Before Your Child Joins an Online Game: Six Checks for Parents

A child asking to play a game with friends is asking about more than the game itself. They are also asking to join a particular group, mode and communication setup. Make your decision about that whole experience.

The ESRB ratings guide separates content ratings from interactive notices such as user interaction and purchases. Read both when they are available. Then try the following checks on the device your child will actually use.

1. Which mode and which players?

Ask for the exact game and mode. Is this local play, a private invitation or an open lobby? Who can join after the session starts? A friend's invitation is useful context, but check whether that friend can invite other people too.

Write down the agreed starting point: “This game, in this mode, with these people.” You can review it later rather than treating permission as covering every server forever.

2. Where can people communicate?

Look at voice, text, direct messages and any separate chat app. Check the game and the console or account settings: changing one may not change the other.

Where controls allow it, choose the communication access you are comfortable with and test it from the child's account. Do not assume a private game means private messaging everywhere.

3. What can be bought?

Find the shop before starting. Check whether purchases require approval and whether payment details are saved. Agree a real-money budget, including zero if that is your choice, rather than discussing only an unfamiliar virtual currency.

Explain what your child should do if a friend offers a gift, an item trade or a link to claim something. A useful default is to pause and ask you before following an unexpected offer.

4. Can they leave and get help?

Practise leaving a lobby, muting a player and finding the report or block controls where available. Let your child demonstrate these steps. Knowing the menu exists is different from being able to find it during an unpleasant interaction.

Agree on a simple response: stop the conversation, leave, and tell you. Make clear that asking for help will not automatically mean losing all access to games.

5. What will they share?

Review the visible profile together. Avoid putting a school, address, phone number or daily routine in a public name or biography. Talk about spoken conversations as well as typed information.

Use this as a practical check, not a demand that your child memorise every possible risk before playing.

6. When will you review the arrangement?

Pick a short first session and a clear stopping point. Afterwards, ask who joined, what was fun and whether anything was awkward. Recheck the setup when the game, mode or friendship group changes.

Our game guides can help you start with the content. For platform-specific reading, see our Roblox guide, and consult the platform's current help pages for settings that may have changed.