Protecting Children as They Game Online

Silver Spring, Maryland resident Brian Kezer is a George Washington University graduate with a master’s degree in computer science. Away from his work as an analyst, Brian Kezer enjoys watching sports and playing video games.

With the rise of the Internet and advances in technology, video game enthusiasts, especially children, face various threats online, including cyberbullying, financial losses, identity theft, privacy risks, malware infections, and the risk of predators. Consequently, parents must take the proper measures to ensure the safety of their children when they are online.

For a start, parents can invest in software such as antivirus programs and parent control apps to protect gaming devices from malware attacks, information sharing, and keeping online transactions safe. Parental control software protects children from contact with strangers and limits access to inappropriate content.

Parents can also learn about the games their kids are playing to determine if the game is age-appropriate by checking the reviews and ratings and identifying any use of bad language. An easy way to ensure the safety and appropriateness of the game is for parents to play it alone beforehand or with their child.

Additionally, parents can talk to their children about cyber threats and teach them the safety precautions to follow when such situations arise. Moreover, they can make children aware of the potentially dangerous people on the Internet and teach them how to recognize and avoid them.