https://www.verizon.com/about/news/multiplayer-games-new-social-media
Some of the first video games would be considered archaic by today’s standards, and I’d have to agree. In the “good ole days,” my friends would come over and we’d play Pong against each other for hours. We each had our own controller and this was considered a “multiplayer game.” With advancements in technology, gaming has moved to the online world, where our kids can compete, chat with, execute strategic plans, and share experiences with their friends all at the same time. That’s why experts are saying that online gaming has become the new “social media'' platform our kids prefer. There are many reasons why it’s so appealing to kids. First of all, their parents aren’t taking over. Think about it, every time adults have entered an online world that’s primarily used by our kids, they leave. Facebook, then Instagram, and now TikTok. Parents aren’t nearly as interested in online gaming, which makes it that much more appealing. Gaming also provides connections that some kids might not get otherwise. For some kids, online gaming is a way to build relationships with friends outside the confines of school.
However, there are plenty of dangers to online gaming, which is why it’s so important to formulate some ground rules with your kids. You should start by checking the game rating. Traditional social media sites have a minimum age requirement of 13 years old; however, there are no federally mandated age restrictions for online games. If you wouldn’t take your 5 year old to see a rated R movie, you shouldn’t let your child play online games that are not appropriate for their age. You can check game ratings with the Entertainment Software Rating Board (https://www.esrb.org/ratings-guide/). If you aren’t familiar with the social aspects of online gaming, you need to know that chat rooms within the game are open to the public. That means that your kids can interact with anyone who enters that chat room. A good rule of thumb is to only allow social gaming in an area of the house that is open and visible, not behind closed doors. This allows you to check in periodically and provide some level of accountability. Another great idea is to have your kids set up a Zoom call with their friends which allows them to have multiplayer interaction without a chat room.
As with anything, you need to discuss potential dangers with online gaming. Your child should never play online games with strangers or interact with them online for any reason. Only allow kids to play with people they know in person. Warn your kids about giving out personal information online like their address, phone number, where they live or where they go to school. Online predators are skilled at getting kids to divulge this kind of information in a variety of ways. Talk to your kids about befriending strangers online and what to do if a stranger befriends them. In the digital world, online gaming is about the social interactions kids have on the gaming platform. Let your kids know your expectations and continue the conversation regarding online safety when it comes to gaming.