11 Feb Safer Internet Day: Top 5 Tips for Safe Gaming
Xbox and Minecraft’s Initiative: Sharing “Top 5 Tips for Safe Gaming” to support families in Australia and New Zealand.
Safer Internet Day & Online Gaming Safety
High Gaming Engagement:
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- Australia: 89% of children (8-17) play online; 40% interact with strangers.
- New Zealand: 80% of children (8-17) engage in online gaming.
Safety Concerns:
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- Australia: 40% of children (8-12) and 44% of teens (13-17) experience bullying or hate speech.
- Over 50% of teen gamers encounter harmful content.
- New Zealand: Half of teenagers’ report conflicts over screen time.
To equip young gamers and their parents with the tools needed for a safer online experience, Minecraft has developed its “Top 5 Tips for Safe Gaming.” These tips are designed to empower parents and ensure a safe gaming environment for their children:
Understand Online Interactions:
- Teach children not to share personal information like their real name or address.
- Familiarize them with Minecraft’s reporting tools for inappropriate behaviour.
- Encourage open communication about any uncomfortable interactions.
- Adjust chat settings to control who can contact your child.
- This guide can help you and your child understand how to use Minecraft’s reporting tools
Set Up A Child Account:
- Use the Xbox Family Settings App to create child accounts with age restrictions.
- Customize content settings to block unsuitable games and apps.
- Enable weekly activity reports to monitor gaming habits.
- Activate the “Ask to Buy” feature for in-game purchase approvals.
- Check out this page on setting up a child account
Recognise In-Game Purchases:
- Explain the difference between virtual currency and real money.
- Set spending limits on your child’s account.
- Review purchase requests together to align with family rules.
- See here to understand how to set up approval needed for purchases
Balance Screen Time:
- Create a schedule that includes designated times for gaming, homework, and outdoor activities.
- Use tools within the Xbox Family Settings app to set playtime limits.
- Promote regular breaks during gaming sessions.
- Model balanced screen habits by engaging in non-screen activities as a family.
- Check out this guide on setting screen time limits in the Xbox Family Settings App
Build a Safe Online World:
- Help your child set up private servers to play with friends they know in real life.
- Teach them how to use moderation tools to manage player interactions.
- Organize supervised group activities within the game.
- Stay informed about the latest updates and safety features in Minecraft.
- See here for how to set up a private server
If you’re looking for more resources and tips for family gaming, visit xbox.com/family. You can learn more about what Xbox offers for families, including information about privacy and access to privacy tools, the Xbox Family Settings app and Community Standards.
Minecraft’s “Top 5 Tips for Safe Gaming” are summarised in this Minecraft-Top-safety-tips, download .pdf
