Children play about 15 hours per week to video games on holidays
A new McAfee report reveals that 95 percent of parents worry about the risks their children can take when they play online video games. But what can these risks be? First, it highlights the exposure to violent or sexual content or inappropriate users.
Another worrying fact is that 62 percent of children who play video games online interacts directly with other players, which significantly increases the risk of being attacked with inappropriate content or sharing confidential information.
The attitude of parents against online video games
However, the study reveals that 92 percent of parents allow their children to play video games at least one hour a day, while 8 percent say they let their children play more than five hours a day. In addition, the report reveals that children play on average about two hours a day, or what is the same, They spend about 15 hours a week on video games on vacation.
In this line, it seems that 89 percent of parents are aware of the dangers to which their children are exposed; thus, 71 percent are especially concerned that their children may share confidential information or be exposed to inappropriate content such as violence (71 percent), sexual images (77 percent) or drugs (63 percent).
While it is true that many parents monitor what their children play, 9 percent admit they do not monitor at all, while 6 percent say they do not talk to them about what is appropriate behavior or not. Moreover, 44 percent of parents allow their children to play video games when they are younger than the age recommended for that game.
Online video games, the new fashion
This means that children under 12 can play games that have been classified for an adult audience, and that include violent content, sexual themes, drugs or gambling.
"In recent years, video games have markedly increased their popularity, becoming a daily habit for many people, especially children," said Gary Davis, chief consumer security at McAfee. "Playing video games has great advantages and can be a great tool for parents during the summer months, where they need to keep their children entertained while managing the rest of their tasks, but it is essential that parents understand the risks in cybersecurity. to those who expose their children while playing these games, and it is essential that parents know how to offer appropriate guidance to their children that allows them to keep them safe when they are connected, "he says.
Tips to protect children when playing video games online
1. Avoid dangerous links. If your children search online for advice on games or new video games to download, there are tools that can help them avoid dangerous websites and links and warn them if they click on malicious sites.
2. Use comprehensive security. Regardless of what any member of the family does when connected, the ideal is to use comprehensive security solutions such as McAfee Total Protection. This type of solutions keeps your connected devices safe from malware. Also, be sure to keep your security software updated with the latest version.
3. Control how much time your children play. Use the parental control software to set time limits on the use of your children's devices. This will help minimize exposure to potentially dangerous or inappropriate websites.
Ana Torres and Pablo Valencia
Advice: Gary Davis, chief consumer security at McAfee
