Online Games

What do I need to know about online games?

As a child, you might have played Pacman and Space Raiders on your ZX Spectrum. Now, using computers, games consoles and portable devices, your own children might be playing games like RuneScape and World of Warcraft.

Whether it’s scoring a goal or fighting against monsters, young people love interactive games. In fact, according to Ofcom, nearly three quarters of children aged 8+ have a games console, such as a PlayStation, Nintendo Wii or Xbox, in their bedroom.

The launch of Microsoft’s Kinect for Xbox 360 in late 2010 brought games to life in a new way, enabling users to control them with a wave of their hand or the sound of their voice. With more than 10 million Kinect sensor systems purchased in its first four months, the Guinness Book of Records named Kinect the fastest-selling consumer electronics device on record in March 2011.

And nowadays, it’s no longer just about one person playing against their computer. Your son or daughter might be playing against other players from around the world (in a multi-player game) – according to Ofcom, one in eight 12-15 year olds say they mostly play games with other people over the internet. Plus, if they have a portable games console (such as a PSP) or an internet-enabled mobile, they can play anywhere, any time.

Your child’s gaming experiences will generally be fun, but you should be aware of the following:

  • Some games might not be suitable for your child’s age – they might contain violent or sexually-explicit content, for example. You can find more information in our article about inappropriate and harmful content
  • If your child takes part in multi-player games on the internet (where they play against other people, potentially from all around the world) they might be at risk of hearing offensive language, being bullied or making themselves vulnerable to strangers if they give out their personal details
  • Some websites might not have the games owner’s permission to offer a game as a download so, if your son or daughter downloads from these sites, they might be breaking the law. You can find more information about downloading and copyright here
  • Playing games on the computer, consoles or other devices could result in health issues, such as discomfort in your child’s hands, arms, shoulders and neck
  • Children might spend long periods of time playing interactive games rather than taking part in other leisure activities

Many games are rated by age (eg 12+) based on the Pan-European Game Information or Entertainment Software Rating Board systems so that you can make informed decisions about the games your children play.

You can also make the most of parental controls and privacy features provided by games, internet and mobile companies to help protect young gamers. For example, you can use timers to limit the amount of time your kids spend gaming and, for live multi-player gaming, many leading providers offer reporting tools so you can notify them about disruptive or offensive behaviour from other players.

What can I do about online games?

  • Make sure your child only accesses online games that are appropriate for their age and always check the age rating on any game before buying it for your child
  • Play some of their favourite games together so you get a feel for them too
  • Set up Parental Controls based on your child’s age and maturity – but remember, they might not be 100% effective and they aren’t a substitute for parental supervision
  • Explain why they should be careful about who they trust online and encourage them to come to you if anything happens while they’re playing a game that makes them feel uncomfortable
  • Make sure they know how to make the most of privacy features built into gaming, internet and mobile services, such as using a voice mask to disguise their voice in a multi-player game or blocking other players
  • Encourage your child to not use their real name or usual email address when registering for a multi-player game
  • Explain how they should play correctly to help reduce the possibility of injuries – Microsoft offers advice on this
  • Encourage your son or daughter to take part in other activities, such as going for a bike ride or playing football, as well as playing interactive games
  • Read our downloading & copyright article so you can discuss what’s legal and safe – and what’s not – when it comes to downloading games on the internet
  • Read the other articles in the Get involved & stay in control section of this website for advice on things like cyberbullying, online grooming and addictions that might occur as a result of gaming

Where can I go for more information and support about online games?

FAQs related to this article

Find out more about Parental Controls

How old are your kids?

What you need to know to get started

  • 5-7 years old

    Technology is part of your child's life before they start primary school. They're probably using the computer, the internet and interactive TV for fun - watching programmes on the CBeebies channel and website or taking part in the Club Penguin chat rooms...but they still need adult guidance and supervision.

    Read more

  • 8-11 years old

    If you have 8-11 year old children, your house is probably full of technology - PlayStation, Nintendo, iPod...the list goes on. In fact, research shows that 8-11 year olds in the UK have an average of four media devices in their bedroom.

    This is a crucial age for young people to embrace new technologies and develop their ICT skills both at home and at school...and it's a crucial time for you to take control when they start exploring the digital world as well as the real world.

    Read more

  • 12-14 years old

    They're at secondary school and growing up fast. It's a time of change and their digital world might seem as important as the real world to them. They might spend their evenings on Bebo, Facebook or MySpace ; watching videos on YouTube and uploading their own for others to watch; or doing research for their homework.

    You want to encourage their technology and social skills, of course, so it's useful to understand what they're doing with technology and to get involved with it.

    Read more

  • 15+ years old

    Once your children are teenagers, it might be tempting to think that they're tech-savvy and dealing with everything the virtual world can throw at them. You probably watch in awe as they switch from chatting with friends on Facebook to updating their Twitter profile; playing against someone on the other side of the world on their games console to downloading music on their mobile.

    It's all great fun but, as they get older, the things you need to help them to cope with in their digital world are ever more challenging. Far from leaving them to it, you really need to keep communicating with them.

    Read more

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