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Protecting your kids while they're playing an online MMO
Zenren
Member UncommonPosts: 68
There's been a lot of talk on this site about children's privacy while they're online. Some people have stated that children shouldn't be monitored while they're online, I hope to use this thread as a means to discuss what we need to do to protect children online.
I personally don't believe children should have exclusive privacy, rather they should have as much privacy as they've shown they can handle. If your kid's mature and you've talked to them about the different threats on the internet then it's alright to allow them some degree of privacy. Notice I said, some degree, not complete privacy. The fact is, even the best behaved child can be tricked into meeting with an online predator, so it's always important to keep your guard up and make sure your child keeps their guard up as well.
One of the first things we need to do is get a clear image of the online predator. Also, an online predator can be any age, divorced or single, rich or poor, it doesn't matter. Most people assume that the predator is going after teenage girls, when in fact there are a lot of predators that are going after teenage boys. So it's just as important to talk to your sons about online predators as it is your daughter, maybe even more so, because boys are more likely to actually set up meetings with strangers.
What should you do to protect your children? Well first understand that the reason most teenagers have meetings with strangers isn't because they're being lied to, in a lot of cases, the teenagers are aware that the person they're meeting isn't a teenager. Also in most cases they're aware that the man who's asking to meet them has ulterior motives. So it's very important that you make your child aware that it's not just strangers on the internet that they need to be wary of, but also people that they know. Again, that exotic female night elf named Sophixa that your son has been playing online with over the last six months, isn't necessarily a female.
Make sure that your kids are aware that people on the internet that try to convince them to meet for sex, are not nice people and most likely want to hurt them. Normal people do not entice young kids into meeting them without having them ask their parent's permission, period. Tell your children, that if someone asks to meet with them, then they should tell that person that they'll have to ask their parents. If they continue to try to convince them to meet them, then they should stop talking to that person immediately and tell you, the parent about it. Honestly, depending on the child, they may not tell you about such an incident, the important thing is to let them know what they can and should do when something like this happens.
Be aware of what your kids are doing. If you don't play the game your kid's playing, then ask them to show you what it's about. Your child will probably enjoy knowing you're interested in what they do, and number two, they'll give you at least some idea of what they're doing. Remember that they'll most likely show you the part of the game they find most enjoyable first, so if they jump right into the "I can talk to anyone, anywhere in the world" part of the game first, then it's really important that you make sure to spend a little more time talking about the dangers of talking to strangers (I know I rhymed).
Also, make sure that your children never give out their personal information over the internet, not even their telephone number. The first thing most predators will try to get from their victims is another means to contact them. Once they have a phone number, they can call or text their victims and also coerce, blackmail, or even threaten them. A telephone number also tells a predator where the child lives, sometimes the actual address. (Another tip, never have a phone number listed in your child's name.) In this regard, call detail is your friend. If you're not aware of what call detail is, it's a feature most telephone companies offer, that keeps track of all the phone calls made and received on a phone. Check periodically, I would suggest at least weekly, who your kids are talking to. Look at the numbers they're calling and make sure they're aware you don't want them talking to people with "blocked" numbers and why. If you see any strange numbers, as in, long distance calls or blocked numbers, ask your children about those calls.
Communication is the key here. Predators depend on secrecy, the more open you are with your children and the more you talk to them about the threats out there, the less likely they'll fall for any of the predators tricks. It doesn't hurt to play out some scenarios, open up a text chat with your child and just type one line, "Hi my name is David, I'm 16. How old are you?" No predator is likely to be this blatant, but it makes a simple point, you are not David, and you are not 16, but how is your son or daughter supposed to know that?
In the end the most important thing you can do to protect your children is to be active in their life. Remember, every predator a child meets online, they can meet that same person offline. Meeting them offline doesn't make them any less of a threat. Be aware of who your kids are talking to, who their friends are. Try to take part in their life. Get to know what they like to do and not do. The more you know, the better you'll be able to prepare yourself and your child.
It's not the governments sole responsibility to protect your children online, it's also yours. So take this responsibility seriously and be aware of what your kids are doing. The 10 minutes you spend a day taking part in your kids life, could be the difference it makes. Also be aware that your child has just as much a chance of being hit by lightning as they do meeting a predator, so don't let this rule yours or your child's life. Think of it like this. Would you let your child run around in a thunderstorm? Well why would you let them run around the internet without supervision?
If you're reading this, you probably need to get some sun.
Comments
This is NOT the place for that kind of discussion.
The Theory of Conservative Conservation of Ignorant Stupidity:
Having a different opinion must mean you're a troll.
Hey guys, you obviously don't take this seriously. Two things I'm wondering... A) Why the hell do you have so many pictures of young boys?
Don't you have anything better to do than troll a serious topic? Go over to another thread and quit being asses.
If you're reading this, you probably need to get some sun.
It has to do with MMOs? I'm wondering how General Discussion isn't an appropriate place to discuss this topic.
Also my previous comment seems out of context, but it's referring to some people who were posting here that had the posts removed for trolling.
If you're reading this, you probably need to get some sun.
Oh man im going to get another warning, god damn it, its your fault TheHavok i was being good too :P
"Waits for lock"
But seriously, get out.
dude this is a game forum.
while at it.... i remember 2,3 people here actually think ariae games bot ad spammer is a human with heart. funny as funny. laugh my ass off.
Actually this a forum for topics relating to MMOs. I think this is on topic. If however you disagree, then feel free to report it.
If you're reading this, you probably need to get some sun.
I think that it is important to convey to children that they will not be disallowed from playing a video game because they have been approached by a virtual entity asking personal questions. A "smart" "addicted" child gamer won't necessarily hand out information to people, but often also will not report the attempted infringement of privacy for fear of being forbidden by their parents to play the game(to any children reading this post, your parents are watching out for your best interests). Parents need to make it clear that it is the child's reporting that enables the child to continue playing games(not that it is the child's responsibility; law-enforcement impersonating children take on that role). I would think that all of the major game service providers keep communication log files to monitor potentially invasive messages; as a parent, I would make certain that the game my child plays does have such protective monitoring. Essentially, a child can become a victim anywhere, it is the child's confidence in parents that sustains the lines of communication. Yes, protect your children, but don't make it like a punishment. If a parent doesn't want their kids playing video games they consider dangerous then the parents should do all that they can to provide some alternative form of entertainment.
I would never allow a child of mine to play MMO's unsupervised.
I wouldn't have a problem with other online games like FPS's and stuff in short periods.. but not MMO's; while I enjoy the hobby myself, I don't think that it's a suitable one for a child in their formative years .. I'd consider it to be too much of a timesink during a period of their life when they should be concentrating on education and developing their social skills in the real world.
The argument could be made that playing MMO's together would be a viable bonding exercise with ones children; but I'd much rather take 'em fishing or for a game of tennis. I'm not sure exactly why, but the thought of a family unit all sat in their homes in front of computer screens bonding via an MMO is just a tad creepy to me.
Playing: EVE, Final Fantasy 13, Uncharted 2, Need for Speed: Shift
Apparently this is a taboo subject for this site, however "the 40 Year Old child predator reason #43" is appropriate... go figure.
If you're reading this, you probably need to get some sun.
I really don't think you're the only one that feels this way.
If you're reading this, you probably need to get some sun.
Meh.. MMO's should be limited for kids, yes, but they can be very educational as weird as that sounds. Vocabulary, communication, socialization, teamwork, etc.
I don't see the point of dicussing it personally. You don't touch on anything new that anyone with half a brain doesn't already know. The people that this could actually help are either too stupid or uncaring of their childeren to give a damn. And the others are people who do nto surf the internet and won't be reading your post anyway.
Im sure it can be discussed here but It seems this would be more appropriate for a blog.
Just to recap on what you are saying:
* If a parent doesn't like a game their child plays they should find an alternative source of entertainment? Plus not turn it into a punishment?
Don't disagree with you. I personally wouldn't let my child play some MMO's that I have played and all bar LotRO I would be concerned with what they read in global chat. So far LotRO is the only mmo where I have not seen profanities or usual slagging off of other players. The worst cases are EVE Online, AoC and Neocron. However those 3 games tend to attract hard core PvPers and I would expect them to be like that.
Personally I would administer game time to my kids once they have completed their responsibilities and participated in physicaly activities. I don't mind kids playing games for hours as long as they have boundaries.
love it when people find out something new about the world this happens lol gg
Agree with 95% of this. However I do know a senior person at work who plays WAR with his 2 kids every night because they are attending a university outside the country. So some times its a great way for a parent to log on with vent and spend time running around with their kids. Plus if you play the right kind of MMO it does teach teamwork, sharing, resource management and communication. But yes, I would prefer to spend my time playing baskeball or just running amok down the beach.
In the end the only thing you can do is teach them responibility for themselves, and how to keep ingame only ingame.
I find it amazing that by 2020 first world countries will be competing to get immigrants.
Nothing on the internet is dangerous. The worst thing someone can do to you over the internet is give your computer a virus.
There are definitely things that parents don't want their children to see, such as pornography, but that's not really a "danger".
Online "predators" are a joke, seriously. The only thing that makes them dangerous at all is when you're stupid enough to give them personal information. If you don't teach your kids how stupid that is, I question your ability to parent.
If you teach your kids right, and you trust them, you shouldn't have to worry about their well being on the internet. If you don't trust your kids to be on the internet without being monitored. DON'T LET THEM GO ON!
All of this applies to the internet in general and to MMOs.
Now can we move on to a more relevant topic?
kids already paranoid with this crap no need to warn them over and over. in a forums or chat room and someone ask where they from and they all be like ohhh nooo you gonna stalk me ohh nooo i wont telllll. mostly those below 14.
Thats not entirely true....
Information exchange is the biggest thing... Few examples
"hey kid, I'll sell you a (insert good item here). Just get mom and dads credit card and give me the numbers and its yours! Don't worry about telling them since they use that card to pay for the game anyway."
"Hey kid --- (insert a bunch of words and terms that are not appropriate)" Kid goes to school with a whole new vocabulary.....and I get to go to the pricipals office to talk about it with the teachers.
"Hey kid, want to get drunk without your parents knowing - go mix some bleach with water together and drink it really quick... it only lasts a few minutes so your parents wont know."
Far fetched but could happen. Always monitor your children on the internet. Its the same as letting them talk to a stranger.
https://www.youtube.com/user/NemsGaming
I read this out of bordem and tbh this is not a great place to post this simply because most parents who arnt into online games dont visit these forums this needs to be an msn article or some bs..... but other than that it somes up the internet kidnaping quite well....
Oh great, not another idoitic over-protective parent.
Listen honey, if you censor your children from the world, wonce they get out in the real world, they arent going to know what to do without there mommy and become curious about drugs, sex, ext ext and going to screw up real bad because instead of let them be kids and make mistakes and learn from them, there adults who have no real life experience and the mistakes kids make will have huge consequences on them when there adults.
Listen, let kids be kids, okay? Besides, im 14 myself, and we know about preditors and shit. Hell we joke about child preditors and rapists at school. We know to not tell anybody any information if a random person asks where we live and what is our phone number.
I don't let my younger (12ish) kids play MMOs, but it isn't to protect them from predators. It's to protect the MMOs from my spam-inviting, kill-stealing, ninja-looting, non-chat-reading little buttmonkies. (When my older kids were the same age, they understood the concept and were fun to play with. I love my younger kids, but they make me CRAZY in game.)
...
This is where I draw the line: __________________.
1. Your kids are more likely to learn naughty things at school.
2. You don't need to stand over your kid's shoulder all the time. If my parents did that...I'd be rather pissed with them and I'd feel like they didn't respect me. It's not bad to check up on them...but little Jimmy isn't gonna have mommy and daddy to watch out for them when they leave the house.
3. I'm 16...I've been playing MMOs since I was about 12. Runescape is an extremely good starter MMO. You don't have to throw them into the big names first. Introduce them to game like Runescape...it's not kiddy, but it's not swearing and boobs and extreme gore. As they get older and begin to understand the internet more, get them into WoW or LotRO or WAR or some of the other bigger names. At about my age they're going to either look for something a bit more mature, or stick where they are comfortable. If they look for something a bit more gritty...let them. They know what boobs are. They know what getting your head ripped off looks like (At least if they watched 300 =P). They know all the naughty words that you've tried so hard to protect them from. It's called public school.
Be real...they aren't as ignorant as you make them out to be. They aren't your perfect little angel. They're growing up, and by the time they are 18...they should know what is right and what is wrong. You just need to tell them. There needs to be limits, but make it computers off at ten, not You can't play that game because it has dirty stuff in it.
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Guys! I'm hopelessly lost in a mountain of mole hills! Them damn moles!
Thats not entirely true....
Information exchange is the biggest thing... Few examples
"hey kid, I'll sell you a (insert good item here). Just get mom and dads credit card and give me the numbers and its yours! Don't worry about telling them since they use that card to pay for the game anyway."
"Hey kid --- (insert a bunch of words and terms that are not appropriate)" Kid goes to school with a whole new vocabulary.....and I get to go to the pricipals office to talk about it with the teachers.
"Hey kid, want to get drunk without your parents knowing - go mix some bleach with water together and drink it really quick... it only lasts a few minutes so your parents wont know."
Far fetched but could happen. Always monitor your children on the internet. Its the same as letting them talk to a stranger.
Hence my preceeding comment about not sharing personal information on the internet.