On Twitch, users can watch others livestream as they play games, providing commentary throughout. Coupled with a robust chat system that allows streamers to interact directly with those watching, Twitch can be a magnetic platform for gamers of all ages. Gamers frequently visit Twitch to watch their favorite games being played, chat with other fans, and discuss events in real time. If your kids love games, odds are they have shown an interest in Twitch, and you’ll want to make sure they know how to use the platform safely and appropriately.

What Is Twitch?

From the platform’s website, “Twitch is where millions of people come together live every day to chat, interact, and make their own entertainment together.” Using Twitch, streamers (creators that record and post videos of game play live) entertain their followers with the latest games and gameplay videos. If you’re not familiar, think of it like YouTube, but the content is live (and in some cases archived), as opposed to prerecorded.

More recently, Twitch has grown beyond video games and now hosts streamers for other topics, from politics to travel and even cooking. For example, the most popular non-gaming topic is “Just Chatting”, where streamers will speak with their audience through chat or other voice services (like Discord).

Can My Kids Communicate with Others via Twitch?

Twitch is, at its core, a social platform. Streamers can DM (direct message) fans, and fans can interact with each other via the built-in chat function. Your kids can also “follow” their favorite streamers. This is similar to how you would follow anyone on a social platform: The streamer will show up in your kids’ feed as they go live (i.e., starts a livestream) and, in some cases, your kids may receive a notification to let them know someone they follow is active. Many popular streamers make their own community guidelines for live chats in their streams and hire/choose “chat moderators” to discipline users that are behaving inappropriately.

Users can obtain “Channel Points”, which can be used for streamer-specific actions (such as highlighting their chat message during a stream or even asking the streamer to do a certain action like picking their background music). Channel Points are earned by watching the stream for a certain amount of time, chatting every so often, and purchasing subscriptions during the stream’s duration (more on this later).

Some streamers also cultivate heavily moderated chats that promote safety, but unsolicited private messages can still occur in this space.

Does Twitch Cost Money?

Twitch is free, but there are options to spend money. While many streams are ad-supported, streamers often accept donations from their community, enabling some creators to make Twitch their full-time job.

There are a few functions that may require users to pay for access. For Twitch partners and affiliates (i.e., streamers with a sizable audience and approved through Twitch’s vetting process), users can purchase subscriptions, and streamers will take a portion of those profits. Some streamers also enable donation tools like Streamlabs, Patreon, Kofi, and PayPal, where users can send money to their favorite personalities – almost like a tip jar.

Some streamers also cultivate heavily moderated chats that promote safety, but unsolicited private messages can still occur

For those that have Amazon Prime, there are also free bonuses, such as a free monthly subscription to a Twitch streamer and perks for certain games – which change monthly. This can include in-game items and sometimes even free games. (Twitch is owned by Amazon.) This requires that your kids’ Twitch account be linked to an Amazon Prime account.

Twitch does not have any built-in parental controls for spending so it’s important to discuss spending limits with your kids and enforce household rules about how much, if any, money can be spent. Also, if you don’t want any money spent, make sure you don’t save any credit card information to your kids’ account.

Is There Inappropriate Content on Twitch?

Like many social platforms, there can be inappropriate content on Twitch that’s entirely unrelated to video games. Strictly adult content, such as anything explicitly sexual, is not allowed according to Twitch’s terms of service. However, as a variety of games can be streamed on Twitch, including games that are rated M for Mature, your kids could encounter content that you may consider inappropriate. Note that Twitch prohibits streams for games rated AO (Adults Only).

Fortunately, Twitch streamers can flag their streams with “Content Classification Labels” (CCLs). These labels act as a heads up to viewers and parents about the content of the stream and have the added benefit of helping parents manage what their kids have access to. This includes mandatory labels for streams incorporating:

• Mature-rated games
• Sexual Themes
• Drugs
• Intoxication
• Excessive Tobacco Use
• Violent and Graphic Depictions
• Significant Profanity or Vulgarity
• Gambling

While many of these labels must be toggled manually by the creator, Twitch will automatically label the stream of a game rated M for Mature to let parents and consumers know. To reiterate, streamers are required to label their streams if they contain the above content, but Twitch will do it for them if they fail to. For more on these requirements, visit Twitch’s CCL guide.

Beyond the automatic CCL for Mature-rated games, streamers are not required to display ESRB ratings for the games they stream. So, this is another reason to talk to your kids about who your kids are watching on Twitch, what their favorite streamers are playing, and more. No one knows your kids better than you, so it’s always a good idea to check out your kids’ favorite streamers to see how they behave.

You may also find that streamers run the gamut of appropriateness, just like the games they decide to stream. Even if a streamer is playing a game rated E for Everyone, that does not mean that the streamer’s behavior is equally appropriate. This isn’t automatically a bad thing, but it is something to be aware of as you decide what’s appropriate for your kids.

there can be inappropriate content on Twitch that’s entirely unrelated to video games

For example, some streamers may use strong language that some parents may find objectionable, while others may dress suggestively. Some streamers may choose to discuss topics that reach beyond your kids’ maturity or level of understanding (politics, current events, etc.). None of these immediately or automatically breach Twitch’s community guidelines, but it’s a fine line, and you should be the one to decide what your kids are ready to experience. This is further outlined in Twitch’s CCL guide and in the community guidelines.

Just like other forms of entertainment, Twitch offers something for just about everyone. It’s exciting to have so much varied entertainment at your fingertips, but sometimes it takes some research to decide if a particular streamer is appropriate for your kids.

How to Manage My Kids’ Twitch Activity?

Twitch does not have the kind of parental controls you can expect from video game consoles and other devices, but there are some built-in measures you can take to help manage what your kids are exposed to.

First and foremost, when signing up for an account make sure your kids enter their birthday accurately… and this tip goes for all online services your kids are interested in. This is monumentally important, especially for children under the age of 13, who are afforded numerous protections under the law about the kind of information that can be collected from them. In fact, according to Twitch’s Terms of Service, children 13 or older are allowed to create an account, but only under parental supervision. And children under the age of 13 are not allowed to create an account on Twitch at all, according to its terms of service.  Should a child under the age of 13 manage to create an account, parents can email Twitch to have the account and all associated information permanently deleted after providing relevant information to confirm that their child has breached the terms of service.

If your kids are under 18-years-old, streams labeled with Sexual Themes; Drugs, Intoxication, or Excessive Tobacco Use; Violent and Graphic Depictions; and Gambling will be filtered out by default. However, if your kids are allowed to follow a streamer with one or many of the hidden or blurred CCLs active, they will continue to show up.

You can also block or limit which streams your kids have access to based on the CCLs a streamer activates. Via the Content Display Preference section of the Profile, you can hide content labeled with CCLs that your kids may not be ready for. According to Twitch, these streams will not be recommended to your kids and will not show up as they search for content. There is also an option to blur previews and thumbnails for videos with a Sexual Themes CCL.

As previously mentioned, the chat in any given stream can be somewhat of a wildcard. Streamers cannot always control everything their followers or viewers say, even with dedicated moderators. Twitch does not offer the ability to disable chat during streams, so you can assume that your kids will have some exposure to other users – be it active or passive. However, there are options to “hide chat” for personal interactions, which means that other users cannot directly contact your kids. If that function is not activated strangers can “Whisper” (i.e., private direct message) your kids. You and your kids can block Whispers from anyone that they do not follow or subscribe to. This effectively makes it hard for strangers to reach out to your kids. But if your kids are following or subscribed to someone, that person will be able to Whisper to them.

Twitch also offers the ability to create customizable “chat filters” which can be used to block potentially inappropriate language across any channel your kids want to watch. You can enable them in your “Security & Privacy Settings.”

Streamers cannot always control everything their followers or viewers say, even with dedicated moderators.

Note though, that none of these measures are parental controls, and they are not password or PIN protected like they would be on a video game console or platform. This means your kids can technically roll back these settings without your permission, so it may be helpful to explain to them why these settings are so important and to make it part of your household rules.

Fortunately, Twitch regularly adds new safety and customization options to help make sure no one is surprised when browsing for a new stream to watch.

What If My Child Doesn’t Have an Account or Isn’t Logged In?

Twitch streams can be watched without an account. If you’re not logged in, you cannot participate in chat, but chat is still visible, meaning potentially mature conversations in a chat will appear. However, content labeled with Sexual Themes and/or Gambling will automatically be filtered out if you’re not logged in. It may be tempting to simply not make an account for your kids, but logged-in users have much more control over what they see and can turn off the direct message function entirely, as well as block or report users that are behaving inappropriately.

Talking to Your Kids About Twitch

At this point we’ve mentioned it several times, but the most powerful tool in your parenting tool belt is establishing ongoing and open dialogue with your kids about all of the content they consume online – including Twitch streams. It’s important to know who your kids’ favorite streamers are and why, so you can gain a better understanding of what your kids may experience.

With this information you can take some time to watch streams yourself to see why your kids are drawn to these personalities. In some cases, you may find that the content created by your kids’ favorite personalities are not quite appropriate, leaving the door open to explaining what is and is not permitted, and why. However, it’s just as likely that you’re entertained by it, too… and it may even turn into something you can enjoy as a family or motivate you to try playing the game being streamed!

Patricia E. Vance is the president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). In her position, she leads the teams responsible for assigning age and content ratings to video games and apps, enforcing marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry, and operating ESRB Privacy Certified, an FTC-approved COPPA Safe Harbor Privacy seal certification program.

The post What Parents Need to Know About Twitch appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

On Twitch, users can watch others livestream as they play games, providing commentary throughout. Coupled with a robust chat system that allows streamers to interact directly with those watching, Twitch can be a magnetic platform for gamers of all ages. Gamers frequently visit Twitch to watch their favorite games being played, chat with other fans, and discuss events in real time. If your kids love games, odds are they have shown an interest in Twitch, and you’ll want to make sure they know how to use the platform safely and appropriately.

What Is Twitch?

From the platform’s website, “Twitch is where millions of people come together live every day to chat, interact, and make their own entertainment together.” Using Twitch, streamers (creators that record and post videos of game play live) entertain their followers with the latest games and gameplay videos. If you’re not familiar, think of it like YouTube, but the content is live (and in some cases archived), as opposed to prerecorded.

More recently, Twitch has grown beyond video games and now hosts streamers for other topics, from politics to travel and even cooking. For example, the most popular non-gaming topic is “Just Chatting”, where streamers will speak with their audience through chat or other voice services (like Discord).

Can My Kids Communicate with Others via Twitch?

Twitch is, at its core, a social platform. Streamers can DM (direct message) fans, and fans can interact with each other via the built-in chat function. Your kids can also “follow” their favorite streamers. This is similar to how you would follow anyone on a social platform: The streamer will show up in your kids’ feed as they go live (i.e., starts a livestream) and, in some cases, your kids may receive a notification to let them know someone they follow is active. Many popular streamers make their own community guidelines for live chats in their streams and hire/choose “chat moderators” to discipline users that are behaving inappropriately.

Users can obtain “Channel Points”, which can be used for streamer-specific actions (such as highlighting their chat message during a stream or even asking the streamer to do a certain action like picking their background music). Channel Points are earned by watching the stream for a certain amount of time, chatting every so often, and purchasing subscriptions during the stream’s duration (more on this later).

Some streamers also cultivate heavily moderated chats that promote safety, but unsolicited private messages can still occur in this space.

Does Twitch Cost Money?

Twitch is free, but there are options to spend money. While many streams are ad-supported, streamers often accept donations from their community, enabling some creators to make Twitch their full-time job.

There are a few functions that may require users to pay for access. For Twitch partners and affiliates (i.e., streamers with a sizable audience and approved through Twitch’s vetting process), users can purchase subscriptions, and streamers will take a portion of those profits. Some streamers also enable donation tools like Streamlabs, Patreon, Kofi, and PayPal, where users can send money to their favorite personalities – almost like a tip jar.

Some streamers also cultivate heavily moderated chats that promote safety, but unsolicited private messages can still occur

For those that have Amazon Prime, there are also free bonuses, such as a free monthly subscription to a Twitch streamer and perks for certain games – which change monthly. This can include in-game items and sometimes even free games. (Twitch is owned by Amazon.) This requires that your kids’ Twitch account be linked to an Amazon Prime account.

Twitch does not have any built-in parental controls for spending so it’s important to discuss spending limits with your kids and enforce household rules about how much, if any, money can be spent. Also, if you don’t want any money spent, make sure you don’t save any credit card information to your kids’ account.

Is There Inappropriate Content on Twitch?

Like many social platforms, there can be inappropriate content on Twitch that’s entirely unrelated to video games. Strictly adult content, such as anything explicitly sexual, is not allowed according to Twitch’s terms of service. However, as a variety of games can be streamed on Twitch, including games that are rated M for Mature, your kids could encounter content that you may consider inappropriate. Note that Twitch prohibits streams for games rated AO (Adults Only).

Fortunately, Twitch streamers can flag their streams with “Content Classification Labels” (CCLs). These labels act as a heads up to viewers and parents about the content of the stream and have the added benefit of helping parents manage what their kids have access to. This includes mandatory labels for streams incorporating:

• Mature-rated games
• Sexual Themes
• Drugs
• Intoxication
• Excessive Tobacco Use
• Violent and Graphic Depictions
• Significant Profanity or Vulgarity
• Gambling

While many of these labels must be toggled manually by the creator, Twitch will automatically label the stream of a game rated M for Mature to let parents and consumers know. To reiterate, streamers are required to label their streams if they contain the above content, but Twitch will do it for them if they fail to. For more on these requirements, visit Twitch’s CCL guide.

Beyond the automatic CCL for Mature-rated games, streamers are not required to display ESRB ratings for the games they stream. So, this is another reason to talk to your kids about who your kids are watching on Twitch, what their favorite streamers are playing, and more. No one knows your kids better than you, so it’s always a good idea to check out your kids’ favorite streamers to see how they behave.

You may also find that streamers run the gamut of appropriateness, just like the games they decide to stream. Even if a streamer is playing a game rated E for Everyone, that does not mean that the streamer’s behavior is equally appropriate. This isn’t automatically a bad thing, but it is something to be aware of as you decide what’s appropriate for your kids.

there can be inappropriate content on Twitch that’s entirely unrelated to video games

For example, some streamers may use strong language that some parents may find objectionable, while others may dress suggestively. Some streamers may choose to discuss topics that reach beyond your kids’ maturity or level of understanding (politics, current events, etc.). None of these immediately or automatically breach Twitch’s community guidelines, but it’s a fine line, and you should be the one to decide what your kids are ready to experience. This is further outlined in Twitch’s CCL guide and in the community guidelines.

Just like other forms of entertainment, Twitch offers something for just about everyone. It’s exciting to have so much varied entertainment at your fingertips, but sometimes it takes some research to decide if a particular streamer is appropriate for your kids.

How to Manage My Kids’ Twitch Activity?

Twitch does not have the kind of parental controls you can expect from video game consoles and other devices, but there are some built-in measures you can take to help manage what your kids are exposed to.

First and foremost, when signing up for an account make sure your kids enter their birthday accurately… and this tip goes for all online services your kids are interested in. This is monumentally important, especially for children under the age of 13, who are afforded numerous protections under the law about the kind of information that can be collected from them. In fact, according to Twitch’s Terms of Service, children 13 or older are allowed to create an account, but only under parental supervision. And children under the age of 13 are not allowed to create an account on Twitch at all, according to its terms of service.  Should a child under the age of 13 manage to create an account, parents can email Twitch to have the account and all associated information permanently deleted after providing relevant information to confirm that their child has breached the terms of service.

If your kids are under 18-years-old, streams labeled with Sexual Themes; Drugs, Intoxication, or Excessive Tobacco Use; Violent and Graphic Depictions; and Gambling will be filtered out by default. However, if your kids are allowed to follow a streamer with one or many of the hidden or blurred CCLs active, they will continue to show up.

You can also block or limit which streams your kids have access to based on the CCLs a streamer activates. Via the Content Display Preference section of the Profile, you can hide content labeled with CCLs that your kids may not be ready for. According to Twitch, these streams will not be recommended to your kids and will not show up as they search for content. There is also an option to blur previews and thumbnails for videos with a Sexual Themes CCL.

As previously mentioned, the chat in any given stream can be somewhat of a wildcard. Streamers cannot always control everything their followers or viewers say, even with dedicated moderators. Twitch does not offer the ability to disable chat during streams, so you can assume that your kids will have some exposure to other users – be it active or passive. However, there are options to “hide chat” for personal interactions, which means that other users cannot directly contact your kids. If that function is not activated strangers can “Whisper” (i.e., private direct message) your kids. You and your kids can block Whispers from anyone that they do not follow or subscribe to. This effectively makes it hard for strangers to reach out to your kids. But if your kids are following or subscribed to someone, that person will be able to Whisper to them.

Twitch also offers the ability to create customizable “chat filters” which can be used to block potentially inappropriate language across any channel your kids want to watch. You can enable them in your “Security & Privacy Settings.”

Streamers cannot always control everything their followers or viewers say, even with dedicated moderators.

Note though, that none of these measures are parental controls, and they are not password or PIN protected like they would be on a video game console or platform. This means your kids can technically roll back these settings without your permission, so it may be helpful to explain to them why these settings are so important and to make it part of your household rules.

Fortunately, Twitch regularly adds new safety and customization options to help make sure no one is surprised when browsing for a new stream to watch.

What If My Child Doesn’t Have an Account or Isn’t Logged In?

Twitch streams can be watched without an account. If you’re not logged in, you cannot participate in chat, but chat is still visible, meaning potentially mature conversations in a chat will appear. However, content labeled with Sexual Themes and/or Gambling will automatically be filtered out if you’re not logged in. It may be tempting to simply not make an account for your kids, but logged-in users have much more control over what they see and can turn off the direct message function entirely, as well as block or report users that are behaving inappropriately.

Talking to Your Kids About Twitch

At this point we’ve mentioned it several times, but the most powerful tool in your parenting tool belt is establishing ongoing and open dialogue with your kids about all of the content they consume online – including Twitch streams. It’s important to know who your kids’ favorite streamers are and why, so you can gain a better understanding of what your kids may experience.

With this information you can take some time to watch streams yourself to see why your kids are drawn to these personalities. In some cases, you may find that the content created by your kids’ favorite personalities are not quite appropriate, leaving the door open to explaining what is and is not permitted, and why. However, it’s just as likely that you’re entertained by it, too… and it may even turn into something you can enjoy as a family or motivate you to try playing the game being streamed!

Patricia E. Vance is the president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). In her position, she leads the teams responsible for assigning age and content ratings to video games and apps, enforcing marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry, and operating ESRB Privacy Certified, an FTC-approved COPPA Safe Harbor Privacy seal certification program.

The post What Parents Need to Know About Twitch appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

But what will your kids find as they run, fly, and adventure their way through this new game? Fortunately, we have you covered with everything you need to know to decide if Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is appropriate for your family.

Is Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Appropriate for Kids?

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is rated T for Teen, meaning it’s suitable for players ages 13 and up. Content Descriptors include Language, Mild Blood, and Violence. The game’s rating information also includes two Interactive Elements, Users Interact and In-Game Purchases. This means that players can interact with one another through co-operative online play, and in-game purchases are also available.

It’s a first-person shooter/action-adventure game in which players assume the role of a Na’vi alien engaged in resistance against a colonizing force. Players engage in frenetic combat, using arrows, explosives, and machine guns to attack enemies such as soldiers, drones, and mechs. A handful of areas allow players to use stealth tactics to infiltrate bases and attack soldiers.

According to the ESRB Rating Summary, firefights are highlighted by realistic gunfire, cries of pain, and explosions. One scene depicts blood smeared/splattered on a cliff near the corpses of soldiers. The words “sh*t” and “a*shole” appear in the game.

Where Can I Play Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and How Much Does it Cost?

It’s available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S and costs $69.99 for the standard edition, which includes the full game either digitally or physically. There is also a digital only “Gold Edition” which costs $109.99, and includes the full game and the season pass. The season pass provides access to two story packs that will be released at a later date, and some additional bonus content. Additionally, there is an “Ultimate Edition” for $129.99, which includes everything in the Gold Edition and access to in-game cosmetic items and a digital artbook.

As mentioned, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora may also offer the ability to purchase in-game items, bonuses, and/or currencies using real money. Remember to set parental controls to make sure your kids know how much money they can spend, if any!

What is Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora About?

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is an action, adventure, and exploration game set on a beautiful alien planet, filled with extraordinary creatures. It’s the story of a young Na’vi who has escapes the clutches of the Resources Development Administration (RDA) – a colonizing human organization aiming to plunder Pandora for the planet’s rich resources. Following the player character’s escape, they are tasked with learning to reintegrate with the peaceful Na’vi.

Remember to set parental controls!

The player will join their fellow Na’vi as they are forced to defend their home from the RDA. The human invaders must be repelled through a series of missions and fights, in which the player makes use of Na’vi and human weaponry, tools, flying mounts, and vehicles.

How Does Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora play?

During combat sequences, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora is a first-person shooting game. The player takes the main character’s point of view, as they encounter enemies who must be fought using a wide variety of weapons. These include quiet but powerful Na’vi bows, which are useful for stealthy players, as well as noisy human rocket launchers, which can take out heavy fortifications.

The story parts of the game include training, exploration, and other (sometime optional) quests to further benefit the Na’vi. As the player progresses through the game, they will make friends, learn more about the Na’vi, and augments their skills, such as riding flying mounts, and crafting tools and weapons. As the player grows, so will their options for approaching exploration, combat, story segments, and more. Ultimately, it will be up to you and your family to decide how to overcome obstacles and protect the Na’vi.

But remember, just exploring Pandora’s beauty and varied wildlife is a big part of what makes this expansive open-world game so enjoyable, leading to unexpected in-game scenarios!

Prepare Your Kids for Adventure

There are plenty of tools and ways to help you set reasonable limits on your kids’ video game experiences as they prepare to defend Pandora.

Of course, it’s always a good idea to check the ESRB-assigned rating information to make sure it’s appropriate for your children. If possible, we also recommend that you try the game out before giving your kids permission to play, or learn more about the game via online streams and videos.

Additionally, virtually every video game device has parental controls that allow you to manage what your kids play (based on the ESRB-assigned rating information), when and for how long, with whom, and whether they can spend money on new games or in-game purchases. You can find step-by-step parental control guides at ParentalTools.org.

If you’re looking for more tips about video games and online safety, visit ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide.

Colin Campbell is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The Economist, The Guardian, Polygon, IGN, Gamesindustry.biz and more.

The post What Parents Need to Know About Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

Microsoft’s Xbox Series X|S

Microsoft offers not one, but two consoles: The Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S. They both play the same games but there are a few notable differences that may help you decide which is a better fit for your children.

• Xbox Series X – The Xbox Series X is the fastest and most powerful Xbox ever. The Series X loads the latest high-res games with speed. Additionally, the Series X can play games via disks or download.
  • The Xbox Series X starts at $499
• Xbox Series S – Xbox Series S is similar to the Series X, although it has 1440p resolution as opposed to the Series X’s 4K. While it can play all the same games, it’s important to note that the Xbox Series S is an all-digital console, which means it does not play disc-based games, only downloads.
  • The Xbox Series S starts at $299

As mentioned, you can play the same games on both consoles, as well as many games from the original Xbox, the Xbox 360, and the Xbox One. That’s about 20 years of video games to choose from! Some Xbox games that may be on your children’s list, with their ESRB age rating noted, include:

• Forza Motorsport – Everyone
• Sonic Superstars – Everyone
• Hi-Fi RUSH – Teen
• Minecraft Legends – Everyone 10+
• Minecraft – Everyone 10+

A few of the exclusive game franchises you’ll find on the Xbox and/or Windows PC and nowhere else include Halo (Teen to Mature 17+), Starfield (Mature 17+), Age of Empires (Teen), Microsoft Flight Simulator (Everyone), and more. Additionally, Xbox users can subscribe to Xbox Game Pass (also available for PC) ) starting at $9.99/mo. for one console or PC, or $16.99/mo. for both console and PC, which provides hundreds of games at any given time..

Xbox parental controls can be set on the device, through the Xbox Family Settings app (Android and iOS), or the Microsoft Family website:

• Content & Age limits:  Set age level for ESRB rating for games on Xbox consoles for each child (via app, console, and website)
• Screen time limits:  Create screen time schedules for each child. Customize each day of the week with different ranges and what fits best for your household schedule (via app and website)
• Manage Friends:  See each friend your child is following, allow them to ‘Ask a parent’ to add a friend, or you can remove friends who your child is following. (Via app and console)
• Manage Spending:  Add money to your child’s account and enable the ‘Ask to Buy’ feature when they want to purchase a game, app, or in-game purchase. View your child’s account balance and spending history (via console and website)

Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch system can play games both on the TV at home and on a handheld anywhere. There are currently three variations of the Nintendo Switch console.

• Nintendo Switch – This is the standard Nintendo Switch, giving your kids the ability to play their games both on the TV using a “dock” and in handheld mode with the system’s built-in screen.
  • The Nintendo Switch starts at $299
• Nintendo Switch – OLED Model – While it’s largely the same as the original Nintendo Switch, it boasts a larger OLED (organic light-emitting diode) screen. This sounds complicated, but what it really means is that the colors are more vivid, with crisp contrast when you play on-the-go. It also has some other improvements (enhanced kickstand for tabletop play and a new dock with integrated LAN port, etc.), but the new screen is certainly the main draw here.
  • The Nintendo Switch – OLED Model starts at $349
• Nintendo Switch Lite – This is a handheld-only console. While it still plays nearly all the same games you’ll find on the original Nintendo Switch and the OLED Model, you cannot connect it to your TV.
  • The Nintendo Switch Lite starts at $199

Some Switch games that may interest your kids are:

• Super Mario RPG – Everyone
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Everyone
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Everyone 10+
• Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet – Everyone
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Everyone

A few of the exclusive game franchises you’ll find on the Switch and/or other Nintendo devices and nowhere else include The Legend of Zelda (Everyone to Teen), Super Mario (Everyone to Everyone 10+), Super Smash Bros. (Everyone 10+ to Teen), Pokémon (Everyone to Everyone 10+), and more.  Additionally, Nintendo users can subscribe to Nintendo Switch Online for as little as $3.99/mo. and have access to over one hundred classics from Nintendo’s back catalogue.

Parental controls can be set on the device itself, through the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app (Android and iOS), and your Nintendo Account allowing you to manage:

• Which games your kids can play based on the ESRB age rating (via console and app)
• When and for how long (via app)
• Whether communication can occur
• If they can spend money on in-game purchases (via Nintendo Account)

PlayStation 5

Sony’s newest console – the PlayStation 5 – offers a leap in power from its predecessor. There are two slightly different options available if the PlayStation 5 is on your kids’ wish list for this year.

• PlayStation 5 (2023 refresh) – This console, released with an updated design in November 2023, plays all the new games, as well as PlayStation 4 games, via either disks or digital download. Note that the older model may still available in some stores for the same price, but will be phased out in favor of this newer, slimmer design.
  • The PlayStation 5 starts at $499
• PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (2023 refresh) – The hardware capabilities are identical to the standard PlayStation 5 – meaning all the games will look and play the same as the console with a disk drive. The core difference is that this is a download only console, so you and your family will have to download games online via the PlayStation Store. That said, the refreshed model, launched in November 2023, has the ability to add a disk drive at a later date if you change your mind. This disk drive can be purchased separately for $79.99.
  • The PlayStation 5 Digital Edition starts at $449

Both consoles also play an overwhelming majority of the back catalogue of games from the PlayStation 4.  Some PlayStation games that may catch your kids’ eyes are:

• Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 – Teen
• Hogwarts Legacy – Teen
• HOT WHEELS UNLEASHED 2 – Turbocharged – Everyone
• Horizon Forbidden West – Teen
• Sackboy: A Big Adventure – Everyone

A few of the exclusive game franchises you’ll find on the PlayStation and (in some cases) on PC and nowhere else include Gran Turismo (Everyone), Ratchet & Clank (Everyone 10+ to Teen), The Last of Us (Mature 17+), Final Fantasy XVI (Mature), Uncharted (Teen), God of War (Mature 17+), and more. PlayStation users can also subscribe to PlayStation Plus, a tiered subscription service. You can choose from PlayStation Plus Essential (starts at $9.99/mo.), PlayStation Plus Extra (starts at 14.99/mo.), and PlayStation Plus Premium (starts at 17.99/mo.). Each tier has its own perks, with the highest tier including hundreds of video games to choose from.

PlayStation parental controls can be set on the device itself or through a browser-based portal on a computer or mobile device to manage:

• Which games your kids can play based on the ESRB age rating
• When and for how long
• With whom
• How much money (if any!) they can spend on in-game purchases

More Tips

Shopping for video game consoles is just the first step! There are dozens of great video game options for every family, but here are a few more tips for the holidays season, especially as the shopping competition heats up.

• Check the Ratings – Make sure you always check the ratings before you buy to make sure a video game is appropriate for your family. You can find ratings on:
  • ESRB.org
  • On the front and back of video game boxes in stores
  • On many retail websites (such as Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart)
  • On product detail pages on digital storefronts
  • In advertisements
  • Via the ESRB Rating Search App for iOS and Android.
• Update The Console – If you have time, it’s helpful to update the firmware for a console before you give it to your kids! Just like your phone, consoles receive regular updates that add new functionality, address bugs, update features, and more. While it’s very simple to do, it may not be the most fun first experience for your kids to wait for their new console to update before diving into a game. If there’s time, open the console, connect it to your internet (Wi-Fi or wired) and follow the prompts to update the console. This may also be a good opportunity to create child accounts for your children and activate parental controls. You can find more information about that below.
• Set Parental Controls – As mentioned above, every video game device has parental controls built in to help you manage what your kids play (based on the ESRB age rating), when they can play, for how long, with whom, and whether they can spend money on in-game purchases and new game downloads. However, each console’s settings have their own unique options and features, so be sure to explore how your new console can help you keep video games a positive experience for your family. If there’s time, hook up the console and set parental controls before you give your kids the new console. This way everything is set as soon as they unwrap their gifts. Visit ParentalTools.org for step-by-step parental controls guides.

Make sure you always check the ratings before you buy to make sure a video game is appropriate for your family.

• Visit the Family Gaming Guide – Our user-friendly guide has tips to help you manage your kids’ video game experiences. The Family Gaming Guide explores picking appropriate games, managing screen time, establishing household rules, keeping your kids’ personal information safe, and more! Check out the guide to maintain some peace of him around your kids’ video game experiences.
• Review the Online Safety Principles that Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox share to  help ensure  the safety of their players, especially those most vulnerable.  Those principles include:
  • Prevention: Empower players and parents to understand and control gaming experiences
  • Partnership: Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox commit to partnering with industry, regulators, law enforcement, and their communities to advance user safety
  • Responsibility: Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox hold themselves accountable for making their platforms as safe as possible for all players.

Patricia E. Vance is the president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). In her position, she leads the teams responsible for assigning age and content ratings to video games and apps, enforcing marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry, and operating ESRB Privacy Certified, an FTC-sanctioned COPPA Safe Harbor Privacy seal certification program.

The post What Parents Need to Know About Shopping for Video Game Consoles appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

Is Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Appropriate for your Kids?

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is rated T for Teen, with Content Descriptors for Blood, Drug Reference, Mild Language, and Violence. There is also an Interactive Element assigned for In-Game Purchases.

According to the assigned Rating Summary, players will enter the spider-shoes of Peter Parker and Miles Morales as they “attempt to save New York City from a new threat.” You can also expect characters that “punch, kick, and throw each other during fights,” with main characters using special abilities to battle criminals, villains, and other bad guys. Keep in mind that there are instances of blood, as well as references to drugs, and some mild language.

Where Can You Play Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and How Much Does it Cost?

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is available on the PlayStation 5 and costs $69.99 for the Standard Edition and $79.99 for the Digital Deluxe Edition that includes the game, unique spider suits for both Peter and Miles, and two skill points.

There is also a Collector’s Edition available for $229 that includes the game, a statue, and other physical and in-game items. You can find all of those details here.

As previously mentioned, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 also includes a label for In-Game Purchases. This means the game may offer the ability to purchase additional content directly within the game.

What is Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 About?

Following the events of 2018’s Marvel’s Spider-Man and 2020’s Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales players can once again swing into the webbed shoes of both Peter Parker and Miles Morales. This iteration sees Peter and Miles join forces to protect Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn from various villains, including Kraven the Hunter, who sees the Spider-Men as his ultimate hunt. Also making appearances are classic Spider-Man villains like the Lizard, Venom, and more.

Like the previous Spider-Games, the spider-men’s secret identities play a big role in the sequel. When not webbing around the city, players will experience moments as Peter and Miles as they try to navigate their double-lives, while keeping their loved ones safe. Miles, for example, is now old enough to be considering his future education, along with all the pressure that comes along with that. Meanwhile, Peter’s best friend, Harry Osborne, is plagued by a serious illness, making Peter desperate to help.

How Does Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Play?

The first thing that comes to mind when someone thinks of Spider-Man is swinging around New York City. This is a huge part of Insomniac’s Spider-Man 2, which gives players all of the tools to gracefully swing, wall-run, and catapult around a massive city at breakneck speeds. Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 also introduces the “Web Wings”, which allow the player to glide through wind tunnels to speed up travel and create variety in how the player can get from point A to point B.

But what would Spider-Man be without being able to save some citizens and beat up some bad guys. Combat is another pillar of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Peter and Miles have the ability to punch, kick, and pummel, all while leveraging their Spidey-sense (which appears as a colored wave above the characters’ heads) to dodge and parry enemy attacks. These standard fisticuffs can be further augmented with the use of gadgets, like little web grenades that grab multiple enemies to one point, and abilities, like Miles’ electricity powers (which he calls Venom powers… not to be confused with the bad guy named Venom) for additional options.

If you and your family are more into a stealthy approach, both Peter and Miles also have many opportunities to deal with situations quietly. The Spider-Men can use many of their abilities quietly to web up or knock out bad guys without getting into an all-out brawl.

Lastly, there are also some light puzzles that you and your kids may help Peter and Miles solve. After all… they’re scientists as well as superheroes, and sometimes the best way to solve a problem is with your brain!

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is a single-player, open-world, action-adventure game. While only one person can play at a time, the game is cinematic and visually varied, making it fun to take turns and share with the whole family.

Managing Your Kids’ Superhero Adventures

Even when your kids are itching to save New York City it’s important to manage how they do so. Fortunately, there are a bevy of tools and tips to help you set reasonable limits on your kids’ video game experiences.

It’s always great to start by checking the ESRB-assigned rating information to make sure it’s appropriate for your children. If possible, we also recommend that you try the game out before giving your kids permission to play.

That said, virtually every video game device has parental controls that allow you to manage what your kids play (based on the ESRB-assigned rating information), when and for how long, with whom, and whether they can spend money on new games or in-game purchases. You can find step-by-step parental control guides at ParentalTools.org.

If you’re looking for more tips about video games and online safety, visit ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide.

The post What Parents Need to Know About Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

So, what’s new in this iteration of the long-running series? We’re here to tell you everything you need to know to decide if it’s appropriate for your family.

Is Super Mario Bros. Wonder Appropriate for Your Kids?

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is rated E for Everyone, with Content Descriptors for Mild Fantasy Violence and an Interactive Element for In-Game Purchases. This is a platforming game in which players control characters from the Mario universe as they try to stop the villain Bowser. Players traverse whimsical environments while jumping on enemies’ heads, throwing shells, and tossing small fireballs to knock them off-screen. Boss battles contain more involved combat against giant enemies that breathe fire and smash parts of the scenery.

As is the case with most Mario games, the content is cartoony and colorful, making it generally suitable for all ages.

Where Can You Play Super Mario Bros. Wonder and How Much Is It?

Super Mario Bros. Wonder is available for the Nintendo Switch and costs $59.99 both physically and digitally.

As mentioned, Super Mario Bros. Wonder also includes an Interactive Element for In-Game Purchases. This means that the game may include offers to purchase additional content.

What is Super Mario Bros. Wonder About?

Mario and his band of best friends are helping Prince Florian regain the pretty and magical Flower Kingdom from the Bowser’s nefarious influence. Players select a character to play from a roster of much-loved characters including Daisy, Luigi, Peach, and Toad. It’s the first traditional 2D Mario platforming game from Nintendo in more than a decade.

How Does Super Mario Bros. Wonder Play?

If you’ve ever played a classic 2D Mario side-scrolling adventure like Super Mario Bros. then you’ll know what to expect. Players steer Mario and his friends through several colorful, increasingly challenging worlds of platforms, obstacles, power-ups. As you jump, stop, and “wah-hoo” your way through levels, you and your family will battle cartoonish enemies, including familiar foes like Goombas and new baddies like Maw-Maws – funny, walking mouths that eat anything in their path.

In this iteration, cute talking flowers help the player by giving tips, and cracking jokes. Special Wonder Flowers trigger strange changes to the world, like transforming static pipes into wriggly, worm-like forms that the player can ride, or temporarily suspending gravity, allowing Mario and the gang to jump higher. It all adds to the magical charm of the world, as well as the more unexpected puzzle-like aspects of the gameplay.

Collectible power-ups and badges also return, giving your character special abilities. In addition to mainstays like mushrooms and fire flowers, Mario and some other characters can turn themselves into elephants, making use of extra size and strength as well as a useful trunk that can swat away enemies and spray water.

Players can also turn themselves into bubble-blowing bosses, capturing enemies at a distance, or using the bubbles as temporary platforms to access hard-to-reach areas. There are sure to be other power-up surprises throughout the game, too.

Can I Play With Other People?

Super Mario Bros. Wonder can be enjoyed as a single-player game or together with up to four players on the same Nintendo Switch, making the game fun for the whole family to play together.

While Super Mario Bros. Wonder does include some online features, it is not traditional co-operative play. Instead, players will be able to see which levels their friends have beaten and enter races to see if they can complete the level faster. Players can also leave “standees” (which look like little wooden cutouts of characters) in levels. Should their friend be playing the same level on their own Nintendo Switch, they will see that standee from your family and receive a bonus from it!

Younger children can play as Yoshi or Nabbit, who don’t take damage, making it easier to complete levels and explore the world and overcome some of the more challenging platforming sections. If a player loses a life, another player can save them and bring them back into the game, adding another layer of accessibility for younger players or players that are still learning.

Managing Your Kids’ Games

Modern game consoles, including Nintendo Switch, feature a variety of parental controls that allow you to manage which games your kids can play, when and for how long, whether they can share content with other online, and whether they can spend money on new games or in-game purchases. You can find step-by-step guides on how to set parental controls at ParentalTools.org.

Super Mario Bros. Wonder can be enjoyed as a single-player game or together with up to four players

Additional Tips for Parents

While parental controls offer parents many great choices, there are always more steps you can take to ensure that your kids have appropriate video game experiences.

We always say that the best first step is to call a family meeting and establish some household rules around video game play. By discussing video game play in your home, while acknowledging the positives, you’re setting a precedent for an open-ended, judgment-free conversation about video games.

You’re also letting your kids know that, while you respect their love of playing games, there are parameters that the whole family needs to respect (including you!). Just remember to back up your household rules with parental controls if/when you need to!

It is always a good idea to check the ESRB ratings pages for the games your kids play, and to do your own research, by viewing game trailers and independent game reviews.

Visit ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide for more information on household rules, parental controls, online safety tips, and more.

Colin Campbell is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in The Economist, The Guardian, Polygon, IGN, Gamesindustry.biz and more.

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Tyler Jones, who began using Discord when he was 15, sums up the platform’s appeal to teens and young adults this way: “It’s fast, it’s reliable, it’s easy to use, and it offers so many features, like video calling, screen sharing and presenting, and customizations, that other sites don’t have for free.”

More than anything, Discord helps facilitate socialization among peers, especially in times when it’d be otherwise impossible to do so in-person.

“I’ve known a lot of young adults my age struggle socially, especially in a time like now, and have found Discord as a comforting place to make friends and keep up with them,” Jones said.

If you’re intrigued about Discord, the following will help you learn the basics about Discord, including how you can make sure your kids stay safe while navigating the platform.

What is Discord?

Discord is a free communications platform that lets users text, talk, video chat, and share screens with one another. It was initially used largely by gamers, but it’s since spread to other groups thanks to its ease-of-use and wide variety of useful functions, including to host book clubs, knitting groups, sewing circles, and all manner of gatherings, both personal and professional.

How is Discord Different from Other Social Media Platforms?

One of Discord’s biggest differentiators is that it has no ads. Discord also says it does not sell user data or share its data with third parties for advertising purposes, although it does offer a subscription that offers users various enhancements to the Discord experience.  And unlike many social media platforms, there’s no news feed.

Users can also engage with either public or private spaces. As implied by the name, the public servers (communities organized around a specific topic or group) are accessible to anyone, meaning whatever your kids post can be seen by anyone that happens across that space. Meanwhile, private servers are only accessible to approved users, giving your kids the opportunity to set up their own servers for people they know, or joining their friends’ servers.

This makes Discord a more personally curated platform.

Discord’s Vocabulary

Discord can be tricky for the uninitiated. Thankfully, there’s a glossary, as well as numerous beginner’s guides, including an official guide from Discord, an unofficial guide from PCWorld, and a manual put together by M.I.T. students on how to use Discord to collaborate with classmates on projects.

Some terms you may hear are:

• Server: Spaces where users can gather and communicate. Servers can be started by communities and friend groups and can be either public (meaning anyone can join) or invitation only. Any user can start a new server for free.
• Channel: Servers are organized into text and voice channels through which users can communicate. These are usually more limited in scope and dedicated to specific topics.
• DMs: Short for “direct message”. These are private messages (via text, voice, or video) sent directly from one user to another.
• GDMs: This is short for “group direct message”. While direct messages are between two people, users can invite others to a private conversation of up to 10 people. Users cannot join a conversation unless they are invited.

Users can also engage with either public or private spaces.

Can Children Use Discord?

Discord’s Terms of Service states that only users who are 13 years or older may use its service in the U.S. That said, there are children under 13 who use Discord. The company has said it is developing a “gate” that asks users to self-report their date of birth upon creating an account. If a user is reported as being under 13, Discord will lock the user out of their account until they can verify their age with an official ID.

Make sure your kids know to never lie about their age on Discord or any other platform!

Can Strangers Interact With My Children on Discord?

It depends on your child’s account settings. When your kids join a server, others in that server can send them direct messages. You can, however, disable this feature in the account settings under the Privacy & Safety tab (see more details below). You can also select who can send your child a friend request, for example, you can choose everyone, friends of friends, or only other server members.

Discord recommends that users accept friend invites only from people they know. Keep in mind that users do not have to use their real names on Discord, so it may take one extra step to confirm who’s sending an invite. There’s also an option to scan messages and delete those that have explicit content. Should your kids ever encounter someone behaving inappropriately, Discord allows you to block the person in question, which prevents them from sending your kids direct messages and hides their messages in any shared servers. You can also create an invite-only server and invite only people you or your children know personally.

How Can I Help Ensure My Kids Use Discord Safely?

Discord’s Family Center helps parents monitor how their kids use the platform. Using the Family Center will help you gain insight into your kids’ activity on the platform, but it will not provide a transcript of your kids’ conversations with others. Rather, the goal is to help you understand how your kids use Discord and to nurture an open-ended dialogue on appropriate/safe online behavior. As such, this is an opt-in tool, meaning both you and your kids must agree to be part of it.

You can also select who can send your child a friend request

To sign up for the Family Center your kids need to first share a QR code with you to begin the process. Once you scan that code, your child(ren) will be prompted to accept the connection and the Family Center will begin recording and reporting information. Discord notes that the Family Center will not include a “complete archive of activity” and will only populate activity occurring after your kids have opted into the program. To be clear, your child(ren) must invite you to use the tool. Without their invite there is no way to activate the Family Center.

Parents that are connected to the Family Center will be able to see when their kids add new friends, join and/or participate in new servers, and who they message or call in direct or group chats. All this information is accessible at any time via the Discord app. You can also receive weekly activity reports via email that highlight whom your kids have messaged and/or called, how many new friends they have (and who they are), the servers they’ve joined, and more.

As mentioned above, Discord also has safety and privacy settings to help manage what is visible to other users and how they can engage. The chart below highlights many of these features, as well as how you can activate them:

It’s important to remember that anyone with access to a Discord account login can change the settings at any time, including your kids. However, Discord emphasizes in its safety FAQ that it will not share user login details with parents who request access to their kids’ accounts. So, you’ll have to get access from your kids directly.

For additional information on the Family Center, safety settings, privacy, and more you can visit Discord’s Parent Hub.

Is There Inappropriate Content on Discord?

As with any social media platform with user-generated and contributed content, Discord can contain content that’s inappropriate for kids. The platform’s community guidelines require that servers with adult content include an “age-restricted” label.

More recently, Discord has updated its community guidelines to also prohibit harmful misinformation and in some cases examine off-platform behavior when assessing if a user has violated the guidelines. According to Discord, this is part of an ongoing effort to make sure the platform stays safe for its users.

It’s great when companies and platforms take steps to ensure the safety of their users, but there’s no substitute for having a conversation with your kids about what to do when they spot inappropriate content. You can do this not only when they use Discord, but when they interact with other social media platforms as well.

Discord provides training materials for its users on how to moderate communities, while also spending resources to monitor and enforce compliance with its guidelines across the platform. In fact, every six months, it releases a Transparency Report highlighting how many users were reported for community guidelines violations, why the reports were submitted (harassment, spam, cybercrime, graphic content, etc.), the actions taken by the trust and safety team, and more.

Discord provides training materials for its users on how to moderate communities, while also spending resources to monitor and enforce compliance with its guidelines across the platform. In fact, every six months, it releases a Transparency Report highlighting how many users were reported for community guidelines violations, why the reports were submitted (harassment, spam, cybercrime, graphic content, etc.), the actions taken by the trust and safety team, and more.

What Else Can Parents Do to Monitor What Their Kids Are Doing on Discord?

As with all social media and online game platforms, parents should nurture an ongoing, open conversation with each of their kids about their use of those platforms. Showing interest by regularly checking in and asking them to share what they’re doing on Discord in a non-judgmental way is a not only a great way to understand how the platform works and how your kids are using it, but also ascertain any potential risks.

For more information and tips about how you can help protect your kids’ personal information visit our Family Gaming Guide.

Patricia E. Vance is the president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). In her position, she leads the teams responsible for assigning age and content ratings to video games and apps, enforcing marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry, and operating ESRB Privacy Certified, an FTC-sanctioned COPPA Safe Harbor Privacy seal certification program.

The post What Parents Need to Know About Discord appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

What is Roblox?

Roblox has an ESRB-assigned rating of T for Teen, with a Content Descriptor for Diverse Content: Discretion Advised, and Interactive Elements including Users Interact and In-App Purchases. This may be the first time you notice the Content Descriptor for “Diverse Content: Discretion Advised,” which means that the app or platform in question “offers access to a variety of content. Some content may not be appropriate for all ages.” While Roblox’s millions of users are free to create and play a wide range of games, some may be inappropriate for kids. For example, a streaming platform like Disney+ (T for Teen) offers both Bluey and Logan. This is not a one-to-one comparison since video games are inherently different experiences compared to TV and movies, but most parents may be hesitant to let their younger kids watch Logan, which is rated R by the MPAA, while being perfectly fine with their kids watching Bluey, an animated series produced for kids and rated TV-Y.

What Is Roblox Studio?

Although likely to be too challenging for younger kids to master, Roblox Studio tools are easy for novices to learn. Most importantly, Roblox provides a digital playground for kids who are interested in developing their own games. Roblox Studio’s controlled environment provides a non-threatening space in which kids can experiment, create, fail, try again, and ultimately succeed in developing a real game!

The main purpose of Roblox is for kids to have fun, but there are other benefits, including teaching kids the basics of coding, game design, and (for kids that want to try their hand at selling their creations) entrepreneurism. Who knows, it may even inspire a career in STEAM when they grow up!

While Roblox’s millions of users are free to create and play a wide range of games, some may be inappropriate for kids.

It’s also sometimes possible to make Robux – Roblox‘s in-game currency – and even real money by creating and selling content on the platform (more on Robux later). While this may be a fun goal, it’s dependent upon creating an experience or item that is purchased (with Robux) by a significant number of people. You can imagine that, with so many active users and established creators, this can be a challenge! That said, it doesn’t change the fact that practical skills can be learned from creating and developing unique experiences on the Roblox platform.

How to Mitigate Risks in Roblox

Roblox proactively monitors the content created on its platform, but with hundreds of millions of active users a month it’s essential that you stay involved with your kids’ Roblox experiences to ensure that they remain appropriate. Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to maintain peace of mind while helping to make sure your kids are having fun on Roblox.

First and foremost, make sure that your child’s registration in Roblox includes an accurate birthdate! This will enable automatic content filtering and other protections specifically designed to protect children under the age of 13. Because Roblox primarily consists of user-created content, the development team has integrated a variety of parental controls directly into its Account Settings, a topic further explored in the Roblox parents guide and in the Roblox FAQ.

The main purpose of Roblox is for kids to have fun, but there are other benefits, including teaching kids the basics of coding, game design, and (for kids that want to try their hand at selling their creations) entrepreneurism.

Roblox also groups games into four age-based categories to indicate appropriateness: All Ages, 9+, 13+, and 17+. The platform’s parental settings give you the ability to curate the content your kids may have access to when playing based on these age groups with Allowed Experiences controls. These also allow you to restrict voice chat to approved friends or disable voice chat entirely. You can learn how to enable those settings here.

Roblox also allows your child to block and report annoying or disruptive players that they may encounter when playing online. Make sure they (and you) know how to do so. This is also a good opportunity to remind your kids that they can come to you if they encounter another individual that is rude or making them feel uncomfortable – no matter what! While you can also create a curated and approved friends list for your kids, remember that you can also disable communication entirely if you’re kids aren’t ready to engage with others online yet.

Another basic internet safety rule is to never share personal information or passwords online. This means no sharing your real name with strangers, where you live, where you go to school… nothing! If someone says they need this information to have a good time, then the best course of action is to simply block and report them. Again… no matter what.

Many parents also tell us that screen time is often top-of-mind. Fortunately, whichever device your child uses to play Roblox includes parental controls settings you can activate to manage when your kids can play and for how long. Even better, many devices provide a solution to manage parental controls from your mobile device, either via a dedicated app or an online portal. For example, Apple’s Screen Time feature is built into Apple devices, while Google’s Family Link also helps parents keep an eye on things from a distance. Microsoft also offers the Xbox Family Settings app, which can control both Windows PC and Xbox devices.

Roblox’s parental controls are great, but you can also set parental controls directly on your kids’ devices. These controls can help manage what your kids play based on the ESRB-assigned rating information, when and for how long they can play. with whom they can communicate, and whether they can spend money on in-game purchases or new games. Visit ParentalTools.org for step-by-step parental controls guides to help.

Where Can You Play Roblox?

Roblox is free to download and play on smartphones, tablets, Amazon Fire devices, computers (both PC and Mac), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. There is also a VR version of Roblox available for the Meta Quest 2/3, Meta Quest Pro, HTC Vive, and Valve Index.

Roblox on the Microsoft Store for Windows and Xbox

How Much Does Roblox Cost?

The cost of purchasing Robux in Roblox

While being free to download, the game offers optional in-game currency called “Robux.” Purchasing Robux is not at all a requirement to play, and many players enjoy the game without spending a dime. That said, players can use Robux to obtain new clothes, accessories, gear, and more (depending upon the experience) for their avatar. You can also purchase special abilities, bonus in-game content and access to certain user-created games. There are a number of ways to obtain Robux, but the most straightforward way is to simply purchase it. The smallest amount you can purchase is 400 Robux for $4.99. The “exchange rate” is slightly more favorable if you decide to purchase more. Alternatively, a paid monthly subscription to Roblox Premium includes a monthly deposit of Robux along with a variety of bonus features. Roblox Premium ranges in cost from $4.99 per month to $19.99 per month.

As mentioned, don’t forget to set parental controls to manage how much your kids are allowed to spend (or block spending entirely).

Additional Tips for Parents

While Allowed Experiences and parental controls offer parents many great choices, there are always more steps you can take to ensure that your kids have appropriate video game experiences.

We always say that the best first step is to call a family meeting and establish some household rules around video game play. By discussing video game play in your home, while acknowledging the positives, you’re setting a precedent for an open-ended, judgment-free conversation about video games. You’re also letting your kids know that, while you respect their love of playing games, there are parameters that the whole family needs to respect (including you!). Just remember to back up your household rules with parental controls if/when you need to!

Visit ESRB’s Family Gaming Guide for more information on household rules, parental controls, online safety tips, and more.

The post What Parents Need To Know About Roblox appeared first on ESRB Ratings.

Over the years VR has gone from a science fiction pipedream to a household staple for millions of families. Like with any emerging technology, parents and caregivers will want to know more about how they can keep VR appropriate for their kids. ESRB is here to help!

What is VR?

Let’s start with the basics. For many, VR can conjure images of the Holodeck from Star Trek. While that sounds great, we’re not quite there yet. VR currently comes in a few forms, all of which are centered around a headset that is strapped to the users’ face. There are two main types of headsets: Tethered and untethered.

Tethered headsets include devices like the newly released PlayStation VR2 (better known as the PS VR2) and its predecessor the PS VR. These devices must be plugged into an external source, which runs the actual video game. For example, the PS VR2 must be plugged into a PlayStation 5.

The most popular examples of untethered headsets are the Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro. Unlike its tethered cousins, these are totally self-contained and run games and apps directly from the device. It’s worth noting that most untethered headsets now have the ability to plug into a computer, opening the door to more games with a higher visual quality (depending upon how beefy your PC is). Note that the Meta Quest Pro is targeted at the business and professional market, rather than the average consumer seeking entertainment options.

Is VR Appropriate for Kids?

Deciding if a VR game or experience is appropriate for your kids is very similar to how you may decide about traditional video games. The big difference here is perspective. Even compared to first person video games, VR can be more immersive due to the user being physically put into the environment, including the ability to interact with aspects of the game using their own movements.

Visuals are only one part of this consideration though. The evolution of “3D audio” aims to mirror how sound would react in the real world depending upon the position of the player’s head. Some headsets like the PS VR2 – also include “haptics” in the headset. This allows for little vibrations or pulses that further immerse the player. Even the controllers have haptics included, making for semi-realistic interactions with in-game environments.

Your tried-and-true strategies for picking appropriate games will likely remain unchanged. It’s always a good idea to start by checking the ratings, and the good news is ESRB assigns age and content ratings to many VR games, including everything available for download on the PlayStation Store and for the Meta Quest.

Beyond that, it will be especially helpful to check gameplay videos on websites like YouTube or Twitch. Doing so will help you better understand how the experience presents to a user and make sure the content and perspective is appropriate for your kids.

All that being said, manufacturers often note that VR headsets are recommended for kids 13 and up.

Online Play in VR

Many games allow users to cooperate, compete, and communicate via online play, and VR is no different. There are some popular games, like Rec Room (Everyone 10+), that allow users to create in-game avatars and interact with others in virtual spaces. This adds another dimension to online play; in addition to voice and/or text players now have a visual, in-game representation of their own body. Note that this is not an exact one-to-one look-alike, but it definitely adds another layer of interactivity and personalization to online video games.

Your tried-and-true strategies for picking appropriate games will likely remain unchanged.

Online play can add a wonderful, innovative layer to games, where users can “exist” in the same space and share experiences, no matter where in the world they are. Like with traditional online video games, it’s still important to keep in mind that not everyone wants to communicate in the same way. Most people play online to have a good time with their friends, but if your kids ever encounter someone behaving inappropriately make sure they know how to mute, block, and/or report the individual.

Keeping VR Experiences Safe and Fun

Virtually all video game consoles have parental controls to help parents and caregivers manage what their kids play, with whom, for how long, and whether money can be spent on new games or in-game purchases. VR is not much different. For example, the PS VR and PS VR2 have parental controls linked to your PlayStation console, allowing you to manage those experiences in the same way you would manage your kid’s traditional video games on the platform.

Meta offers parental supervision tools for the Quest and Quest 2. These are somewhat less comprehensive than other game device parental controls and are more focused on allowing you to

monitor your kids’ VR activity. That said, they are a great step to staying involved with your kids’ video games.

ESRB offers free step-by-step parental controls guides to help make it easier for parents and caregivers to set up these tools. You can find those at ParentalTools.org. For more tips about how you can manage your kids’ video game experiences visit our Family Gaming Guide.

VR Tips

With any new technology there are new intricacies to learn. Here are some additional tips to help you and your family have a great time with your new VR headset:

• Cost May Vary – Some VR headsets cost $399 and others can sell for more than to $1,000. In fact, VR hits just about every price-point in between! Make sure you know what you’re getting, and if you’re looking into a tethered headset double check that you have a PC that is powerful enough or a compatible console.
• Make Some Space – You may recall the many TVs lost to Wiimote accidents; it’s funny to watch but not so funny if it happens in your home. Make sure you set up a dedicated space for VR to prevent any collateral damage! Part of this is also making sure people are not walking into the radius of a pair of wildly flailing arms. VR controllers also come with straps to attach to your wrists, so that may be a new Household Rule to establish.
• Take Breaks – I’m not prone to motion sickness, but there have been times when playing in VR when I find that I get a bit queasy and need to take a break. Meanwhile, my wife gets motion sick walking from the kitchen to the couch, and she’s had wonderful, stable VR experiences. It’s different for everyone, but make sure you and your kids take breaks, drink water, and monitor your reaction to VR experiences, especially as you start out and get used to the technology. Some of this has to do with certain aspects of a game, so while one game may make you feel like you need a 30-year-nap, others will be just fine! To better approach this some storefronts – like the Meta Quest Store – have “comfort ratings”.
• Have Fun! – Video games are a great way to share some quality time with your family. Even in VR, there are myriad games – like Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes (Everyone 10+) – that can be played together. Not only will you have a good time, but you’ll better understand why your kids love video games and how you can create appropriate video game experiences.

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