WASHINGTON, D.C. (WENY News) – More than 45 million kids across the U.S. play video games—but as online gaming grows, so do the risks.
According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, more than 80% of kids ages 5 to 18 play video games. And while games like Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite offer fun and connection—they also open the door to real risks: predators, bullying and toxic behavior.
Now, lawmakers and cybersecurity experts are stepping in to make the digital playground safer.
“The person that they’re talking with, they’re not a chatbot, they’re not an avatar, they’re an actual person behind a screen. And they shouldn’t be saying things that they wouldn’t say to someone in real life,” said Ron Kerbs.
“A lot of young gamers, they think it’s benign. ‘I’m going to show my address. I’m going to show my school,’ and they do it with people they have never met in real life… It could be someone they think is their friend, but it’s an actual online predator.”
In Washington, lawmakers are responding by reintroducing the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). The legislation would require social media and gaming platforms to prioritize children’s safety and give parents more control.
“Kids online safety, KOSA, I think that’s a great start. You know, it puts some of the burden on the big tech companies, the big gaming companies,” said Kerbs.
Even with KOSA and other legislation to expand privacy protections for minors, like COPPA 2.0, experts say online safety starts with talking to kids about privacy, respect and what not to share online.
“But parents should be making sure that their own kids are safe, the same as you have a seat belt—it doesn’t mean that you can drive drunk or be a reckless driver, it means that you have to use the seatbelt,” said Kerbs. “Talk with them about what is private information and what is not, what are you allowed to share and who are you allowed to talk with. And I think just by implementing some of those basic tips, we can prevent a lot of the cases.”
