Video Games Streaming – How Live Video Games are Dangerous for Kids?

Are your kids streaming live on their video games? Do they share their online adventures with family members, friends, or perhaps an anonymous online crowd? You’re not the only one.

Live streaming of video games is becoming an increasingly popular activity. Many gamers are now live streaming their video gunfights and touchdown drives, as well as battles in space to an online crowd of gamers.

It’s not just about displaying the highest scores. The viewer enjoys watching the live reactions of players, and they also root for them to earn top scores or takedown an enormous boss after a challenging game.

Video-game streaming is now a primary source of entertainment for gamers worldwide. Gamers are now depending on streaming websites like Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Microsoft’s Mixer to stream their games with online viewers.

What’s the biggest challenge for parents? It’s not only about children being too active watching their screens. Gaming streaming can also pose numerous security issues online. Hackers could infect the computers that gamers use with viruses or fool gamers into giving up financial or personal information.

Particular cybercriminals are exceptionally skilled and have taken over gamers’ computers as they streamed their games live.

Is Game Streaming Safe for Children?

Since there’s a live stream, everything could occur. There’s a lot of sexual assault, hate speech, violence as well as physical harm. Live streamers can broadcast live to a large audience. And they are obligated to make their stream as engaging as possible to make their content stand out and increase the number of followers. 

Specific live streaming platforms like Bigo Live allow live streamers to earn the money of their viewers. It could motivate the host to do every day more shocking scenes to please their viewers. Live streamers are known to film incredible and dangerous acts that result in participants being injured or killed.

Although there are dangers in watching this kind of inappropriate content for kids, it’s also a risk for children keep on doing live streams for themselves. The combination of lack of experience and the desire for online fame could make children choose paths that could harm them and others. Or expose information that is supposed to be kept private. At the same time, some applications delete videos after 24 hours. Others remain online for a long time and are recorded by users who are not yours. It means that something harmless and enjoyable at the time could be haunting your child for years.

Dangers of Live Video Gaming:

Online Bullying: 

It happens on every social network differently. Live game streaming is no exception. It was found that in an investigation, over 13% of participants said they felt personally targeted on these platforms. And more than 27% have been victims of discrimination based on gender or race in live streaming.

The Language is Crude:

Some streamers place an enormous focus on maintaining a clean and tidy site, but most streamers don’t. Some will display warnings about “mature content” before visiting their website. Viewers and streamers alike are prone to being harsh regarding words, conversations, and different points of view.

Violent Games:

Most games available include violence and are played by mature players. But, you can discover milder games, such as Minecraft, in case of younger children. The most effective way to experience a game’s violence is to play it with your child.

Health Dangers:

Sitting and playing games on video for long durations can impact physically and emotionally. In extreme instances, gamers have passed away from playing too much.

Costs:

Gaming apps are free to join and stream; however, they cost money if you’re looking for more (no advertisements). Subscribers can also sign up for the feeds of individual players. Viewers can purchase “bits” to cheer on their most loved athletes (kind of badges) that are fun.  

Stalking:

Viewers have been reported stalking, harassed, or robbed and even meeting famous streamers. 

Swatting:

A trending practice known as “swatting” involves reporting a fake emergency at the victim’s residence to dispatch a SWAT team to pounce on the victim. There have been cases where swatter incidents linked via streaming have resulted in tragic deaths in some instances.  

Security:

Spending a lot of time on the internet in a “community” can result in an untrusting feeling. Many times, kids will respond to the same question with a smile in live chats, for instance, the place they live in or what school they attend. The process of leaking little bits of data over time allows the hacker to create a complete image of your information.

How to Protect Kids from these Dangers?

Educate Kids:

Parents can instruct their children on how to protect themselves from fraud. The first step is to tell them not to provide any personal details to anyone they encounter on the internet. This is possibly the most important message parents can teach their children.

Make sure your kids know that not everyone who connects with them online is genuinely interested in their friendship. A lot of individuals they meet are criminals. Teach them not to divulge their real names, birthdates, addresses, or any other personal information to anyone they meet on the internet.

Then, instruct your children not to divulge details about their finances to anyone they meet online, such as bank accounts or credit card numbers.

Set Limits:

In establishing appropriate limits and rules for your kids, you can reduce the possibility of them being fraudulently swindled. For example, do not give your children the option to authorize the purchase of credit cards in game add-ons. Be sure they know that they need your permission before making these purchases.

If kids don’t have the capability of making in-game purchases by themselves, it is less likely that they will divulge sensitive financial information to unknown people. It is possible to insist that your children get your consent before live streaming games on video.

Antivirus:

Before you allow your children to stream the video game they play, ensure that the latest antivirus software secures the devices they are using.

Installing and running an antivirus program will help stop malicious software from infecting your devices, even if your kid accidentally clicks on a fake link or downloads a malware-laden attachment.

Parental Monitoring Software:

It’s hard to physically keep an eye on kids while working in the office. So, the better solution is getting parental monitoring software and install it on kids’ mobile phones. The GPS location tracker will help you locate the exact location of your child within minutes. You can also use the SMS tracker app to read all messages. You can hack phone contacts and block any inappropriate gaming application in no time. 

Conclusion:

If your children love live streaming games via YouTube or other websites, take a few minutes to visit these sites. Watch the conversations your children are having online with their friends. What is the tone? Do you think there is unusual sarcasm or snarky “joking” going on?

Limit screen time, and keep in mind that monitoring and balance are crucial to helping you develop healthy habits online. You can download the best parental control software and enjoy ease in life.

Leave a Comment