Every day, online games are a way for young people to connect with others. They are engaging, creative spaces where players interact and build community. At Xbox, we strive to provide an inclusive, welcoming experience for every player – and a key step in that is creating environments where players feel safe. Together we can foster thriving digital communities.
Online environments have their own unique challenges compared to real-world scenarios and require different digital skills, especially for our youngest players. Ahead of Safer Internet Day, Minecraft Education has created a new addition CyberSafe collection from immersive Minecraft Worlds designed to help young people stay safe, happy and successful online.
CyberSafe: Good game is an entertaining, story-based adventure that helps players understand the responsibilities, tools, responses, and strategies that enable healthy online interactions, collaboration, and rewarding digital experiences, whether these are part of multiplayer games or otherwise Online activities are.
Minecraft Education users can find CyberSafe: Good game in the classroom library in play. The world is also available for free to Minecraft Bedrock players Minecraft Marketplace
An adventure through online gaming
CyberSafe: Good game takes place just before the summer holidays when a group of friends discuss how they can level up together in their favorite game. Unfortunately, one of her friends can’t play because her controller broke after a series of frustrating encounters with online bullies.
To help their friend, players create one Good captain. This guide provides helpful strategies for dealing with challenging online situations, ensuring a safer and more enjoyable gaming experience.
In CyberSafe: Good game, Players encounter common problems they may encounter in online spaces, including online bullies sabotaging their success, excessive distraction from in-game chat, inappropriate screen names and language, and more. In each scenario, they have the opportunity to use the right tools to solve the problem. Players can ignore, correct, mute, or report behavior.
After each challenge, players reflect on the experience and add an entry Good captain. At the end of the adventure, they can use this guide as a code of conduct for their future online gaming experiences.
Building a better online community for everyone
CyberSafe: Good game values responsibility and respectful, friendly and considerate interactions with others on the Internet. The game’s challenge-based framework allows players to apply effective tools and strategies in the gaming space, giving them the opportunity to practice appropriate responses, normalize their use, and promote empathy and responsible digital behavior.
“Good Game is the latest learning adventure in the CyberSafe series, giving players the tools to be agents on their security journey. In a world that desperately needs more collaboration and dialogue, what could be more important than sparking cultural change to promote healthy and respectful communities,” said Carlos Figueiredo, Director of Player Safety at Minecraft.
As the world becomes more and more saturated with technology, it is crucial that young people learn to view digital spaces as forums that they can use to make the world a better place.
Research shows the role parents and educators can play in helping young people navigate the online world. Microsoft’s annual Global online security survey found that 87 percent of children surveyed said they had spoken to their parents about online risk. This means that young people often rely on their parents to support them with these issues. Talking to parents, caregivers, or trusted adults is an important factor in creating safer online habits.
These conversations aren’t always easy, but there are some powerful strategies parents can keep in mind. A report from the National Institute of Standards and Technology
- Start the conversation early.
Discussions about digital citizenship can begin as soon as young people start using technology. Even in elementary school, children often already know about security, privacy and online risks and are eager to learn how to stay safe. - Say it to make it easier for young people to navigate the Internet.
Parents may be hesitant to address online privacy and security because they feel like they don’t know enough. But when kids talk to their parents, they become more knowledgeable, even if the conversations aren’t very technical – just about topics like online activities and making good decisions. - Understand how young people view the digital world.
Children tend to view online privacy and security as under their control, and they understand that different risks come with different situations. On the other hand, parents tend to view most online activities as risky, which is why they often enforce restrictions instead of talking about positive behaviors and outcomes.
If you’re looking for more family gaming resources and tips, visit xbox.com/family. You can Learn more about what Xbox has for families, including privacy information and access to privacy tools Xbox Family Settings app.and ours Community standards. Finally, explore the Online safety toolkit for families to find further guidance and support for safe, fun and healthy digital communities.