Safer Internet Day 2025

11
Feb

By Ron Curry

It’s Safer Internet Day, and here at IGEA, we are well aware that kids (and their parents and care givers) love to play games. In fact, our Australia Plays report found that 80% of Australian children play video games. Video game platforms have taken numerous steps to embed features and measures into their systems’ design to help parents and caregivers maximise children’s safety while playing games, and today is the perfect time to highlight these tools and features.

Firstly, Parental Controls: Most game platforms (e.g., Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, Apple, Google Play, Roblox, etc.) offer robust parental control settings that allow parents to manage their child’s playing experience. These controls can:

  • Limit access to age-inappropriate content: Parents can block access to games that are not suitable for their child’s age.
  • Limit screen time: Set daily or weekly limits on how long children can play.
  • Monitor online interactions: Control who, if anyone, children can communicate with online, reducing the risk of exposure to inappropriate content or interactions.
  • Manage spending: Parents can limit or block spending on new games or in-game purchases.

 
We have more details and information here.

Many games and game consoles offer numerous tools to monitor online interactions within the game’s environment to protect children and ensure that community standards for that game or platform are upheld. These tools have been designed so that players and parents can positively shape the gameplay experience. Such tools can:

  • Automatically identify and remove players: who engage in inappropriate behaviour, such as cyberbullying or harassment.
  • Report and remove: Players can report instances of inappropriate behaviour or suspected predators, which moderators can investigate and take the appropriate course of action.

 
More details and examples can be found here.

Game consoles and many popular children’s games provide educational resources for parents and children on staying safe while playing games. These resources include:

  • Guides on recognising and reporting inappropriate behaviour: Helping children understand what to look out for and how to respond.
  • Tips on protecting personal information: Teaching children the importance of not sharing personal details online.
  • Ratings from the Australian Classification Board: Most games receive a rating that provides guidance for parents about the content/themes of a game and whether they’ll be suitable.
  • Gameplay content on sites like YouTube: We recommend spending some time watching a few videos to see if the game looks appropriate for your child.

 
We recommend the following resources to parents and caregivers:

  • The eSafety Office: Excellent advice and resources across all areas of online safety.
  • Classification ratings: Help guide the decision as to a game’s suitability for the particular player. For information on Classification in Australia, including ratings for games, you can visit this
  • Taming Gaming: Provides independent and detailed information on popular video games so parents and caregivers can build a deeper understanding of the games their children are playing or would like to play.

 
And lastly, play an active role! Play and social interaction, whether physical or digital, are important elements of childhood. There is no better way to understand kids and games than watching them play or picking up a controller and playing a game with them. Not only does this improve your understanding of their digital play space, but it also allows you to connect with your child and even have some fun!

By incorporating parental control features, video game platforms create a safer environment for children to enjoy games. Parental controls, in-house moderation, and educational resources all play a crucial role in protecting young players from potential risks and ensuring they have a positive experience.