The 6 Dangers And Risks Of Online Games For Children And Adolescents
1. Cyber bullying
For many children, the ability to escape into an online world allows them to escape from real life: no one knows who they are, where they go to school or what they look like. However, this anonymity is a double-edged sword. As Get Safe Online points out, some players take advantage of their changing identity to “afflict” other players, deliberately making the game less fun. This could include “kill stealing”, in which afflicters kill necessary monsters before players can access them, or “chain” groups of higher-level monsters to lower-level players, causing them to die. An example you can see of a war-animated game here called wow wotlk gold.
In some cases, this affliction escalates into cyber bullying. There are several common ways, such as directly “whispering” hurtful and harmful messages to players, or spamming derogatory comments about their victims to worldwide chat channels. According to Stay Safe Online, it is critical that children and parents understand their options. Most games allow players to “block” conversations and messages from other users, and in some cases bully comments or actions may be a violation of the game’s terms of service. It’s always a good idea to write down or take a screenshot of any offensive conversation and report it to the game administrators.
2. Privacy issues
Stay Safe Online recommends that children never create usernames that are derived from their real names, or that could provide their location or age. According to US-CERT, the social nature of online gaming allows cybercriminals to manipulate conversations. They can choose your child in a general chat channel and then start sending them personal messages asking for detailed personal information. By gathering data from games and other sources, hackers can create accounts in your child’s name or access existing accounts.
Never give out any personal information and make sure usernames and passwords are different on different games and gaming sites. We recommended best trusted one wotlk gold. You can buy wotlk gold in a click.
3. Personal information left on consoles and desktop computers
Another danger of online games comes from the consoles or the desktop computers themselves. When they are no longer useful, many families take these devices to the local electronics recycling center or sell them on swap sites. Users often forget to delete their files and personal information, which in turn puts their finances and privacy at risk. You should erase all personal data from game consoles, tablets, and smartphones, and then perform a factory reset.
4. Concerns related to webcams
As Business Insider notes, more than 4,500 webcams were hacked in the United States last year, streaming to a Russian website. Attackers can control and use any connected device, such as a webcam or audio device, to take advantage of your children. To help mitigate this risk, be sure to scan your system for malware regularly, and make sure your webcam’s default setting is off.
5. Predators online
Online predators are typically former gamers who use video games to attract and manipulate younger victims. The end result can be inappropriate messages, webcam conversations, or even in-person encounters that could lead to sexual exploitation. In many cases, predators seek to turn children against their parents and assume the role of “the only person who really understands them.” Fighting this problem means talking to your children about the risks they take online and supervising their play closely.
6. Hidden charges
Some online games use the “freemium” model, which means that they provide you with some content for free, but require payment to access other parts of the game. As >Mashable points out, for example, Windows 10 users have to pay to play certain classic game modes without the interruption of ads. Or a player could use real money to buy a virtual sword or piece of armor, or rack up credit card charges to purchase gold or experience for their characters.
In most cases, these games require a credit card to register and start playing, and the charge occurs automatically if users decide to purchase new items or services. Never give out your card number for any freemium game. Even if your child plays more traditional subscription-based games, it’s a good idea to regularly check your credit card bills to make sure you’re not being charged for purchases you haven’t agreed to make.
In most cases, these games require a credit card to register and start playing, and the charge occurs automatically if users decide to purchase new items or services. Never give out your card number for any freemium game. Even if your child plays more traditional subscription-based games, it’s a good idea to regularly check your credit card bills to make sure you’re not being charged for purchases you haven’t agreed to make.