Gaming: What Every Parent Needs to Know
Does your kid love game gadgets? Here are some things you should be aware of according to PC Magazine and the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB).
Games Have Age Ratings
Video games are rated by the ESRB on a scale similar to movies:
- EC - Early Childhood
- E - Everyone
- E10 - Ages 10 and Up (E10)
- T - Teen
- M - Mature
- AO - Adults Only
If you can buy a game in a store, it has an ESRB rating somewhere on the box.
You can also search ratings online at esrb.org. Next to the letter rating, you'll see a list of content that may be of interest.
These ratings can be helpful, but they can also be broad. For example, "Fantasy Violence" can mean different things in different games.
It's a good idea to do more research after you check the ESRB rating.
Some Games Let You Talk to Strangers
Games that let you play online sometimes come with chat features. Moderators and filters usually help weed out the worst actors, but they can't catch everything.
Some games like Roblox also let users create and upload their own levels or other content. Like YouTube videos, this user-created content isn't always appropriate for kids.
The best way to learn about a game's online features is to try it yourself. You can also set parental controls on newer consoles like the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X.
Some Games Have Hidden Charges
Some computer and console games have "microtransactions," or in-game payments that cost real-world money. These can include:
- Extra levels
- New features
- Early unlocks
Games that advertise themselves as "free-to-play" are a hotbed for microtransactions, but other games have them too.
Look for wording about "in-app purchases" on online shops or ESRB ratings.
It's also a good idea not to save your credit or debit card info to a console's online store.
CommandIQ Can Help
MEC fiber internet customers can download the free CommandIQ app to block online gaming, explicit websites, and more as long as your kid's device is using your home internet network.
The best way to use CommandIQ is with other parental controls built into games and consoles.
You must have a GigaSpire router to use CommandIQ's parental controls. If you don't have one, we'll send you one for free. Visit teammidwest.com/which-router to see which router you have.