Children's digital playgrounds

Children and young people spend a large part of their free time in front of game consoles, laptops or smartphones. One of the main reasons for this is online games that can be played with or against other players. Fortnite, Minecraft and Roblox, to name a few, are very popular among the young generation.

The fascination of these games lies in the opportunity to interact with people from all over the world, make new friends and experience adventures together. But behind the colorful pixel world there are also dangers that parents should protect their children from.

The dark side of the online gaming world

Unfortunately, these games don't just attract harmless and playful children. There are people with evil intentions who take advantage of the anonymity and reach of the Internet to sexually harass minors. These perpetrators use chats in games like Fortnite to contact children and engage them in inappropriate conversations and actions.

This behavior is a form of sexual abuse and can have serious psychological consequences for the children affected. Despite all efforts to combat this behavior, it is almost impossible to stop it completely as perpetrators continue to find new ways to disguise their identities and circumvent the games' security measures.

Prevention and protection: the role of parents

Parents play a crucial role in protecting our children from these dangers. It is important that they are aware of the risks and take steps to protect their children. This may include restricting access to certain games, ensuring their children use chat features responsibly, and encouraging them to report suspicious behavior.

Parents should talk to their children about the risks of online gaming. Children should be told that they should never share personal information online, that they should immediately contact an adult if they engage in inappropriate behavior, and that they always have the right to leave a game if they feel uncomfortable.

Joint Effort: Game Developers and Law Enforcement

In addition to parents, game developers and law enforcement also have a great responsibility. Game developers must ensure that their platforms are safe and that they have mechanisms in place to enable rapid reporting and prosecution of harassing behavior. Law enforcement agencies must increase their efforts to combat this type of crime and bring perpetrators to justice.

Online gaming undoubtedly carries risks, especially for our youngest and most vulnerable users. However, through the joint efforts of parents, developers and law enforcement, we can ensure that our children can explore the digital world safely and worry-free.

Stay safe online: Practical tips for children and parents

Tips for children

  1. Maintain confidentiality : Never reveal personal information such as your full name, address, phone number or school in an online chat.
  2. Avoid personal conversations : Try to avoid private or emotional conversations with strangers. They may try to use this knowledge against you.
  3. Tell someone : If you feel uncomfortable or someone says inappropriate things to you, tell an adult you trust immediately.
  4. Be brave enough to say no : You never have to feel pressured to do something you don't want to. If you feel uncomfortable, you always have the right to leave a game or end a conversation.

Tips for parents

  1. Encourage communication : Talk to your child regularly about their online experiences. Encourage your child to discuss any concerns or uncomfortable situations with you.
  2. Monitor Internet Usage : Keep an eye on your child's Internet usage. Know what games your child plays and who their online friends are.
  3. Set usage times : Set clear rules for gaming and social media usage.
  4. Use safety features : Make sure you make the most of the safety and parental controls of the games and devices your child uses.
  5. Education : Educate yourself and stay up to date with the latest trends in the online world.
  6. Be a good example : Be a good role model when it comes to your own online usage. Your children learn a lot through observation.

By keeping parents and children well-informed and setting clear rules for online use, the risk of unpleasant or dangerous encounters online can be significantly reduced.

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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )