Mum, can I play Fortnite? Navigating online gaming safety for parents and caregivers

Talk by Jessica Collier (she/her) ⚠️

This talk has the following content notes:
Discussion of child sexual exploitation, gambling, mild peril from screenshots of games.

Unlike most adults, I play videogames professionally with children online all day, every day. I play the games children love, such as Roblox and Fortnite, many of which parents are not interested in - either giving their children total freedom with them or banning them entirely. I will immerse adults in my world for 30 minutes and give them confidence in navigating parenting in this modern age. In this talk I will help caregivers to feel more confident in setting boundaries and limits for their child’s online gaming, by explaining the main sources of harm in some popular platforms. I give tips on how to discuss boundaries with children (especially when 'everyone in my class plays it!'), as well as describe ways I have seen children get around restrictions. I will share the games I will and will not let my own children play - and you may be surprised as to why. I will describe how I try to keep them as safe as possible online, while maintaining friendships. Young people are very welcome to attend alongside their caregivers to spark the discussion moving forward. Caregivers should be aware that there is talk of the harms in online gaming, but that these are sensitively covered.

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