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Online gaming has become immensely popular, with the number of online gamers in the UK expected to rise to 11.56 million in 2027. Whilst it can be a positive social outlet for many children, without supervision it also has a darker side. Find out what schools can do to help parents stay up to date with the latest trends and harms, and empower them to keep their children safe on these platforms. |
Some children start playing online games from as young as 3-5 years old, with almost 9 in 10 children aged 3-17 regularly participating in online gaming (Ofcom 2026). A recent investigation by ITV News and the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE) uncovered multiple examples of extremist content available on the gaming platform Roblox, popular with children as young as seven. As well as extremist thinking, gaming chat rooms can provide a route
for children & young people to be groomed into gambling and child criminal exploitation, as well as becoming victims of financially motivated sexual extortion 'sextortion'. Links sent in gaming chats can also compromise cybersecurity through phishing and malware.
This is particularly concerning, given Ofcom reports that over half of children play occasionally with people they have not met in person. With the proposed under-16 social media ban coming into force in Spring 2027, it's important to note that, as well as including platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat and X, high-risk features including livestreaming and strangers being able to contact children will also be restricted on other online services such as gaming. Stronger requirements for age checks on platforms will back this up.
According to Ofcom’s Children and Parents: Media use and attitudes report 2026, parents’ greatest concerns around gaming include their children:
talking to strangers
coming across bullying through chat features
facing pressure to make in-game purchases
being exposed to violent, sexual or disturbing content, and harmful or offensive language
Schools can use these widely shared concerns as a starting point in supporting parents to understand the risks and to feel confident about having informed conversations with their children.
Although parental controls and privacy settings are the first line of defence, some parents may be unaware or unsure about how to use them. Demystifying controls and settings and encouraging parents to take action and demonstrating how these settings are used is a useful way to start a wider conversation. Why not tap into your pupils' knowledge of the latest trends, and ask them to share their experiences or demonstrate how to set privacy settings and controls on devices at a parent online safety session, using our ready-to-use parent online safety toolkit. You can also share some helpful, step-by-step parent guides to popular games such as Minecraft and Roblox, available at Common Sense Media.
Remind parents that controls need to be set up on both the broadband connection and each individual device, as these do not come as standard, so it’s worth checking. They can visit internetmatters.org/parental-controls for easy-to-use guides to set up controls on any smartphone, broadband, social media site/app and games console.
If controls have been set, and children are trying to navigate around them, concealing their gaming behaviour, parents automatically lose the opportunity to monitor what their child sees, who they are communicating with and thus identify any concerns. The problem here isn’t so much about ‘breaking the rules’, but the hidden activity their child may be involved in. Having bypassed the settings, a child is also less likely to share concerns about any disturbing content they may have been exposed to, or if they feel unsafe. It’s important parents recognise that visibility and communication equal safety and that secrecy online increases vulnerability.
Gaming together can give parents a firsthand experience of their child’s online environment and offer a way into discussions around safety. It’s a chance to gauge the level of violent or disturbing content, bad language, and the pressure exerted on players to make in-game purchases for access to upgrades or loot boxes, which contain useful and tempting items for the player. These can include in-game currency, new clothing ‘skins’, or even characteristics to change the player’s abilities. Games advertised as ‘free’ often make money through these in-game offers, attracting gamers to purchase them through a range of tactics similar to those used to attract people to gamble.
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Open communication is key to effective safeguarding. It’s important that parents are proactive and establish clear expectations with their child around screen time, spending, and what to do if they experience bullying or other online harms. Why not share this free Digital Family Agreement with them? Regular conversations about who they are playing with, what they are sharing, time spent gaming and how money is used online all help reinforce healthy boundaries. It’s also safer for technology to be used in shared family spaces rather than bedrooms, particularly for younger children. |
A common misunderstanding is that age ratings relate to difficulty level. In reality, PEGI (Pan European Game Information) ratings are based on the type of content within the game, including: violence, sexual content, bad language, gambling themes and substance use. Children may ask for higher-age games because they feel younger ones are ‘too easy’, but parents need to understand that higher ratings often mean exposure to adult content. PEGI helps parents to make informed decisions when buying video games. The age rating confirms that the game content is appropriate for players of a certain age by considering the age suitability rather than the actual level of difficulty.
• ASK what type of games your child enjoys – are they age-appropriate?
• PLAY games together - keep the tech in shared spaces rather than bedrooms
• TALK about who they are playing with - what information are they sharing?
• EXPLAIN what is/isn’t appropriate to share, e.g. personal details to identify them/location
• AGREE how they will spend their money online
• DISCUSS what they would do if they were bullied online, and what steps to take
• DECIDE how long is appropriate to play in one session - how many sessions a day
• SET UP safety settings with your child
Remember that parents don’t need to be tech experts to keep their children safe; they just need to be informed and have regular communication to check in. Schools can:
Signpost parents to Parentsafe - a dedicated portal providing tips, resources and guidance from LGfL and other trusted sources. Why not add the link to your school website parent section, or choose a top tip for your next newsletter?
Run a Parent Online Safety Presentation - use this ready-to-use toolkit to start key safeguarding conversations and upskill parents and carers