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# Are Online Games Safe for Kids? Risks and Easy Fixes
- URL: https://idleweekend.net/are-online-games-safe-for-kids/
- Published: 2026-10-11T20:01:12.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-14T07:37:11.000Z
- Description: Online games can be safe for kids when the settings match their age. The main risks are chat with strangers, scams and in-game spending, and each has a simple fix.
- Author: Alex Morgan
- Tags: parenting, online safety, kids gaming, parental controls, #gce-3a79f057

Whether online games are safe for kids depends mostly on the game and the settings you choose. Online games can be safe for kids when the settings and the game match your child's age. Related reading: [Best Video Games for Kids by Age](https://idleweekend.net/best-video-games-for-kids-by-age/).

No online platform or service is risk-free, especially for children when gaming. [\[1\]](https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/gaming?ref=idleweekend.net) The main risks are chat with other players, scams and in-game spending. Children are at risk from bullying, identity theft, credit card fraud and even sexual exploitation. [\[2\]](https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-center/threats/top-7-online-gaming-dangers-facing-kids?ref=idleweekend.net)

The rest of this article explains what each risk looks like and what you can change, starting with the age settings on your child's account. You don't need to be a gamer yourself to act on it, since most fixes are settings and conversations.

## What should you know about age ratings and features before a child plays?

Start with the sign-up age, because it decides which safety settings your child gets. Many platforms turn on their parental controls according to the age on the account, so a wrong birth date can leave your child with the wrong protections. Enter your child's real age when you create the account. [\[3\]](https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-games/?ref=idleweekend.net)

### Not every game fits every child

Not every game on a platform suits every child. [\[3\]](https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-games/?ref=idleweekend.net) A title that works for a 15-year-old may be wrong for a 9-year-old, even on the same service. Before your child starts a new game, [read its age rating](https://idleweekend.net/how-to-read-esrb-ratings/) and what the game is about, and ask whether it fits your child's age.

Do not judge a game by how popular it is with friends. Popularity says nothing about whether the content or the other players suit your child.

### Check the chat settings

Chat is the part of a game where your child can talk with people they do not know, so look at the chat options before you let them play. Open the game's settings and see whether voice chat or open chat is turned on. Then decide whether your child needs it.

For children under 13, you can manage who your child can speak to by disabling chat completely or limiting it to friends only. [\[3\]](https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-games/?ref=idleweekend.net) Say your child plays a building game where strangers can join their world. Turning chat off, or limiting it to friends your child knows in real life, keeps those strangers from talking to them.

You can also switch off your child's inbox to stop them receiving direct messages. [\[3\]](https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-games/?ref=idleweekend.net) That closes off private messages from strangers, which is a separate route from in-game chat. Setting up chat and inbox together gives you more control than either one alone.

Once the age is right and the chat is limited, you can decide which games are fine to play.

![A parent holds a video game case in a shop, studying the age rating and content notes on the back.](https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=parent%20reading%20game%20age%20rating%20label%20on%20video%20game%20box&w=800&h=450&rs=1&c=4)

## Which online risks matter most for kids?

The biggest online risks for kids come from other people, not the game itself. Most online games have a voice chat feature that is integral to the game. [\[4\]](https://www.luriechildrens.org/en/blog/keeping-kids-safe-during-video-game-play/?ref=idleweekend.net) That means a child can talk with strangers in the middle of a match, and you may not hear those conversations.

The first risk most kids meet is toxic players. Kids can run into "toxic players," people who insult, pick on or pressure them during play. [\[4\]](https://www.luriechildrens.org/en/blog/keeping-kids-safe-during-video-game-play/?ref=idleweekend.net) If a teammate keeps calling your child names round after round, that is harassment, not just a bad mood. A few cruel messages can spoil a game night, so it helps to ask your child about the people they play with.

Bullying is one of the risks named for children who play online. Kaspersky lists bullying, identity theft, credit card fraud and even sexual exploitation among the dangers kids face. [\[2\]](https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-center/threats/top-7-online-gaming-dangers-facing-kids?ref=idleweekend.net) Each one looks different in a game, so it helps to know what each one looks like before your child logs in.

### Identity theft and card fraud

Identity theft and credit card fraud are risks when a stranger gets personal details or payment information. [\[2\]](https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-center/threats/top-7-online-gaming-dangers-facing-kids?ref=idleweekend.net) A common example is a player who asks for a username, a birthday or a card number to "help" with an item or a trade. Your child should never give those details to anyone in a game, even someone who sounds friendly and fun to play with.

### Strangers and sexual exploitation

Sexual exploitation is one of the dangers Kaspersky names for children online. [\[2\]](https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-center/threats/top-7-online-gaming-dangers-facing-kids?ref=idleweekend.net) That is why chat with strangers needs watching, not just a quick check when the account is set up. Pay attention to any stranger who asks your child to keep a conversation secret or to talk about personal things. Those are the moments when you want your child to come to you right away.

![A boy in headphones sits at a laptop in a dim bedroom, glancing at a chat window while his game runs on the screen.](https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th?q=child%20wearing%20headphones%20playing%20online%20game%20on%20laptop%20late%20at%20night&w=800&h=450&rs=1&c=4)

## How do you make online games safer for your child?

You can lower most of the risk with five steps. Each one ties a setting or a conversation to a specific risk.

1. **Sign up with the correct age.** As the platform's safety settings and parental controls are enabled according to your child's age, the sign-up details must be accurate. [\[3\]](https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-games/?ref=idleweekend.net) If your child enters the wrong age, the protections built for that age may not apply.
2. **Build a list of games for your child's age.** Not all games on a platform will be appropriate for your child. [\[3\]](https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-games/?ref=idleweekend.net) Depending on your child's age, you can build a list of the games they can access and exclude the others. [\[3\]](https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-games/?ref=idleweekend.net) For example, if your nine-year-old asks for a game aimed at teens, leave it off the list and suggest one that is on it.
3. **Switch off in-app spending, or set limits.** You can also switch off in-app spending or let them set monthly limits. [\[3\]](https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-games/?ref=idleweekend.net) Either way, your child can't keep buying items without you knowing. Turn the setting on for every account your child uses, not just the one you set up.
4. **Talk with your child about toxic players.** Kids might run into toxic players, so explain what that looks like and that you want to hear about it. [\[4\]](https://www.luriechildrens.org/en/blog/keeping-kids-safe-during-video-game-play/?ref=idleweekend.net) Tell your child they can come to you when someone makes them uncomfortable, and that you will not punish them for telling you. Ask open questions, such as "What games have you been playing on Roblox recently?" [\[3\]](https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-games/?ref=idleweekend.net) A question like this often opens up a conversation about what happened in a match.
5. **Teach your child not to share personal details or payment information.** Online play can expose children to identity theft and credit card fraud. [\[2\]](https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-center/threats/top-7-online-gaming-dangers-facing-kids?ref=idleweekend.net) Tell your child never to give a player an address, school name, password or a parent's card number, even to get a free item. If someone asks for any of these, your child should stop replying and tell you.

Start with the first two steps, since they decide which games and features your child can reach. The other three keep the account safe once play begins. For a closer look, read [A Parent's Guide to Video Games](https://idleweekend.net/parent-s-guide-to-video-games/).

## What mistakes do parents often make with online games?

The three mistakes parents make most often are trusting the age rating to cover chat, leaving spending open, and assuming their child will never meet a scam. Each one is easy to fix once you know it's there.

### Assuming the age rating covers chat

Many parents read the age label and stop there. A rating tells you about the game's content, but it doesn't tell you who your child can talk to. Look at the chat settings on the platform separately.

On many platforms, the sign-up age controls the safety settings. For example, for children under 13, you can manage who your child can speak to by disabling chat completely or limiting it to friends only [\[3\]](https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-games/?ref=idleweekend.net). If your child signed up with the wrong age, those protections may not apply [\[3\]](https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-games/?ref=idleweekend.net).

### Leaving in-app spending open

A child can often buy items inside a game without asking you first. You won't notice until the charge shows up on your card. Check the spending controls before your child starts playing.

You can switch off in-app spending or let your child set monthly limits [\[3\]](https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-games/?ref=idleweekend.net). A monthly limit gives your child some room to choose while keeping the total under your control.

### Thinking your child will never meet a scam

It's easy to assume scams are something only adults face. Children are at risk from bullying, identity theft, credit card fraud and even sexual exploitation when they play online [\[2\]](https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-center/threats/top-7-online-gaming-dangers-facing-kids?ref=idleweekend.net). A stranger who offers free items or asks for a password is a common example of how a scam starts.

Teach your child not to share personal details or payment information with other players. Talk about these scams before one happens, so your child knows to tell you when something feels wrong.

## What is the bottom line for parents?

Online games can be safe for kids when the age, the settings and the conversation all line up. Start with the sign-up age, because the safety settings on most platforms depend on it. Then turn off chat and in-game spending, or set limits on them, so strangers and purchases can't reach your child unchecked.

Keep in mind that no online platform or service is risk-free, especially for children when gaming [\[1\]](https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/gaming?ref=idleweekend.net). Settings lower the risk but can't catch everything, so the conversation matters most. Ask your child which games they play, who they talk to, and what has made them uncomfortable. Make that a regular habit, and your child will know to come to you when something goes wrong.

## Sources

1. [Gaming | Guide for Parents eSafety Commissioner](https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/issues-and-advice/gaming?ref=idleweekend.net)
2. [Internet Safety for Kids: Top 7 Online Gaming Dangers - Kaspersky](https://www.kaspersky.com/resource-center/threats/top-7-online-gaming-dangers-facing-kids?ref=idleweekend.net)
3. [How to Ensure Your Children Stay Safe While Playing Online Games](https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/online-games/?ref=idleweekend.net)
4. [Keeping Kids Safe During Video Game Play - Lurie Children's](https://www.luriechildrens.org/en/blog/keeping-kids-safe-during-video-game-play/?ref=idleweekend.net)