Members discussed switching to a private conversation in another app.

Tips for conversation

Age 6-9

• Remind the child that the communication in the game should stay only on the platform of the gaming. There is no reason to switch to a phone call or different apps.
• Explain to the gamer that not everyone online is who they say they are. You can say: “Sometimes, people online may say they are your age, but they could be much older.”
• Encourage them to tell you if anyone asks to continue chatting on a different app. Or if someone asks them to keep the conversation a secret. You can say: “I’m here to help you stay safe. If someone wants to talk somewhere else, of if feel you are getting a strange request let me know so I can make sure everything is okay.”

Age 10-12

• Introduce the concept of bad actors or people with bad intentions, like predators and scammers. You can say, “Sometimes, people might seem familiar or say things that make you think you know them. But there are people online who are very good at hiding who they are. They might ask you to do something that seems normal at first, like switching to a popular platform, but then start asking for private information.”
• They should never share personal details, such as photos, credit card info, or phone numbers, with anyone online.
• It’s best to stick to conversations in closed groups with friends they know in real life.
• Explain the importance of keeping chats within the same platform and why they should not move to other apps to talk to strangers.
• Remind them that they can always block or report anyone who makes them uncomfortable or behaves inappropriately.