By Gavin Boyle
Nearly 80% of all Gen Alpha play video games weekly, and because of this extreme uptake, child predators turn to these platforms because they provide the easy access and anonymity they need to groom and abuse their targets.
“Despite even the best intentions, game makers and platforms can’t produce a 100% safe environment free of adults looking to take advantage of kids,” Titania Jordan, the chief parent officer at Bark Technologies, told Parents. “This is because chats happen so quickly and can be moved to other platforms like Snapchat or texting.”
However, some of these platforms are more dangerous than others. Roblox, for example, has faced intense scrutiny in recent years with the National Center on Sexual Exploitation calling it a “pedophile hellscape” after an investigation in 2024. Recent lawsuits from dozens of state Attorneys General that have come about after thousands of children being harmed by bad actors on the site.
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“I have two young daughters who love Roblox, so I know how popular it is, but our investigation found serious failures that left children exposed to real danger,” said West Virginia Attorney General John McCuskey after Roblox settled with his office. “This settlement changes that.”
While some parents might see these dangers and ban their children from playing video games, those who do not wish to go that far still have plenty of options to keep their children safe. Safety experts have plenty of suggestions that can greatly reduce the risk when properly implemented.
The most important step is to have an open line of communication with your kids about the experiences they have while online – not only while playing video games – and regularly ask them questions about the people they are engaging with. This gives parents the chance to flag certain interactions or people their children are engaging with that they can follow up on later.
Most online video games also come with built in parental controls which parents should engage with to set restrictions that they are comfortable with.
Experts also recommend parents play video games with their children when they have the time so they can understand the types of games they enjoy and see how these games allow them to communicate with other players.
“During gameplay, you might notice chat messages appearing from strangers or invitations to join private servers,” safety expert Laura Ordoñez said. “This allows you to naturally discuss these interactions. This conversation feels less like an interrogation and gives you insight into how your child handles these situations, alongside your child, to understand the gaming environment.”
As video games grow in popularity among the younger generations, parents should understand that they will continue to serve as a targeting ground for predators and bad actors. The only way they can protect their children while allowing them to engage in the pastime is to focus on their safety and engage in a variety of strategies that greatly reduce their risk.
Read Next: How Video Games Actually Impact Young Americans
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