Cybercrime risks drive calls for parental involvement in children's gaming

Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting children through gaming platforms to recruit them for activities such as hacking. In response to these risks, experts are advising parents on how to monitor their children's online lives without resorting to constant surveillance.

Vivian den Blanken, an orthopedagog from the Netherlands Youth Institute (NJi), suggests that parents should show genuine interest in their children's digital experiences. Rather than conducting formal interrogations, parents are encouraged to integrate conversations about gaming into daily activities like walking or cooking. Den Blanken notes that children can quickly sense when a parent is merely trying to control them, so maintaining an open, sincere dialogue is key to identifying potential dangers.

Discussions among parents highlight varying approaches to gaming ages and supervision. While some children begin playing educational games or simple titles like Minecraft at ages 6 or 7, others express concern regarding unmonitored access to platforms like Roblox, citing potential developmental risks and online safety hazards.