The eSafety Commission is warning parents to check the online safety regulator’s Gift Guide before selecting gaming products for their children’s Christmas presents.
eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant said many parents might be using the pre-Christmas Black Friday sales to grab the latest gaming console or gaming membership for their kids.
“There are some amazing gaming products on the market that can be both educational and entertaining for children and young people,” Ms Inman Grant said.
“However, there can also be serious risks with online gaming, such as bullying, harassment and grooming on popular multiplayer and interactive games,” she said.
Ms Inman Grant said it was important to be aware of gaming subscriptions offered by consoles like Nintendo Switch and Xbox, and livestreaming platform Twitch, which might be ongoing and possibly not be age-appropriate, and options for in-app purchases could also be problematic.
“Those looking to make a purchase should do their research, including checking the product’s classification, reading reviews and encouraging children to use the ‘block and reports’ function if they come across harmful content, including abuse,” she said.
“Other factors to consider when buying online gaming-related gifts for young people include whether a platform or service allows for multiplayer functionality, like Fortnite, Steam or Minecraft, or co-mingling capabilities, which can be harmful.”
The Commissioner said it was important to consider whether the platform allowed for live-streaming capabilities, like Twitch or Discord.
“Get to know all the options and consider what gaming product is right for your child,” she said.
The Commissioner said parents and carers should also be aware that many gaming products had safety features embedded in their products and they should look out for these features before making their purchase.
“Children should know to speak to an adult immediately if they are being bullied or approached by a stranger online,” Ms Inman Grant said.
The eSafety Gift Guide can be accessed at this PS News link.
