2024-07-06 16:25:41
Are your children often online? Do you know what games they play on the internet? And are you sure that they are not spending their savings unnecessarily? As the possibilities of the Internet world grow, so do its gaming opportunities and risks. At the same time, even children and teenagers perceive that they spend too much money even for normal purchases in applications, on the Internet or for online games. Experts advise what parents should watch out for.
Czech children between the ages of 9 and 17 use their smartphones most often to access the Internet – according to the study, 84 percent of them do it every day. And the older children and teenagers are, the more often they are online. This opens up a new world for them, which their parents cannot and may not even try to have full control over. But caution is in order.
According to the STEM/MARK survey commissioned by the Gambling Regulatory Institute as part of the Responsible Gaming Project, adults report that 44 percent of the youth in their neighborhood gamble. However, computer games or video games are mentioned most often in this context by 51 percent and by 30 percent of mobile games, which, however, do not fall into the gambling segment.
But that doesn’t mean they can’t be addictive or lead to irresponsible spending on the Internet. According to the EU Kids Online study, 43 percent of children play “ordinary” online games that are not profit-oriented daily and 22 percent of children play them at least once a week.
At the same time, the financial side of the matter is essential. It helps to simplify the division between gaming and gambling – while gaming mainly refers to playing video games or board games with the aim of having fun, gambling is, among other things, associated with placing money in bets and the important hope of profit.
Only in the second case, which includes, for example, poker, roulette or slot machines, is there a higher risk of losing money and succumbing to gambling. However, both sectors have their own pitfalls and in some cases they are approaching each other.
On the verge of gambling
“A growing phenomenon at the border of gambling is, for example, games using so-called loot boxes and skins – these are virtual boxes with previously unknown content, which can be purchased to achieve better results in online games or to stand out from others in the game. These items can also be monetized “Their main risk lies in the similarity to gambling, which is defined by the stake, chance and winning. According to the STEM/MARK survey, 30 percent of people associate these gambling elements,” explains the director of the Gambling Regulation Institute, Jan Řehola.
At the same time, even children and teenagers themselves perceive that they spend too much money even for ordinary purchases in applications, on the Internet or for online games, according to the EU Kids Online study, this is 10 percent. So how to watch the game as best as possible? How to prevent problems and possible gaming addiction? Read ten rules that parents should follow.
Children and online gaming. Ten of the responsible parent
1. Try to create an open and safe space at home for communication and on more difficult topics. First and foremost, young players need to feel comfortable talking to you about their gaming experiences.
2. Provide information to children about the risks associated with online gaming and gambling, including potential addiction and financial loss. The goal is not to threaten children or blame them for their hobbies, the goal is to continuously educate them and build their healthy immunity in the online space.
3. Set clear limits and rules for your children regarding (gambling) games. First of all, it should be about limiting the time spent playing and limiting the amount of financial deposits. However, you can also agree on a general time limit on WIFI, history monitoring or settings of allowed websites.
4. Encourage other interests and hobbies in your children that are not connected to the online environment, or even gambling.
5. Lead by example yourself. Watch how you appear on the Internet and what activities you engage in there. Do not gamble in front of children, and never without further explanation of what is involved and how the games or bets work.
6. “Teach your children how to effectively manage their finances and budget. Deepen their financial literacy and don’t miss examples about games and purchases on the Internet – so that they are aware of the consequences of online games on their savings and bank accounts,” advises Petra Procházková, head of the Civic Counseling Center Třebíč, zs
7. Educate yourself about new types of games and their potential risks so that you can best understand what your children are playing as well. Don’t forget that today’s children were already born into the digital age and you can learn a lot from them.
8. Remind yourself and your children that their gaming should be primarily for fun and recreational purposes, not for making money or even paying off accumulated debt.
9. Monitor the behavior of young players. You can focus on changes in school results or friendships. Indeed, these areas often serve as indicators of potential problems.
10. “If you are concerned, observe warning signs at home or feel that your children are struggling with addiction, do not hesitate to seek professional help and support. For example, the Help Map of the Responsible Gambling project or the non-stop Helpline for gamblers and their loved ones offer the opportunity to do so on +420 777 477 877,” adds Jan Řehola.
In short, be cautious and pay attention to the recommendations that belong to the online environment and gambling, even if they do not directly apply to you. Further information, contacts and possible forms of assistance can be found at www.zodpovednehrani.cz.
Zdroj: Communication Lab