Gaming is a thrilling adventure, but safety should never be compromised, especially when it comes to our younger gamers. Xbox is working on a more proactive approach to maintaining a positive and secure environment for the youth. That said, here are some valuable tips and tricks for parents and gamers with younger siblings to ensure a safer and more enjoyable gaming experience. Let's dive in!
5 Xbox tips and tricks for safe gaming
Protecting the future of video gaming…
.png&w=883&h=662&c=1)
1. Check in and play with your child on a regular basis-
Playing alongside your children is a great way to better understand the types of games they're playing, who they're playing with, and what online scenarios you should be discussing (also how good the younger generation is getting!). It may not be easy to gain access into their virtual world but once you meet their online friends and tackle challenges together, you'll gain valuable insights into the online scenarios that require your guidance. Plus, you may get street cred for being a cool parent/sibling if you are any good!
2. Create a family group and child accounts for your family:
While playing videogames with your youngling may not always be a feasible option, you can establish a family group and child accounts to monitor and personalize your child's gaming experience, in a few simple steps. This feature lets parents receive notifications related to activity, and personalize each child's online experience based on age-appropriate limits, such as privacy, content filters, and online purchases. It's always good to have extra back up when it comes to protecting your child.
3. Customize your settings using the Xbox Family Settings app:
.png)
The Xbox Family Settings app, available for iOS and Android devices, lets you customize your settings to ensure a safe and enjoyable gaming experience. You can set screen time limits to strike the perfect balance between gaming and other activities, manage your child's spending (say goodbye to those endless in-game purchases), review and approve friend requests, and even receive detailed reports on their gaming activity. May not make you the most popular parent, but hey, sometimes you got to do what you got to do to protect the kids.
4. Additional resources for a safer gaming experience:
.png)
Xbox knows the importance of providing resources to keep our young gamers safe. You can start off by having open conversations about privacy and online safety using the Xbox Data Collection for Kids feature. If you still aren’t satisfied, you can dive deeper into the abyss of knowledge with Microsoft's Online Safety Guides, where you can discover more tips for internet safety. Most importantly, if you come across any undesirable players or incidents, you can learn how to report them and submit case reviews.
5. Be confident in your child's online gaming experience:
With a slew of Xbox tips and resources at your disposal, you can relax and be confident in their child's online gaming experience. Remember to check in with your child regularly, create a secure gaming environment with family groups and child accounts, customize settings through the Xbox Family Settings app, and utilize additional resources for further safety measures. Gaming doesn’t have to be a daunting experience for children and especially parents any more.
So, whether you're a gaming-savvy parent or a gamer trying to get your younger sibling to play, you can use these tips to your advantage, protect the youth and let them begin the life-long journey to being a gamer. Happy gaming!