Most of the risks in online gaming come from chat, spending and scams, and most of them can be reduced in one evening of settings.
The 10-minute setup
- Console and PC family settings. PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo and PC platforms all have family settings to limit games by age rating, set play time and control spending.
- Chat. Limit voice and text chat to friends only, or turn it off for younger children.
- Spending. Require approval for purchases, or use gift cards with a fixed amount.
- Two-factor authentication on game and email accounts.
- Privacy. Use a gamer tag that doesn't include their real name, age or school.
Talk about the big three
- Strangers. People online aren't always who they say they are. Nobody genuine asks for photos, addresses or to move to a private app.
- Scams. "Free V-Bucks", free skins and "account checkers" are scams. Only buy in the official store.
- Speaking up. If anything feels wrong, they should tell a trusted adult straight away, and they won't be in trouble for it.
If something goes wrong
- Don't delete messages; take screenshots
- Block and report the account in the game or platform
- Change passwords if an account was compromised
- If a child is threatened or in danger, contact the police (999 in the UAE)
At Ascend, sessions are supervised, our community channels are moderated, and online safety is supported by our partner KIDAS. Everyone follows our Code of Conduct.
