Your child spoke about meeting another gamer in person.
Tips for speaking with your child
- Explain to your child that you were notified that they spoke about meeting with another gamer in the game.
- Ask them who they are planning to meet and whether or not they know the person. Ask your child what information they gave the other player. Determine whether or not they gave out personal information like an address or phone number? Explain to your child that you need to know this information. t to keep them safe.
- If you are talking with a pre-teen (9-12), let them know that talking with other gamers online can be fun, but they should be aware of the risks of speaking with strangers. Explain that the person on the other side may pretend to be someone else and could potentially harm them. Explain that they may be at risk of being blackmailed or scammed.
- If you speaking with a younger child, explain that they shouldn’t share personal information with a stranger (never share their last name, phone number, address, photos, or password). Explain that if someone is asking for personal information they should come and get you right away.
- If your child did talk with a stranger who lured them to meet in person or to give them personal information such as an address or details on a specific event, help your child block and report this gamer. It is possible that the stranger is a sexual predator. If their request also included intimate photos, you should report the player to the police.
*An online predator is someone who commits child sexual abuse that either begins or takes place on the internet. You can use this link for “How to Talk to Teens About Dealing with Online Predators“
Recommendations written by Kidas experts.