How To Keep Online Gaming Safe And Fun

For many of us, online gaming is simply an enjoyable pastime. For others, unfortunately, online gaming becomes a source of some really unhealthy stuff. Gaming addiction has ruined relationships, caused people to lose jobs, and has resulted in many people seriously neglecting their own physical and mental health. Then, there is the online gaming culture that might be fun and stimulating for some, but for others, it means being subjected to harassment, threats, stalking, bullying, and even doxxing. To make matters more concerning, kids are getting into online gaming when they are very young, and that creates another set of risk factors.

What's the solution? Should we abolish online gaming altogether? It would solve the problems mentioned above for sure. Unfortunately, it would also take away some of the benefits that gamers can pick up. Sure, bad things happen, but many online gamers have developed some real friendships in their online communities. Instead, the best way to proceed is to find ways to make gaming safe and fun for all.

Balance Online Gaming With Other Activities And Make Kids do The Same

For some people, preventing or staving off video game addiction is simply a matter of balance. This could be limiting gaming to certain days or a certain number of hours per week. However, in order for this to work, the time spent gaming should be replaced with something else. This will ideally involve physical activity or socialization, as those are the things that tend to suffer when people spend too much time gaming.

Consider Taking a Break or Stopping Permanently

For some people, there is no cutting back. If they cut back, it never lasts. Soon enough, they are back to obsessing over whatever online game they are into at the moment. In these cases it is time to consider more drastic options that may include:

People who moderate online gaming servers and websites are now doing a much better job of policing online gaming chats when it comes to harassment or abuse. Although there is a lot of room for improvement, especially when it comes to the treatment of female gamers. One thing that might be useful is to implement a means for gamers struggling with addiction to subject themselves to banning or suspension for a period of time until they are better able to control themselves.

Cara Vaggio from Safer Gaming a new NGO tackling game addiction says "Sysops and moderators must absolutely step up and help those who ask for assistance in dealing with online gaming addictions. Casinos and gambling regulatory agencies provide means for people to self-ban, why not online gaming sites?"

Report Harassment And Bullying And Don't Participate in it

Many gamers don't think they are guilty of harassment and bullying when they actually are. How does this happen? There are several factors at play. The first is a sense of privilege and entitlement. Online gaming has been dominated by young men for years. Young women seeking to play games online are often met with hostility and abuse by boys and young men who believe their territory has been encroached upon by somebody who doesn't belong there. Then there is the matter of simply getting caught up in small group dynamics. For example, a new player makes a boneheaded move or asks a stupid question. They are immediately rebuked by a handful of players. Unfortunately, it doesn't stop there. People witnessing the initial slam jump in with their own digs, and soon one player has been bombarded with insults and threats. Keep in mind that what you think is a well-deserved dig can be an act of bullying when it's combined with many others.

Play Games With Other People

One way to help stave off gaming addiction is to play with other people, not people online, with people in the same room. Having real life human interaction in addition to online interaction can help those who tend towards obsession keeps things in check. It's much easier for somebody to put down the controller and do something else when their peers are urging them to do so. Gamers who tend to become a bit aggressive or verbally abusive when gaming will also be motivated to behave in more socially acceptable ways if they have an audience in the room with them.

Educate Teens And Preteens About Online Safety

Adults who allow children in their care to play online games are responsible for ensuring that these experiences are safe. This means providing supervision as appropriate and giving kids the knowledge they need to be safe. Most people know to tell kids not to give out their personal information, and to report to an adult if somebody propositions them or otherwise behaves inappropriately. Unfortunately, they often fail to help kids understand concepts such as grooming or social engineering. Kids should be told to be wary if an adult pays a lot of attention to them online, even if they don't say anything that seems alarming. They should also be careful about revealing information that could help somebody find them or contact them in real life. This includes information such as school name or mascot, dates and times that they go to various activities.

Conclusion

Online gaming can be a great outlet for enjoying oneself, meeting new people, and burning off a little steam. For most people, issues relating to gaming addiction are short lived and can be cured with making just a few changes. On the other hand, it is important to be aware of the health dangers and other risks, especially as they relate to younger gamers.