How and Why to Use Parental Controls in Video Games

The top questions I get from parents are about screen time, most of them driven by fear. Screen time is today’s bogeyman, the monster under the bed. We blame it for everything from depression and anger to poor body image. Restricting screen time has become a badge of good parenting. But screen time isn’t real. It’s a euphemism for the technologies we’re currently worried about and overlooks the ones we aren’t. Video games are on the “things we worry about” list. While it should be comforting to know that gaming research shows a more positive picture than the dire warnings of the past, positive gaming experiences are all about balance. All parents can use built-in parental controls to help manage kids’ gaming experiences, ensuring they’re age-appropriate and balanced. Below, I’ve touched on some of the main benefits of gaming, followed by an overview of some parental controls and some tips to help you help your kids play and stay happy and safe.

Is Gaming a Waste of Time?

It’s easy to see gaming as a waste of your kids’ time, especially if you were never a gamer. A 2020 poll of 2000 parents found that 9 out of 10 thought their teens spent too much time playing video games (Mott Poll Report, 2020). (And that was before COVID-19.) However, contrary to the stereotype of gamers as socially isolated, many games encourage social interaction through online multiplayer features or in-game decision-making. Studies show that age-appropriate video games promote emotional well-being and social connections (Johannes et al., 2021). For example, Fortnite’s cooperative modes require effective communication and teamwork to win. Video games can help children build emotional resilience. Failing and restarting levels or missions teach persistence and the value of learning from mistakes, essential life skills that can be applied outside gaming. Other documented benefits include developing cognitive skills, relieving stress, combatting loneliness, and dealing with trauma. Multiple studies show that gaming helped players cope with the effects of COVID-19 (Barr, 2019).

Parental Tools at Your Disposal

Many video game companies have responded to demands for more robust parental controls. According to the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), about 50 percent of parents they asked were familiar with monitoring features in the games their kids play, as well as the in-game community guidelines. Awareness is not the same as knowing how to use them and make age-appropriate adaptations. And the ENRB agrees that more work is needed to make parents better able to use the tools available to them. Kids are often more technically facile than older generations, having hands-on experience from a much younger age. The ability to navigate Minecraft does not mean kids understand how online ecosystems work or grasp the importance of secure online behavior. If 50 percent of parents know how to use parental controls, 50 percent don’t.

Gaming Systems: Parental Control Examples

Consoles like Xbox and PlayStation offer robust parental controls that can augment those in individual games. These can include time limits, spending caps, and content filters. The ESRB website has detailed instructions on how to set specific restrictions under “Tools for Parents.”

Microsoft’s Xbox Family Settings. Microsoft offers tools where parents can manage screen time and set content filters and privacy settings. The Xbox Family Settings app allows parents to receive activity reports to monitor playtime on games and set time limits across devices.

Sony’s PlayStation Safety. Sony’s PlayStation systems come with parental controls and family management system. Parents can set levels of game restrictions, such as rules on the use of the internet browser, spending limits on the PlayStation Store, parental approval of friends, and managing playtime.

Nintendo Switch Parental Controls. Nintendo’s Switch has user-friendly parental controls with a dedicated smartphone app enabling parents to set time limits, monitor gameplay, and get push notifications of new friends or when the console is activated. The app can also automatically suspend a game when the time limit is reached.

Gaming Ecosystems: Example of Parental Controls

Epic Games’ Fortnite. Epic Games offers a variety of parental controls due to concerns and pushback over the wide age range of the players and concerns about predators. Parental controls include settings that limit who their children can receive messages from and who they can talk to. Through a parental control dashboard, parents can view recent play, limit playtime schedules, and set up an approval requirement to prevent unauthorized in-game spending. The company also follows COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) regulations.

One of Epic Games’ unique features is their “cabined accounts,” which enable parents to set up specific restrictions for underage players, such as limiting in-game purchases, blocking certain types of content, and monitoring their child’s activity in the game.

Minecraft. Minecraft offers similar parental controls to Fortnite, such as chat filters and customizable privacy settings. However, the game doesn’t natively provide time management features like Epic Games. Parents would have to rely on external software or device settings for this function.

Roblox. Roblox provides a wide range of parental controls, including options to restrict chat, enforce an age-appropriate “safe chat” mode, and limit gameplay to a curated list of age-appropriate games. Similar to Epic Games, Roblox also complies with COPPA regulations.

6 Ways to Balance Safety with Fun in Video Games

The key to keeping your kids’ online experiences positive and enriching experiences is to remain actively involved. Here are some tips to help you think about

1. Stay Informed and Involved. Familiarize yourself with the games your children are playing. Ask if you can play the games with them.
2. Teach Digital Literacy and Etiquette. Equip your children with the understanding that their actions online should mirror their actions in real life with respect and kindness.
3. Encourage Self-Awareness and Critical Thinking. Awareness of physical and mental states, such as fatigue or negative emotions, is the first step to teaching self-regulation.
4. Set Boundaries and Use Age-Appropriate Parental Controls. Use the tools these platforms provide to set healthy boundaries and be prepared to review and discuss them as your kids mature. Talk to them about the restrictions you’re setting and establish clear rules about playtime, in-game purchases, and online interaction.
5. Encourage balance. Recognize that gaming can serve many functions—entertainment and social skills-building—but encourage breaks, physical activity, reading, and socializing in the real world.
6. Be a Role Model. Kids learn by example. Manage your own devices, whether it’s games or checking email, and demonstrate a balanced approach to media and technology.

The Importance of Parental Controls

Parental controls should not be your police force when you can’t be there. They should be a mechanism for providing structure and guidance, but most of all, they will get you to think about each setting, what’s important to you, and how it relates to your child and your family. Whether you use them to regulate playing time, limit exposure to inappropriate content, manage in-game purchases, or friend access, they can help you establish clear rules and boundaries and keep both you and your child on the same page. Don’t use parental controls to stealth parent. Make sure kids know what you’re doing and why. You won’t always be there to set parental controls, so it’s vital to build trust, have open conversations, and teach your child skills at each step so they reap the benefits of video games while minimizing the risks.