Everything has its pros and cons so as online gaming. Online gaming is an excellent source of fun and entertainment. At the same time, there are some disadvantages associated with online games, specifically for children. If you are a parent and want to protect your child from the darker aspects of gaming, this guide is for you. Here we shall discuss a few tips to protect your child from the dangers or negative impacts of online gaming.
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Malware:
It isn’t easy to distinguish genuine software from malware. There are often infected software on the play store. In order to mislead the user, the technique of the Trojan horse used to be employed. It is highly recommended to be very careful while downloading the software. Malware poses to be a legitimate application. Following are a few tricks to minimize the risk of malware:
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Reviews:
Do consider the reviews of software and news stories about recent developments of the software.
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Research:
It is recommended to research about genuine developers and make contact with legitimate software vendors.
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Online predators:
Online predators are very dangerous for children. Veteran players often trick the younger players by making a close bond with them. They pose themselves as genuine mentors to children and teenagers and collaborate with them in defeating an opponent. Such predators hypnotize the children and lure them with their gaming techniques. The most dangerous strategy online predators employ on children is to segregate them from their parents and pose themselves as the sole well-wisher of children. They make a bond with youngsters by conversing about shared interests. Children are the soft target, so they even do sexual exploitation using online modes of communication. In this way, children readily get trapped by online predators.
Check and Balance:
It is highly recommended to talk with your children about the pros and cons of online gaming and interest. Keep monitoring their activity on the internet and maintain a proper check and balance on the child while he/she plays the game.
Webcam:
With the advent of the webcam, there has been massive bullying and exploitation of children specifically. When webcam came into the industry, they were used as a peripheral device like a computer, laptop. Now with the advancement of technology, webcams are installed in smartphones, laptops, etc. There is a probability that the webcam on your device might be controlled by the attacker, and the attacker might monitor your activities.
Secure Software:
It is highly recommended to use cyber-secure software on your system. Check the default settings of the webcam if it is off or on. The best way is to use physical shields as a preventive measure in the form of tape.
Personal information:
Electronic devices like mobile, computers are often used for saving personal information. Children often play games on computers. When computers are overused, it is observed that people sell these devices to local vendor shops without deleting personal information, including documents and pictures. Such personal data can be used for nefarious designs.
Deletion of data:
Before selling any electronic device you have used for a long, it is highly recommended to wipe off all the data. There is specific software that is designed specially to remove the data permanently from the device. Do not rely on the delete or format option. Install the software to wipe off all the data from your computer permanently.
Privacy:
Online games usually ask for general information about a player, including name, address, age, etc. Children play games giving out their information without thinking of the consequences. There are many hackers in the gaming world. Hackers develop an interaction with the child and ask for more data based on the given data on the profile of a child. This data is further misused by hackers on different social media platforms for evil purposes.
Different information:
It is highly recommended to tell children that they never give out their personal information on any online platform. In the case of accounts on different gaming websites, use different names and passwords.
Cyber-bullying:
Like other fields, there is a cut-throat competition in online gaming. On one side, there are veteran players, and on the other side, there are children who are beginners and know nothing about the techniques of the game. It is observed that veteran players use to bully the inexperienced children in different ways. They try to make them feel bad about their game. Senior players tease children by using derogatory remarks and sending inappropriate messages. The child becomes an easy victim of cyberbullying and eventually gets frustrated.
Parent-child conversation:
It is recommended for parents to engage in a consistent dialogue with their children and inform them about the potential threats online games offer. Children must be aware of all the features the game offer in terms of the ‘block’ or ‘spam’ option. Also, children must be taught to take a screenshot of any offensive message or act they encounter. In order to prevent the danger of cyber-bullying, parents must develop a strong bond with their children, and they must be aware of the online activities of children.
Hidden fee:
There are some online games having hidden charges to play. They contain premium models for giving out additional benefits along with the free content. In order to gain complete access to the features and functionalities and silver prime account of the game, payment is needed. It is observed that once you have entered the credit card number while signing up for the game, you will be charged unsolicited for playing the game. Often online games require the attachment of credit card credentials to your profile.
Credit Card Credentials:
It is recommended never to give your credit card credentials on any online forum. Make sure that your child is not playing any such game which charges for additional services. If there is any subscription-based game, keep checking the bill of your credit if there is any amount you are being charged with for playing a game. If your child plays games on a tablet or smartphone, it is recommended to switch off the “in-app updates” of mobile so that your child may not activate the in-app purchases.
