Understanding the risks and empowering parents

Last Updated: May 30, 2023

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Post-COVID, the world has physically moved people to the digital world where people have started to prefer online shopping and e-education, and young people are also more indulging in online gaming rather than outdoor activities. The latest Massively Multiplayer Online Role-playing Games (MMORPGs) are gaining popularity due to intense social interaction through video, voice, text, etc. However, this has created risks for young people who can experiencing online abuse/harassment from other gamers, especially when players are intensely engaged while playing online games.

Also Read: Best Offline Open World Games For Android

Online gaming is quickly becoming popular among young people, so parents should be well aware of the negative consequences in order to better manage the situation. Multiple incidents of teen suicides and killing others in aggression by online gamers have been reported in the media in Pakistan. The problem of violence and antisocial behavior arises from the excessive playing of online games, according to several researchers. Mr Arthur Cassidy, an associate fellow of the British Psychological Society, says a growing attachment to gaming devices among children is leading to suicide or self-harm. Many other studies have shown that the excessive involvement of children in online gaming deprives them of physical activities, causing them to face problems such as isolation, introversion, misbehaving with other family members, sleep disorders, anxiety, depression etc.

Online game addiction is mainly caused by less attention from parents. The kids suffering from loneliness get instant relief by playing online games. It takes them away from reality into fantasy and imaginary worlds where everything seems to be controlled by their thoughts and imagination. As a result, they become frustrated, which leads to violence, self-harm and even suicidal thoughts. Moreover, the chances of blackmail, bullying by others (both offline and online) and theft of personal information also increase while playing online games with online predators.

Measures to be taken:

Parents should be extremely aware of children’s online activities by taking the following workable measures:

Always leave time for your children and even be involved in their social activities. Prove yourself as a best friend so kids can inform your times in case they encounter danger online.
Always encourage and organize physical activities for your children and choose schools that have facilities for outdoor activities. Parents should be well informed about their children’s friends, especially about their character, behavior, etc.
Before buying online games, parents should check the ratings of the games from the appropriate department, such as the ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board), and then select the appropriate game based on the child’s age.
Initially, parents should also play online games with children to understand both the content of the game and the reaction of the children while playing the game.
To better monitor children’s online activities, the computer should be placed in common areas. Instead of giving your children a new mobile phone permanently, it is better to temporarily give them your own mobile phone solely for that specific purpose. This ensures direct control of their activities.
Teach your kids not to share personal information such as passwords, bank accounts, and photos with anyone else.
Learn and implement parental controls to implement time limits, website restrictions, and allow safe applications for children