On Tuesday 21st August, Jordan Foster of ySafe.com.au spoke to parents about Gaming and Excessive Use. She discussed the positives and negatives of gaming, shared some useful research about the effects of gaming and gave us some strategies to use.
Below is a snapshot of her important messages:
Key Cyber safety risks
1. Pornographic/sexual content
2. Excessive use
3. Cyber bullying
4. Grooming and online predators
5. Digital footprint
6. Privacy & settings
7. Games & gaming Behaviour
8. Sexting
ABC of Technology Management
• Control Access
• Set Boundaries
• Openly Communicate
Gaming Management Strategies
• No gaming consoles in bedrooms
• No more than 2 hours of gaming per day
• Set ‘game off’ time at night time
• Set up parental controls on gaming consoles
• No games at least 1 hour before bedtime
• Be aware of the rating of the game (Common Sense Media)
• Supervise and get involved
What are the red flags? – What to look out for!
• Relying on devices for emotional regulation
• Using your phone in social settings
• Checking your phone immediately before and after sleep
• Loosing time because of limited conscious awareness
• Being unable to be apart from your phone
• Feeling anxious if you can’t check your phone for a while
What can you do? How can we improve?
• Turn on notifications for only people you care about
• Turn off the blue light at night time
• Check your usage. Look in your battery menu in your phone settings, or use an app like Moment
• Follow up screen time with physical exercise or healthy activities
• Turn off the red badge icon on your phone
• Set a time off time when you’re going to bed and sign out of social media 30 minutes before sleeping.
For more information visit the ySafe website, Facebook page or email her.
Email – information@ysafe.com..au
Facebook - Facebook.com/ySafeSolutions
Website – www.ySafe.com.au