Cyber Safety & Wellbeing
E-safety newsletter week 9 term 3
As technology forms a big part of our students' lives, we also want to share some quick advice on managing online multiplayer games from the e-safety commissioner.
How children communicate in games
Most online multiplayer games include ways to talk to others, such as through:
text or voice chat
private messages
sharing content or gifts.
Some of these types of communication have more risks than others, and some are harder to supervise.
It’s best to introduce communication in games slowly. Think about the interactions you don’t allow offline and whether, this applies online – such as regular conversations with people they haven’t met in person or private chats with adults.
While every game can have different online features, most games offer tools to limit or block communication between players.
How to use parental controls to make communication safer
Parental controls can help you choose which level of communication you are comfortable with your child having when gaming with others online. Remember, these settings can be changed and updated at any time.
Talk with your child about what parental controls you plan to use and why. This helps build trust and understanding. Ask if they have any questions or thoughts, they may have valuable insights into how they use communication features in games.
LPS recommends having open, non-punitive conversations about digital safety. Children often hide online problems or bullying because they fear their devices or games will be taken away as punishment. By discussing parental controls openly and reassuring your child that they won't lose access just for reporting an issue, you can build the trust they need to come to you when things go wrong.
Make safer communication choices together with your child
Check the game first
Read reviews and check out the The eSafety Guide to understand which communication features are present. Look for information about the game and the gaming community.
Set the rules together
Talk with your child about how they want to play and agree on what types of communication are appropriate.
While playing
Have regular conversations with your child about their experiences in games and watch them play. If you allow them to interact with the broader community (such as public chat), be sure you can observe their gameplay and interactions with others to get a better understanding of what they experiencing while they play the game.