Child & Family Online Safety
Gaming safety
Voice chat, purchases, and strangers in the lobby.
4 min readBeginnerChildren
What You Need to Know
Games are social platforms with chat, payments, and friend systems. Most safety controls exist inside the game's settings rather than the console or phone.
Why It Matters
Contact with strangers, account theft, and unexpected spending are the three most common gaming harms, and all three are configurable.
Warning Signs checklist
- Voice chat open to everyone by default
- Unexpected charges for in-game currency
- New friends who ask personal questions
- Pressure to trade accounts or items off-platform
How to Protect Yourself steps
- 1Restrict chat to friends only
- 2Require a password for all purchases
- 3Enable multi-factor authentication on gaming accounts
- 4Keep the console or PC in shared space where practical
Quick Checklist
- Restrict chat to friends only
- Require a password for all purchases
- Enable multi-factor authentication on gaming accounts
- Keep the console or PC in shared space where practical
Helpful Resources
- The Curiosity EditLong-form essays on cyber, AI, and everyday technology.
- Career GalaxyDiscover the careers built around this exact problem.
- Government resourcesOfficial reporting and recovery links, being verified before we publish them.
- Trusted nonprofitsCommunity partners offering free education and support, list in progress.
Follow the Rabbit Hole