Online Games and Video Game Consoles

What are the risks?

In playing online games or playing games using a video game console with access to the Internet, children may be exposed to the following:
Sexually explicit, obscene and inappropriate comments when chatting;
Sexually explicit or obscene avatars created by other players; or
They may be directed to website links outside of the game leading to false login pages, sexually explicit material and/or violent content.
"Mods" (user-generated modifications available online for various games) may pose a risk due to the nature of the "mod" or the possibility of downloading a virus or malware.

Kids may provide private email addresses, Instant Messaging (IM) contact information, phone numbers, physical addresses, and/or other personal contact information to other individuals playing the game.

Relationships can be quickly established through the chat component of online games, and caution should be taken, as children can easily be manipulated.
Kids may encounter individuals offering a variety of "gifts" in exchange for information, images, videos, or other files.
Sexual offenders may target online games that have chat rooms including interactive web games, computer and video console games.
Sexual offenders may use three-dimensional animated characters, referred to as avatars, to engage children in online conversations.
While players can talk to each other in games played through video game consoles with online capability, history of the conversations cannot be saved within the consoles.