Online gaming can be an intimidating prospect for any person. With battle passes and loot box mechanics constantly looking to part players from their cash, alongside the rampant trolling that can still exist in game spaces despitecompanies like PlayStation attempting to tackle toxicity, there are plenty of legitimate reasons to stay clear of online gaming nowadays. For a parent whose child is into online games, especially mobile titles likeMinecraft: Pocket EditionandPokemon GO, there can be some fears about how these games will affect their child.Surfshark, a company based in the Netherlands, has recently been looking into what causes parents the most concern when their child is gaming online, analyzing data from multiple surveys alongside its own studies. According to a survey by Internet Matters, one in two parents are primarily concerned with the safety of their children’s data online. Some of themost popular gamesfor children aged 6-10 in the UK — such asPokemon GO,Candy Crush, andCall of Duty: Mobile— collect players' data, even though some claim that the information gathered is safe. These games were found to be some of the most privacy-invading mobile titles currently available on app stores.RELATED:Minecraft Fan Makes Impressive Plush Based on Game’s FrogsAlongside the collection of data, parents were also worried about the use of microtransactions in mobile games, with one in four concerned that their child would unknowingly spend large amounts of money on a game.Minecraft: Pocket Editionis the most popular mobile gamewith the age group Surfshark looked at, and it is known to have microtransactions that let players can buy emotes, skins, and more. Other titles likeAngry BirdsandCall of Duty: Mobilealso include in-game purchases, with parents specifically being concerned about the latter due to limited-time purchases featured in the app, which entice users to buy items out of fear of missing out.
Some may wonder why children aged 6-10 would be playingCall of Duty: Mobilewhen the game has an age rating of M for mature. Usually, ratings by organizations like the ESRB show audiences what a game will contain to help those who are under the recommended age or their caregivers make informed decisions about purchases. However, considering thatCall of Duty: Mobileis freeon both Google Play and the App Store, a child isn’t necessarily prevented from playing it despite the age rating.
In order to combat these fears, parents are advised to build a relationship of trust with their child so that they know what games they’re playing. There are also cybersecurity tools that can be used to prevent data from being taken wrongfully. Even with all these concerns, Surfshark’s studies aren’t designed to cause a negative reception ofmobile games. With some great mobile titles available now, it is nearly impossible to prevent a child from gaming entirely. Instead, what Surfshark’s research shows is that there are ways to be aware and play more safely online.
