How can you learn about the privacy risks of new technologies, such as online gaming devices, before you use them?
5 tips for protecting privacy in online gaming
1. Learn why your personal information is being collected before signing up or agreeing to the privacy policy
- online gaming companies collect birthdate information, geographical information, and other data from users
- for example, most online gaming companies will need to collect personal information to improve the user experience and financial information for the paid features of the game
2. Read the user agreement and privacy policy and decide how much information you share by using the privacy control settings
- some companies give many options around how much information the user shares, while others only allow one or two options
3. Consider how connecting your gaming experience to other social media accounts and livestreaming will impact your privacy by reading the privacy policies of the sites you are connecting to
- “A wider privacy concern arises when game profile data within one platform - such as network registration information, is linked to other personal information such as the user name and password from a social media account” (“Gaming and personal information: playing with privacy,” Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada)
4. Children and youth should be aware of the risks of interacting with strangers in online games
- online gaming allows people to connect with other players around the world, but there is no guarantee that the stranger one plays with is who they say they are
- children and youth should stop playing with anyone who displays bullying behaviour, asks intrusive questions, or tries to connect privately or outside the game environment
5. Parents should have a clear understanding of what games their child is playing online
- parents can help their children and teens set boundaries by making use of parental controls on game consoles and consulting online game reviews
Question: Many students develop strong and positive virtual social networks through online gaming. Many people have developed healthy, “IRL” friendships with people they have met through online gaming, but this comes with privacy risks. At what age/grade should children begin to interact with strangers in online gaming environments? What conversations between parents, teachers, and children would need to happen to keep their online gaming safe?
References:
“Gaming and personal information: playing with privacy,” Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Government of Canada, May 2019. https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/privacy-topics/technology/mobile-and-digital-devices/digital-devices/gd_gc_201905/ Accessed 27 April 2022.
“Online Gaming: The Risks,” Internet Matters, Internet Matters.org, 2022. https://www.internetmatters.org/resources/online-gaming-advice/online-gaming-the-risks/ Accessed 27 April 2022.
“Online Gaming: The Resources,” Internet Matters, Internet Matters.org, 2022. https://www.internetmatters.org/resources/online-gaming-advice/online-gaming-resources/ Accessed 27 April 2022.
Thanks for you share, Sarah! As someone who knows very little about online gaming I found it to be quite informative. To answer your question, I guess my most simple answer is the conversations should start happening as soon as the child starts to use an online gaming platform. I'm sure there are ways to discuss the importance of privacy online with younger children while also making sure to avoid scaring them. As a TL, I feel like this information could be a section of the LLC website and highlighted in a monthly LLC newsletter alongside the school newsletter. This to me is the best way to get parents and teachers informed about the possible dangers that come with online gaming. I also think that planning a unit for a particular grade level around digital literacy would be valuable.
ReplyDeleteWhoops, this is Kathryn :)
DeleteHi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! There is a so much useful information here and you have done a great job of simplifying all the things we should be considering. I don't think there is a hard and fast rule about what ages kids should start online gaming; however, I do believe screen time is huge issue for many children, and the longer a parent is able to hold off, the better. At the very least, the child should be able to understand the points above, along with the ramifications. No, we don't want to scare kids, but the reality is that scary things do happen, so we need to make sure they are mature enough to make good decisions. One great resource for parents to check out as well is https://www.commonsensemedia.org/.
Thanks again for sharing!
-Brandy