just a game; it's a Pandora's box of danger, masquerading as a 'friendly' chatroom. It's basically Omegle in Roblox! The tagline might as well be "Talk to strangers" ring any alarm bells?

Despite Roblox claiming to clamp down on stranger interaction, especially for those under 13, Ro-Meet is skirting around these controls. Our kids are left wide open to who knows what!

And get this—RoZoom! A Zoom in Roblox? Kids chatting to strangers face-to-face? This is not just wrong; it's terrifying.

Roblox's website says they make it "extremely difficult" for strangers to contact kids. Then what in the world is Ro-Meet doing in an 'All Ages' section?

Here's what to do

Talk!!!!

Drill into your kids the real dangers of talking to strangers and oversharing online!

Please know that kids are encountering rubbish behaviour on this game.

Watch them like a hawk!

Know what they're playing, who they're chatting with, and where they're hanging out on Roblox.

Lockdown the Controls

Activate every single safety feature. Roblox has them; make them work for you.

Boost Their Smarts

Teach them to question every interaction and piece of content.

Report, Then Report Some More

Spot something off? Report it. Keep Roblox accountable for our kids' safety.

Report to your local law enforcement if you even slightly suspect online grooming.

Please note in the screenshot below "apchat" is Snapchat - an attempt to move a child who was lying about her age straight off the platform to one that is harder to police. We see this far too often with predatory behaviour.

We've got to keep our children's online playgrounds as safe as we demand the real ones to be.

Join our webinar on Roblox March 28th more info is here:

https://www.safeonsocial.com/event-details/the-secrets-to-safeguarding-kids-on-roblox

The above information is taken from Safe on Social. 

Please if you need assistance with any online safety issues, we are here to help!

5 Tips Every Parent Needs To Know About Roblox

Roblox is a popular online gaming platform that is immensely popular with young people - and our students. The platform allows users to create, play, and share their games and experiences in 3D. Roblox is an interactive, multiplayer, user generated 3D world with over 43 million active users daily, with exactly half of those 43 million daily users aged under thirteen years. As a parent, it's essential to understand how to ensure your child's safety while they explore this virtual world. 

Here are five key tips to keep in mind: 

1. Account Safety and Settings. When setting up your child's Roblox account, prioritise safety. Avoid using real names, use an appropriate birthdate to enable relevant restrictions, provide your email address, and establish parental controls. This ensures a safer online environment for your child. 

2. Friend Requests and Chat Restrictions. Log into your child's Roblox account and access the Settings icon to limit or disable friend requests and online chat capabilities. This step helps control interactions within the platform, preventing potential exposure to inappropriate content. 

3. Active Involvement and Communication. Play Roblox with your child and learn how to block and report any inappropriate content. Encourage open conversations about their online experiences, creating a safe space for them to share thoughts and concerns. 

4. Awareness of Risks. Be aware that Roblox may contain certain instances of inappropriate content, such as avatars with explicit themes. Activate Roblox's child safety filters and monitor your child's activities on the platform to ensure their online safety. 

5. Setting Boundaries and Educating. Establish clear guidelines for when and how long your child can play Roblox. Keep gaming devices out of bedrooms or set usage curfews. Additionally, educate your child about never sharing personal information online and caution them against falling for scams promising "free robux." 

Safe on Social, CEO, Kirra Pendergast has recently directed her team, after a year of asking tens of thousands of young individuals, to cease referring to it as "playing online games", and instead start discussing "visiting places". She explains, “It's no longer just about winning points, but about spending a portion of their lives in these online environments. We need to revise the way we converse with kids about gaming risks and app usage, which would in turn alter their perspective.” 

She uses Roblox as an example. Roblox isn't simply a game, it's a platform that enables users to create and share their own games and virtual worlds, becoming the first of the metaverse games. 

Instead of saying they're "playing Roblox," I have described it as "Going to a Roblox world." "Going to Bloxburg or Brookhaven" as examples that will resonate with your kids. This language shift, she believes, has enhanced children's comprehension that they're not merely messing around in a fictitious world, but engaging in a realistic environment with tangible implications. However, parents, educators, police, and government agencies need to adopt the same language for this to work effectively. 

By eliminating the term "play", we discourage normalising activities that should not be associated with "playing" at all....ever, such as predation, sextortion, scams, and online bullying. 

Regularly staying informed about Roblox's updates, features, and changes is vital to maintaining your child's safety in this dynamic virtual world. By implementing these tips and fostering an open dialogue, you can ensure your child's enjoyable and secure experience on Roblox.