Analysis of Nearly 14 Million Conversations Identified Thousands of Serious Threats That Often Go Unseen by Parents and Gaming Platforms
Top Online Risks for Young Gamers: Location Exposure, Explicit Content and Toxic / Violent Communication
PHILADELPHIA, June 2, 2025 – Kidas, a technology company developing AI-powered text and voice communication tools to protect gamers from toxicity, cyberbullying and other predatory behavior, today released new proprietary data highlighting the growing dangers that children and teens experienced while gaming online in the first quarter of 2025. Kidas analyzed nearly 14 million conversations across in-home gaming, esports venues and Discord communities and detected thousands of serious online safety alerts, exposing the extent to which predators, scammers and other toxic behaviors infiltrate young players’ digital spaces.
Among the most alarming findings, children were overwhelmingly vulnerable to three major risks:
- Location exposure (1,581 alerts): Children casually shared sensitive details, such as their city, school name or neighborhood, often without realizing how easily this information could be pieced together and exploited by bad actors.
- Sexual and explicit content (494 alerts): Minors were exposed to inappropriate comments, jokes or media within popular gaming spaces, leaving children vulnerable to harmful interactions.
- Toxic and violent communication (249 alerts): Young gamers frequently encountered threats, violent language and aggressive behavior that normalize hostility and can desensitize kids to online aggression, creating a culture where abuse is seen as normal.
In one case from February 2025, a 13-year-old boy in Michigan was exposed to a series of concerning interactions on Discord. After being insulted and exposed to sexual content, he threatened to harm himself — not just once, but again three days later. In the same time frame, he continued to encounter sexually explicit language and shared his social media username in a chat. This disturbing pattern of behavior, flagged by Kidas, highlights the very real risks children face in digital spaces, and the urgent need for proactive safety measures.
“Behind every alert is a real child facing risks that could have devastating consequences, as many of these threats go unnoticed by parents or gaming platform moderators. Gaming today is so much more than entertainment — it’s where kids build friendships, develop problem-solving skills, and explore their creativity. But alongside these positive experiences are hidden dangers that most families never see,” said Ron Kerbs, Founder and CEO of Kidas. “The industry must stop turning a blind eye and do more to protect young gamers. Kidas’ role is to surface these threats early and to arm families, schools and gaming administrators with the tools they need to protect children and keep gaming a positive space. Every child deserves to experience gaming in a safe environment that fosters learning, connection and growth. This data shows how pervasive online threats continue to be and how critical it is to make online safety an immediate priority.”
“There’s no guarantee a child won’t encounter harmful behavior online, but caregivers can reduce the risk by staying actively involved in their child’s digital activities,” added Caren M. Schiffman, Esq., Assistant Attorney General, Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia. “Learn how to play the games. Ask questions. Create an internet safety contract. Review privacy settings together. Most importantly, make sure your child knows they can come to you for help — and that they won’t be blamed for someone else’s actions.”
In addition, Kidas uncovered other serious threats impacting young gamers:
- Account security breaches (184 alerts) exposed children to unauthorized login attempts, risking both the loss of digital assets and the exposure of personal information.
- Scams and financial manipulation (152 alerts) were also flagged, with phishing attempts, fraudulent in-game offers and cryptocurrency schemes targeting young players.
- Photo sharing concerns (141 alerts) added another layer of vulnerability, showing how seemingly harmless exchanges can quickly spiral into exploitation, especially on platforms lacking strong media sharing protections.
Beyond financial and privacy threats, the data also unveiled social and emotional issues:
- Hate speech and discriminatory language (138 alerts) remained a persistent problem across gaming platforms, contributing to toxic cultures that marginalize and isolate vulnerable players.
- Predatory behavior (75 alerts) also continued to threaten young users, as adults posing as peers engaged in manipulative conversations, inappropriate advances and grooming tactics.
- In addition, the data flagged mental health crises (21 alerts), including children expressing distress, self-harm ideation and suicidal thoughts, as well as drug mentions (29 alerts) normalizing substance use.
- Finally, personal information disclosures (29 alerts), where children shared their real names, emails or social media usernames, remained a risk for identity theft and stalking.
About Kidas
Kidas is a technology company developing AI-powered text and voice communication tools to protect online users from toxicity, cyberbullying and other predatory behavior. Its proprietary ProtectMe software for children’s PC games analyzes in-game voice communication, text activity and screen time, silently integrating into hundreds of popular games and monitoring for predatory actions and privacy concerns. Custom weekly, monthly and, if needed, daily / immediate reports are generated and emailed to parents, letting them know if their child encountered threats. Additionally, Kidas’ ProtectMe Bot is the first and only bot available for Discord with voice and chat moderation capabilities designed to combat toxicity among users, ensuring a positive experience for everyone using the platform and maintaining server security. For more information, visit www.getkidas.com.