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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.