To ensure online gaming spaces remain healthy for everyone, there are some common etiquettes that everyone should
follow. Whether you’re new to gaming or a seasoned player, following these do’s and don’ts will help you protect your privacy, finances, and
well-being.
Protect your personal information
As a general rule, you should avoid
sharing your personal information, but this is crucial when playing online games. Personal details, such as your real name, address, and contact information,
can let others find your real identity, and allow for harassment and cyber attacks.
To keep yourself safe, it’s wise to choose a username that
isn’t related to your personal identity. If you’re having trouble deciding on a unique username, you could pick something from a franchise you like
or a hobby you have.
Stay safe and respectful in the gaming community
A healthy
community can make gaming an incredible space where you’ll develop friends for life, but only if you are safe and respectful yourself. It’s important
to realise that you are playing with real human beings, and you might even be interacting with young children playing with their friends or families.
Of course, no matter how well you behave, there will always be some people who are disrespectful and abusive. If you encounter them, your best option
is to use the available in-game tools to block and report their
actions. This will typically get reviewed by moderators, who will take action. Marvel Rivals, a new team-based shooter, has received praise for its fast,
decisive response in banning and restricting harmful players.
Manage your money and time
wisely
Many online games offer an in-game shop and microtransactions, which promote spending real money to gain access to interesting new
items and abilities. Whether it’s video games or online gambling, spending can easily get out of hand, which is why we recommend setting spending limits
and understanding your purchases.
Additionally, it’s important to take regular breaks. After a long gaming session,
whether it’s online arcade games or RPG simulation games, it can be a good idea to drink water
and spend time outside with your friends and family.
Use parental controls and age
ratings
If you’re managing game access for others, particularly children, then setting up parental controls is essential. Controls are
available on various platforms and consoles, and typically offer high flexibility. For instance, you can prevent the console from playing certain age ratings,
or limit the ‘screen time’ your child can spend on them. This effectively locks the console when their time is up, so you don’t need to worry
about physically taking it away from them.
When buying games for your children, you
should also check the PEGI rating to make sure it’s age-appropriate. Certain games, like the Grand Theft Auto series, are rated 18 and targeted
towards adults. These types of games are unsuitable for children, especially since the game and its community will consist of adult topics and themes.
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