Games like Free Fire, PUBG Mobile, Roblox, Minecraft and EA Sports FC are a big part of young people’s lives. They can build friendships, teamwork and creativity. Knowing the risks helps players enjoy them safely.
Most online games let players chat with strangers by text or voice. Offenders sometimes use games to build trust with children, then move the conversation to private apps. Players can also face bullying and abusive language, scams involving in-game items and accounts, and pressure to spend money on skins, coins and loot boxes.
Age ratings such as PEGI and ESRB, shown in app stores, are a useful guide to whether a game suits a child’s age.
