Parents Get Ahead Of The Game This Christmas

22 December 2009



Media Release

Parents get ahead of the game this Christmas
The AFP has urged parents to get ahead of the game this Christmas and learn
a few more facts about the gaming devices they'd like to buy their children.
As the number of shopping days winds down, gaming consoles and portable
devices are likely to remain popular presents for children. But many parents
don't fully appreciate the capabilities of what they're buying and more than
two-thirds won't know how to activate available child safety controls.
In addition to playing a wide array of games, many consoles can be used for
worldwide communication with other players, and like PCs and laptops for
internet browsing, potentially exposing children to unknown people and age
inappropriate or illegal material.
Bluetooth capable devices may also pose a risk.
To stay up to date, the AFP recommends parents visit the support website of
the device they wish to buy to discover what parental control options exist.
They can also visit the ThinkUKnow* website (www.thinkuknow.org.au) for
more information.
AFP High Tech Crime Operations National Manager Neil Gaughan says parents
have a number of options to restrict the gaming usage of their children.
"They can set passwords and time limits, control the types of games they
access, and monitor their internet usage by keeping consoles in common areas
of the house, such as the loungeroom," he said.
However, Assistant Commissioner Gaughan said using these methods should
never take the place of communicating with children on responsible gaming.
*ThinkUKnow is an AFP-Microsoft Australia initiative aiming to show parents, carers
and teachers how young people use technology to have fun, how they can help young
people stay safe and mitigate risks associated with issues such as inappropriate
contact, inappropriate online content and cyberbullying - and also how to report should
something go wrong.
Media enquiries
AFP National Media Team
Phone: (02) 6275 7100




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