'Stranger danger' tops parents' online gaming fears
Ofcom's latest research reveals that more than half of young gamers play with people they have never met offline
Parents are more worried about their children talking to strangers while gaming online than bullying, inappropriate content or spending money in games, according to new research from Ofcom.
The regulator's latest Growing Up Gaming report found that almost two-thirds (64%) of parents of children aged three to 17 who play online games are concerned about their child communicating with strangers. More than half (55%) of children who game online said they play with people they have never met in real life, while one in five (20%) do so regularly.
Gaming is now a major part of many children's lives, with Ofcom finding that almost nine in ten (88%) children aged three to 17 play games on a device. Among eight to 17-year-olds, gaming is now the most popular free-time activity.
The research found that while most parents set rules around gaming, they are more likely to focus on what children play and how long they spend gaming rather than who they are interacting with online.
Despite talking to strangers being parents' biggest concern, fewer than half (43%) of parents set rules about who their child can play with online. By comparison, 56% have time limits in place, 51% set rules around when gaming is allowed and 50% restrict content.
'One in ten parents said they do not have any gaming rules at all'
Detective Superintendent Jen Castle, head of safeguarding at Northamptonshire Police, is encouraging parents and carers to learn how to keep their children safe online and recognise the signs that they may be at risk.
"We're seeing a whole range of harms that children accidentally come across online, including grooming and exploitation, coercion, indecent images and exposure to harmful content," she said.
"There are loads of different types of content that children are coming across, linked to things like violence, eating disorders and self-harm. We're increasingly concerned about what children are accessing online and what they're being able to see."
'Ofcom's latest research reveals that more than half of young gamers play with people they have never met offline'
Castle said online harm is becoming more common as internet-connected devices and social media platforms become increasingly embedded in children's everyday lives.
"We've definitely seen an increase in online harm," she said.
She said parents should not assume certain apps or games are risk-free, urging them to take an active interest in everything their children do online.
''It can be what we think are quite safe platforms, things like TikTok, WhatsApp, Discord, Snapchat, Telegram and Roblox, where actually there are a cohort of individuals who will access that for all the wrong reasons."
She also warned of a concerning trend involving online groups which encourage young people to carry out harmful acts in order to gain acceptance.
Locally, Northamptonshire Police has dealt with cases involving children being pressured into self-harm, carrying out harmful acts towards others and purchasing dangerous items online.
"That's the kind of thing that we're seeing just in Northamptonshire alone," she said.
Despite many parents fearing strangers online, Castle said there is a common misconception about who is behind some of the offences.
'I think there's a bit of a misconception that this is always strangers'
"Sometimes these are children targeting other children online, but also people that the children know and trust, or think they know and trust."
She said some young people are also at risk of being manipulated into sharing images with someone they believe they are forming a relationship with, only to later become victims of blackmail or sextortion.
Castle is urging parents, carers and teachers to look out for warning signs that a child may be experiencing problems online.
These can include becoming upset or distressed after spending time online, talking about new people they have not mentioned before, receiving gifts or rewards from unknown sources and becoming increasingly secretive about their online activity.
"It is really hard to spot the signs, especially when you have teenagers who have those behaviour changes in any case," she said.
'The more we speak to our young people, the more we'll understand actually what is going on. And if we're not asking them, there might be someone online that is.'
She added: ''I think it's just being really open and having those conversations. If you spot one of those things and you're worried, ask them.''
For parents looking for practical advice, Northamptonshire Police is recommending resources available through the NSPCC, which provides guidance on privacy settings, parental controls and online safety features across a range of apps, devices and gaming platforms.
Castle said awareness and education remain the most effective tools in protecting young people online.
"It's really about making sure that people are aware," she said.
"The more awareness we have, the more resilience we can build in people to be able to have those conversations and report things."
As part of its Eyes Wide Open campaign, Northamptonshire Police is encouraging parents to learn more about their children's online activity and recognise the signs that something may be wrong.
Anyone concerned about a child's safety online is urged to report it to the police by calling 101, or 999 in an emergency or if a child is at immediate risk of harm.