Most children now game online, often on the same platforms adults use. Games like Roblox, Minecraft and Fortnite are social spaces as much as games: children chat, trade, spend money and make friends there. That brings real benefits, and a set of risks that schools and parents need to understand.
Child Safeguarding Online. Updated September 2026.
What the risks look like
Contact from strangers. In-game chat, voice channels and linked apps such as Discord let adults reach children directly. Grooming in gaming often starts with gifts of in-game currency or items, praise for skill, and a move to a more private platform. Our page on online grooming prevention covers the warning signs in more detail.
Spending and gambling-style mechanics. Loot boxes, card packs and random rewards work in a similar way to gambling. Children can spend large amounts quickly, sometimes without understanding that the money is real.
Harassment and exclusion. Abusive chat, targeted griefing and being shut out of groups are common. For many children this is where cyberbullying happens, and it can follow them into school.
Age-inappropriate content. Age ratings apply to the game itself, not to what other players say or share. A game rated for young children can still expose them to adult language or content through chat and user-made worlds.
Time and sleep. Games are designed to keep players coming back. Late-night play, disrupted sleep and conflict at home over stopping are the most common issues parents raise. See addiction, anxiety and social media for the wider picture on screen use and wellbeing. In Vietnam, game companies must now limit how long under-18s can play; our guide to Vietnam’s gaming limits for children explains what the rules cover and where they fall short.
What parents can do
- Play with your child, or watch them play, especially when they start a new game. You will learn quickly who they talk to and how the game works.
- Set up parental controls on the console, device and the game account itself. Most platforms let you limit chat to friends, block voice chat and require approval for purchases.
- Keep gaming in shared spaces for younger children, and agree an end time before the session starts rather than stopping them mid-game.
- Talk about gifts. Make it a clear family rule that anyone offering free items, currency or help in exchange for secrets or a move to another app should be reported to you.
- Check age ratings (PEGI or ESRB) and remember they do not cover online interaction.
What schools can do
- Include gaming in your online safety curriculum. Students are more likely to engage when lessons reflect the platforms they actually use.
- Make sure staff know that disclosures about gaming contacts are safeguarding concerns and should be recorded and passed to the designated safeguarding lead.
- Recognise that conflicts that start in games often spill into school. Build this into your behaviour and anti-bullying procedures.
- Share practical guidance with parents, since most controls sit at home rather than in school. Our digital citizenship training covers responsible participation in online communities.
Signs a child may need help
Be alert to secrecy about who they play with, new in-game items or money you cannot account for, distress or anger after playing, reluctance to go to school, or a sudden move to new apps. None of these proves harm, but each is worth a calm conversation. If you are worried a child is being groomed or exploited, save the evidence, report the account in the game, and in Vietnam call the National Child Protection Hotline on 111.
If your school would like staff or parent training on gaming and online safety, get in touch.