With the rise of modern technology, online gaming has also become very rampant. It has changed the way people, especially children, are spending their spare time.
There are many perks to it as it could be fun, can ease depression, and reduce stress. However, too much of something can be very dangerous. Playing too many online games also has its gray areas.
What is online gaming?
Online gaming is playing video games either primarily or partially using the internet through ubiquitous or modern gaming platforms such as PCs, mobile devices, and consoles. You can play online first-person shooters, massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG), and strategy games.
The design of online games ranges from simple text-based environments to complex graphics and virtual worlds. Furthermore, its online components within its game can be from minor features, like online leaderboards, to being part of the core gameplay, such as being able to directly play with other players.
There are so many online games that create their own online communities. On the other hand, there are also social games that integrate the players’ existing real-life communities.
However, the culture of online gaming faces huge criticisms for branding an environment that can promote cyberbullying, violence, and xenophobia. There is also this so-called gaming addiction. These are just a few of the reasons why parents are so afraid of their kids who start engaging with online gaming.
Examples of negative effects of online gaming on children
Since we are tackling online safety, let us discuss in this article the negative effects of online gaming on children. These negative effects like violence contained in the game.
The child could act violently
According to a scientific study done by Andreson and Bushman in 2001, too much exposure to the violent content of online gaming will get the child to think that it is correct. You will see that there is an increase in his or her negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Furthermore, there will also be a decrease in prosocial helping.
Moreover, according to Dmitri A. Christakis from the Seattle Children’s Research Institute, those who watch or play a lot of violent content can become immune to it. As a result, they become more inclined to act violently and will become less likely to behave empathetically.
Could experience cyberbullying
Online gaming has become a way for people to escape reality and become anonymous. However, there are people who are taking this anonymity for granted. They take advantage of this anonymity to grief other players in the game.
One way of showing this is that players block the progress of low-level players, causing their in-game character to die. Another way is that if there is a chatbox involved, other kids tend to tell a low-level player that he or she is “noob”, “cancerous”, and many more other terms that might hurt your child’s emotions.
There are also some instances where other players send hurtful and harmful messages such as “go kill yourself”, “you are not good, just die”. Furthermore, they can also spam the global chat channels with derogatory comments about their victims.
Privacy problems
It is highly encouraged that kids never use their real names as usernames or anything that might reveal the real personality of the child, such as their location or age. These are usually called Personally Identifiable Information or PII.
The reason why revealing confidential information is discouraged is because cybercriminals tend to manipulate conversations. According to US-CERT, they have the capacity to single out your child in a general chat channel then start sending him or her personal messages and ask for detailed information about your child’s personal life.
These hackers or cybercriminals can put the pieces together and penetrate your child’s social media accounts or establish new accounts. The worst case is that they can even steal or mimic an entire digital identity. This could pose a great danger to your child’s privacy.
Statistics on children playing video games
Bata Ako Ph is in partnership with the National Council for Children’s Television (NCCT) in promoting the Filipino child’s media wellbeing. NCCT conducted a research project with Far Eastern University (FEU) Manila to explore the roles of parents in mediating the use of children’s media. Bata Ako Ph was part of the regional launching of this study.
Gentallan, P.V.S., Bueno A.P.D. Hilario J.I.A., Abanto, F.L., Francisco, J.C. & Guitierrez J.P.G. (2019). The Filipino Child’s Media World: Media Consumption, Parental Mediation Strategies, and Elementary Learner’s Classroom Performance(1st ed). Pasig City: National Council for Children’s Television.
How to keep your children safe in online gaming
Now, you’re well aware of the negative effect that your children may get from playing online games. Here are some ways that you can ensure his or her safety:
Secure your child’s account information
Personal data can be found on an online account and it is a must to secure any data you put online. Your child’s account may link to information such as a home address, billing details, and even your child’s facial data.
Here are three steps to secure your child’s account. Before giving any information away, you have to know, and understand first, the purpose of the information being collected from your child’s account by websites whether it is for gaming or video streaming.
Next, is to look out for microtransactions or “in-app” purchases. Trust only supported platforms for such purchases and block off illegitimate websites that may scam you and your children off.
Lastly, do not give away personally identifiable information (PII) in any online account. PII can be used to expose and to remove the online anonymity your children should have. Such information can be sold off to criminals and exploited into crimes such as identity theft.
Cyberbullying: one of the biggest threats to children’s mental health
Due to modern technology, you can have almost everything you want in a click of a button. It brought convenience, possibilities, and advancement to society. However, everything has its flaws, and modern gadgets have their fair share of criticisms.
And these downfalls are not exclusive for adults only; children can largely be affected if we don’t do something about it immediately.
Instant messaging and sharing apps like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Snapchat enable people to be connected more than ever. In a small amount of time, you can know your friends’ activities and what they’re saying about their school or family, or to you.
What if one day someone shares a lie and hurtful comments to shame or embarrass you? And then many people seemed to enjoy it and continue sharing it with everybody else? It’s a terrifying situation to imagine.
But many children and teens are experiencing this dilemma in modern times. If bullying mostly occurred outside of children’s homes back then, now wherever they go, they can be haunted by cyberbullying.
What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is when a person hurts or humiliates someone using online technology. It can be in the form of messaging, posting, or sharing condemnatory pictures, threatening messages, or videos. Even when asked to take down an incriminating post, a cyberbully would likely continue to harass the person.
Since kids these days would use social media to connect with their friends all the time, cyberbullying can happen frequently and easily. With one button, the life of one kid can change drastically. He or she can be spending time with his or her family, on holiday, studying, or sleeping and receive mean messages from other kids.
Sadly, many differently-abled children are being bullied online due to their condition. This situation is infuriating. Children who have special needs have to be in a supported environment where they are treated as children who are fully capable of doing things other kids can do, such as going online.
If they see hurtful comments about them there, it might hinder them from exploring possibilities and achieving their goals.
Most people would defend cyberbullying to “teasing.” It’s imperative to understand the difference between the two. When you bully a person, you purposely send hurtful things regularly. Bullying has this tendency to ruin a person’s reputation, while teasing does not last and can be enjoyed by the person being teased also.
Examples of cyberbullying
It’s important to understand that not all conflicts between children done online can be categorized as cyberbullying. To further avoid confusion, here are the main examples of cyberbullying.
- Sending threatening or intimidating messages to another person online
- Harassing someone by sending vague messages frequently
- Creating a false online profile to harass a person
- Posting damaging information about a person online
- Spreading rumors or gossip that may hurt a person’s reputation
- Making fun of someone in a group chat
- When playing online video games, a cyberbully would purposely and continuously attack or killed a person’s avatar
- Taking and posting an embarrassing photo or video online without another person’s consent.
How to be safe online from cyberbullying
There are many ways on how to protect children from cyberbullying. Here are the essential things to take note of.
Be mindful of your children’s actions online.
It’s important to limit what they share on the internet. Remind them not to put any personal information such as an address, contact information, private pictures, or videos. A cyberbully may use such information to harass or scare them.
Take note of the people who have access to their accounts
Make sure that their social media is protected by checking its privacy settings and reporting features. Remind them not to share their password with other people, even with their friends. If they keep receiving unwanted messages, they can change their email address.
Think before reacting
Often, a bully online thrives if they think the person that they’re harming feels threatened or stressed out. Avoid intensifying the situation or consider ignoring the issue. However, this may depend on the amount of harm a bully caused to your children or your family. If they are being harassed constantly, you might need to involve legal action.
Know your rights
Search on the possible repercussions of cyberbullying in your country. Although this issue is relatively new, many countries are adding cyberbullying as a criminal act. In the US, many states like California, Florida, and Missouri have adopted laws addressing cyberbullying. You may use your knowledge as a scaring tactic against a cyberbully to make him or her stop.
Report to authorities
If the bullying is getting out of hand, consider going to authorities. You may complain to the school officials first before going to your local police department.
There is a fine line between free speech and bullying. No person has the right to make other people feel shameful about themselves. As we continue to live with modern gadgets, more regulations have to be put in place to ensure that children won’t have a hard time online.
