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YOUNG PEOPLE AND TECHNOLOGY
ONLINE GAMING
WHAT IS ONLINE GAMING ?
Online gaming can be a great way for young people to have fun , interact and compete with people from around the world . Online gaming can take place using a device that is able to connect to the internet such as a computer , mobile phone , gaming console ( e . g . Xbox or PlayStation ) or portable gaming device ( e . g . PS Vita and Nintendo 3DS ).
Some games are free to play , while others allow users to purchase and download software or pay a subscription fee to play . Online gaming is often much more than simply playing a game . Gaming communities also provide a communication platform , allowing players to take part in instant messaging ( IM ), chat rooms , blogs and even voice communication using headsets and Voice over Internet Protocol ( VoIP ).
Among the most popular online games are massive multi-player online role-playing games ( MMORPG ), where a large number of users participate in an online , virtual world . Players interact using fictional characters , represented by self created avatars , of which they have complete control . There is also a market in trading cheats and gaming credits , and new versions of popular games continue to evolve to meet demand .
Gaming apps on mobile devices have also become very popular and many of these can be downloaded for free or a small fee , but may also include in-app purchases .
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF ONLINE GAMING ?
Issues may arise when young people are communicating or sharing personal information with players they do not know or know only from the game , or if they receive aggressive or hostile communication while playing .
EXAMPLES OF ONLINE GAMES
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World of Warcraft Clash of Clans Minecraft Call of Duty Steam
TIPS FOR SAFE GAMING 1 . Where possible use private servers to restrict gameplay to a trusted group of people .
2 . Encourage your child to avoid sharing personal or private information such as their name , the school they attend or even the name of their local sports team .
3 . Ensure your child chooses a username or avatar that doesn ’ t identify personal information like their name or their age ( i . e . MattEvanzz98 is not a safe username , WOWisthebest11 is safer ).
4 . Nothing in life is free — warn your child about accepting gifts ( even virtually ) from people they don ’ t know .