Let's get started...
The Digital Playground: Navigating the Hazards of Online Gaming
Online gaming has transformed the way we play, letting you compete, team up and hang out with friends and other players around the world without leaving home. For most people, gaming is fun, social and a great way to switch off. But playing online can also expose you to some risks that are worth knowing about.
Understanding the Risks
Online games range from huge multiplayer worlds to quick mobile games. They can be a brilliant way to have fun, spend time with friends, meet new people and develop new skills. But when you're playing and communicating with people online, there are some potential dangers you need to be aware of.Cyberbullying and Harassment
Unfortunately, bullying and harassment are fairly common in online gaming. Competition can sometimes bring out the worst in people, and being anonymous can make some players say things they probably wouldn't say face-to-face. You might experience insults, threats, trolling or someone deliberately trying to upset or intimidate you. None of this is something you simply have to put up with because you're gaming online.Privacy Concerns
Be careful about how much information you share while gaming. Your real name, age, school, location, phone number and social media accounts can reveal much more about you than you might realise. Someone you've played with for weeks or months can start to feel like a real friend, but unless you actually know them offline, you can't be completely certain who is behind the account.Scams and Financial Risks
Gaming can involve real money as well as virtual currencies, skins, items and other digital rewards. That also attracts scammers. Be suspicious of messages offering free currency, rare items, cheats or other advantages, especially if you're asked to click a link, enter your login details or make a payment. If an offer sounds unbelievably good, there's usually a reason.Health Implications
There's nothing wrong with spending time gaming, but very long sessions can start to affect you physically and mentally. Sitting in the same position for hours can cause eye strain, headaches and problems with your neck or back. Gaming late into the night can also seriously affect your sleep. It can become more of a problem if gaming starts replacing exercise, schoolwork, sleep or spending time with people offline.Exposure to Inappropriate Content
Depending on the games you play and the people you interact with, you could come across violent or sexual content, offensive language or extremely hostile conversations. Age ratings can give you an idea of the type of content you'll encounter, but remember that online interactions with other players are much harder for game developers to control.Keeping Yourself Safe
Knowing about the risks doesn't mean you need to stop gaming. A few simple habits can make a big difference and help you stay in control of your online experience.1. Talk About What's Happening
If something happens while you're gaming that makes you uncomfortable, worried or threatened, don't feel you have to deal with it by yourself. Talk to someone you trust, whether that's a parent, carer, teacher, older sibling or another trusted adult. This is particularly important if someone is threatening you, asking for personal information or trying to move conversations onto private messaging apps.2. Protect Your Personal Information
Think carefully before giving another player information about yourself. Avoid sharing things like your address, school, phone number or exact location. Use strong, unique passwords for gaming accounts and turn on two-factor authentication where it's available. Never give anyone your password, even if they claim they need it to give you something in a game.3. Know When to Take a Break
Gaming can make hours disappear surprisingly quickly. Take regular breaks and make sure you're still getting enough sleep, exercise and time away from a screen. If gaming starts interfering with school, relationships or other things you normally enjoy, it might be worth looking at how much time you're spending on it.4. Check Your Privacy Settings
Most games and consoles give you control over who can contact you, see your profile or send you friend requests. Take a few minutes to look through these settings rather than simply accepting the defaults. You can often restrict messages and invitations to people you already know.5. Keep Gaming Balanced
Gaming doesn't have to be either good or bad for you. What matters is the balance. Enjoy your games, but make room for other things too whether that's sport, music, seeing friends, getting outside or another hobby. Gaming should be something you enjoy rather than something you feel you have to keep doing.6. Know How to Block and Report
You don't owe another player your attention. If someone is abusive, threatening, creepy or simply won't leave you alone, you can mute or block them. Most platforms also let you report inappropriate behaviour. If something more serious has happened, save screenshots or messages where possible before blocking the person, as they could be useful if you need to show someone what happened.Conclusion
Online gaming can be a brilliant way to have fun, challenge yourself and spend time with other people. Being aware of the risks doesn't mean being scared of gaming, it means knowing how to stay in control. Protect your personal information, be cautious about who you trust, use the safety tools available to you and speak to someone if anything doesn't feel right. Gaming should be something you enjoy, and nobody online has the right to make you feel unsafe.How are you feeling?
It is really important that when we need help, we feel able to ask for it. This could be speaking to a parent, a close friend, a teacher or someone else you trust. Sometimes it can be really hard to share our feelings with other people but if we are feeling low or don't know where to turn, sharing with others is really important. Teachers will always take you seriously and listen to your problems in confidence if you approach them for help. Likewise, parents, siblings or friends will help you if you reach out to them.
If you feel like you can't speak to anyone you know, there are people and organisations that can help support you:
- Childline - Call them on 0800 1111 any time of the day or night, every day of the week
- NSPCC - Call them on 0808 800 5000 between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday or email them on help@NSPCC.org.uk
- The Samaritans – Call them on 116 123 any time of the day or night, every day of the week
- SANE – Call 0300 304 7000 for support (4:30pm - 10:30pm every day)
- Mind – Call 0300 123 3393 (9:00am - 6:00pm Monday to Friday)
*Sometimes we will use real life examples in our articles to aid understanding. When we do, names and ages will be changed.
