Who’s Really in Your Child’s Online Game? Protecting Kids from Predators in Gaming

Online games are where many kids spend their free time, and where they meet people they have never met in real life. Most of those encounters are friendly. But predators know games attract children, and they use chat features, voice channels, and in-game friendships to build trust over time. For parents, the goal is not fear. It is awareness.

Predators use games to earn trust. They often pretend to be other kids or teens, blend into group chats, and slowly steer conversations toward personal questions. One of the clearest warning signs is “platform hopping” — when a stranger asks your child to leave the game and keep talking on a private messaging app. That request is a red flag, and it deserves a family conversation before it happens.

Parental controls do more than limit screen time. Most consoles, computers, phones, and tablets let parents limit or block voice and text chat with strangers, curate friend lists, and control who can reach their child. The ESRB’s guides walk families through these settings step by step. Setting them up together with your child builds trust rather than just restriction.

Teach kids to mute, block, and report. Every major gaming platform lets players mute, block, and report people who behave inappropriately. Children need to know they will never get in trouble for reporting something that made them uncomfortable, and that they can always come to a parent first.

Keep the conversation open and routine. Ask who your child plays with and how they know them. Make it clear that uncomfortable interactions are never their fault, and that reporting them helps keep other kids safe too.

The ESRB shared these and other practical tips for Safer Internet Day. You can read the full list here: ESRB’s Video Game Tips for Families.

If you are worried about a conversation your child has had online, do not wait. Save the messages and report it. Report a Predator →