Children should know about the risks of online gaming, including:
Addiction
Online gaming can be highly addictive. The World Health Organization recognized gaming disorder as an addiction in 2019.
Inappropriate content
Children may be exposed to harmful content, such as profanity, sexual content, nudity, violence, or animal cruelty.
Sharing personal information
Children should not share personal information, such as their name, age, or location, with strangers online.
Scams and fraud
Some online games involve the exchange of virtual currency or items, which can be subject to scams or fraud.
Malware
Children are more likely to accidentally initiate malware when downloading games or other applications.
Online predators
Online predators may use the internet to groom children and engage in sexual exploitation.
Cyberbullying
Children may be bullied in an excitable and aggressive environment while playing games online.
Hidden fees
Some online games use the “freemium” model, where some content is free but other portions require payment.
