Wednesday, October 12th has come to be known as National Stop Bullying Day. A little brief history for you.

National Stop Bullying Day: How Can You Do Your Part?

Here are 4 ways you can use FamilyKeeper to keep your kids safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Child safety during Coronavirus (COVID-19)

How to keep our kids safe online while giving them the space they need to grow.

Let Your Kids Spread Their Wings, Safely!

How to balance your kids’ need for technology with your need to protect them.

Worried about cyberthreats? Get your kids a digital helmet!

The current dangers of overexposure to YouTube.

The Dangers of YouTube

Cyberbullying is a type of bullying that happens over digital devices like smartphones, computers and tablets.

Cyberbullying - What You Need To Know

The three main indicators of Screen Addiction that you should watch out for

The Dangers of Screen Addiction

When discussing cyberbullying with your children, it’s hugely important to keep the lines of communication open. The more confident youngsters feel in discussing their online activity, the more autonomy it will give them in terms of pushing back against cyberbullies.

How to Help Your Kids Prevent Cyberbullying

With in-app purchases, it is all too easy to rack up the credit card bill by paying for added extras – whether it’s accidentally or on purpose.

Kids vs. In-App Purchases: 6 Tips to Prevent a Surprise Hefty Bill!

Here are a few tips to help you with gifting digital devices this Christmas.

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The aim of Safer Internet Day is to make the internet a safer place, for kids in particular, by raising awareness of emerging online issues and current concerns – from cyberbullying to social networking to digital identity.

Safer Internet Day: What Can We Do to Effect Change?

We’ve put together 5 Pillars of Cyberbullying Prevention for parents to easily implement in the fight against cyberbullying.

5 Tips for Parents to Help Stop Cyberbullying

These five tips aim to help parents manage the unwitting dangers of screen time in a practical and purposeful way.

5 Simple Tips to Manage Kids’ Screen Time

Here are 7 apps to familiarize yourself with in order to best understand what kids may be viewing, how we can find safer ways to monitor them, and how to open up those conversations with your child surrounding if, how and when they should use certain apps.

The Dark Side of our Favorite Apps: 7 Most Dangerous Apps for Kids and Teens

International Stand Up to Bullying Day is a semi-annual event to raise public awareness around bullying in all its forms.

Don't Be a Bystander: It's International Stand Up to Bullying Day!

We’ve delved into the heart of social media use to find the 5 most prominent dangers that we need to be aware of.

The Dark Side of Social Media: 5 Dangers to Be Wary Of

The word ‘games’ implies fun – but some of these popular online experiences, even those aimed at kids, contain worrying content. Here's what you should be looking out for.

7 Alarming Online Games to Watch Out For

This International Children’s Book Day, whether your child is holding a tablet or a physical book, it’s time to explore the world of children’s literature.

International Children’s Book Day: Switch Off Screens and Curl Up with a Good Book!

Our job is to keep you and your family cyber safe – so this year, enjoy our top tips for a stress-free Easter!

3 Tips to Keep Your Loved Ones Cyber Safe this Easter!

Over 40% of teenagers have reported experiencing loneliness as a result of social media – an astonishing figure considering that ‘social’ implies togetherness.

40% of Teenagers Experience Loneliness. Help Protect Them With These 3 Steps

Social media platforms, chatrooms, WhatsApp and text messaging, online gaming – the advent of web-based connections is affecting our ability to form face-to-face relationships with people.

Too Much Screen Time? Risks, Dangers, and What We Can Do to Help

As adults, we may have trained ourselves to function on less sleep – but try reasoning with an overtired toddler or a moody teenager and you may well be on a mission to lessen screen time, and create a more serene bedtime experience for your family!

Put Those Screens Away! 4 Ways To Make Bedtime Easier

National Missing Children’s Day serves as a reminder that we should continue our efforts to reunite missing children with their families.

Keeping Our Children Safe – The No. 1 Priority Of All Parents

We’ve rounded up 5 top apps that provide educational value this summer – so that you can get stuff done, your children can be happily occupied, and they learn a little something too!

Can Screen Time be Beneficial? 5 Apps with Educational Value

How do you set the boundaries when your child receives a phone? And how do you keep your kids safe from online harm? Never fear - we've got you covered!

Back to School, Back to Routine. Why Do I Need A Parental Control App?

Lead gaming app Roblox is an online platform where games can be both made and played by users. With so many varied games on offer, there are games on the platform that aren’t remotely child-friendly or appropriate for all ages.

Worried About Sexual Roblox Content? 5 Games to Look Out For

Which are the latest dangerous crazes that have emerged from social media?

Online Threats To Be Aware Of: 3 Dangerous TikTok Challenges

Wednesday, October 12th has come to be known as National Stop Bullying Day.

FamilyKeeper has rounded up the top apps to help you and your kids enhance Thanksgiving.

Top Apps To Enhance This Year’s Thanksgiving With Your Kids

Cyberbullying can affect a victim’s self-esteem, self-confidence, social behavior, school work, self-worth, and self-awareness, and lead to extremities such as self-harm and in the worst cases, even suicide.

Cyberbullying on Social Media: When Does It Become Violent?

There are more new apps than ever exploding onto the scene. We’ve rounded up the top 3 new apps that parents ought to know about.

Three Popular Apps in 2023 That Parents Should Know About

There are some inherent risks that parents and guardians should be aware of when it comes to their kids and Discord's safety.

Is Discord Safe For Kids? Everything You Need To Know

There are so many popular apps for kids in 2023, but there are several genres of mobile apps that parents should be concerned about. So which popular apps should you consider blocking?

Dangerous Apps To Block: How To Block Apps And Why

Gacha Games are a relatively new genre of online gaming, whose popularity is on the rise.

What are Gacha Games and who plays them? Everything you need to know

"Sneaky link" is a slang term that refers to a secret or discreet meeting between two people who are romantically interested in each other.

Sneaky Link: The What, Who, How, and Why of This Online Slang

The content of YouTube Shorts varies widely, and while some YouTube Shorts may be appropriate for kids, others may not be.

Are YouTube Shorts Safe For Kids? How to Block YouTube Shorts

Why should parents use a web content filtering solution? And how is it used to block harmful websites?

How Do I Safeguard My Child Online? Web Content Filtering in Parental Control Apps

In this blog, we will explore what screen addiction is, why it is detrimental to young minds, and how parental control apps can help prevent and manage this issue.

Prevent Screen Addiction & Tips for Screen Addiction Treatment

Instagram Threads is relatively new - but is it safe to use? Everything parents need to know

Is Instagram Threads Safe for Kids? The Risks You Should Know

With the explosion of addictive gaming experiences available online, it can be difficult for parents to know exactly what their children are playing, seeing, and being exposed to. With more than 2 billion people around the world playing video games, it’s no wonder IGD (Internet Gaming Disorder) is on the rise.

The word ‘games’ implies fun – but some of these popular online experiences, even those aimed at kids, contain worrying content. Even scarier, the online gaming world is notorious for containing online predators – especially where games are marketed to children.

So what should you be looking out for?

**☠️ Roblox**
Roblox is an online platform where games can be both made and played by users. While imaginative play is to be applauded, there are games on the platform that have horror or bloody themes. 

Roblox themselves do offer parental controls, but it’s important to check what types of games your child is actually accessing.

Roblox also contains an online chat feature, where players can connect with other players around the world. This poses a significant danger, as the nature of anonymous chat means that we can’t be sure who our kids are interacting with.

**☠️ Among Us**
Among Us is rated as PEGI 7 on the Google Play Store, which implies that the game is safer for younger children. Although the game’s visuals may not be as traumatizing or violent as other online games, the issue with Among Us is the online chat feature within this app, whereby children can chat and play with strangers anywhere in the world. As mentioned above, this feature poses the possibility of children coming into contact with unsavory characters, and engaging in conversation with them. Online anonymous chats also pose a cyberbullying risk.

**☠️ Candy Crush**
A cute sweets game, dangerous? The issue with this smartphone game is the ‘near-misses’ feature. Research studying the effects of near-misses in games has investigated the gambling element to these games – and the desire to extend play, despite frustrating outcomes. The near-misses are tantalizing, compelling us to keep playing.

This technique is used in other combat games as well – players can see when they’ve just missed getting to the next level. These digital features serve to encourage screen addiction.  

**☠️ Fortnite**
The fact that there are 350 million registered Fortnite players worldwide definitely tells us something – this game is super addictive. Fortnite’s creators Epic Games use machine learning and data analysis to enhance the player’s experience, which will keep them engaged and playing for longer – leading to more screen addiction. The ‘intermittent reward’ feature also aids in prolonging play, as kids are eager to reach the next desired element.

Other complaints that parents have made about Fortnite is the amount of money spent on virtual items in the game – if your child is an avid player, this game can end up costing you quite a bit!

**☠️ Project Makeover**
Project Makeover is a puzzle game for iOS and Android devices. Despite the app’s intention to position the makeover experience as a positive, confidence-building event, the focus on fashion, beauty and physical appearance is a little worrying. For example, the app encourages the user to wax the model’s legs – but why is this the pinnacle of acceptance in society?

Makeover apps perpetuate harmful stereotypes about beauty, as well as emphasizing the importance of being attractive – but in today’s world, acceptance of others is a much more important message.

**☠️ Call of Duty**
 In terms of gore and nightmarish content, Call of Duty is pretty disturbing.  Due to the amount of violence, profanity and blood-spewing, this is definitely a game that needs parental guidance. On the one hand, at a basic level it’s a war game, and marketed as such – so of course it will be gruesome. On the other hand – do we really want to expose our kids to all that massacre?

**☠️ Assassin’s Creed**
As with Call of Duty, Assassin’s Creed is particularly graphic in terms of its violent content. Brutal battles, execution scenes, and murders are all included in this game – none of which is recommended for young viewers (or even older viewers!)

Playing digital games, socializing online, as well as practicing reflexes! –  these are all a part of today’s childhood. As parents, the best thing we can do is help our children to navigate the world of online gaming safely. 

Thousands of families around the world are already using parental control apps, such as the FamilyKeeper app. 

A parental control app like FamilyKeeper will:

- Notify you if incendiary keywords are used
- Supervise which apps your child is downloading
- Allow you to block age-inappropriate websites
- Help to protect your child from online predators
- Alert you when unknown numbers or profiles attempt to contact your child
- Detect suspicious or dangerous images

FamilyKeeper also encourages parents to discuss with their children the dangers of these apps, and why a parental control app is an important safety feature. During the app set-up process, you can review with your child when, why, and how to use certains apps and sites – and why some may not be a good idea.  

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It’s the summer holidays, and kids everywhere have more free time on their hands in order to explore online, utilize social media platforms, and play video games. Unfortunately for us parents of these tech-savvy kids, tweens and teens – we don’t necessarily know what some of these games are all about. 

## Roblox Sex Games
When we think of our kids playing video games online, we may be imagining the old-school innocence of Pacman or Solitaire – but what is actually on offer is much scarier.

Lead gaming app Roblox is an online platform where games can be both made and played by users. With so many varied games on offer, there are games on the platform that aren’t remotely child-friendly or appropriate for all ages. Certainly, parents are not imagining that their kids may have access to Roblox sex games, or porn games on Roblox.

## Con Games on Roblox
Earlier this year, a BBC investigation revealed a spate of ‘condos’ discovered on the platform – sex parties where avatars can talk about and have sex. The advent of sexual games on Roblox is extremely worrying. Roblox has acknowledged that this is indeed a problem, and although most condos, (or ‘Roblox cons or ‘Roblox scented cons’ as they are sometimes known), are extremely short-lived – lasting about an hour before they are discovered and removed – their very existence is troubling parents, who are still concerned that this is happening at all. 

## How to Find Inappropriate Roblox Games
These particular games on Roblox – sexual, pornographic and violent in nature – are also not ones that you would stumble across. You need to actively search for them. However, threat actors determined to abuse the system can still slip through the net. 

‘It’s a “cat and mouse” issue. There are people who are going out of their way to game the systems,” the BBC quoted Larry Magid, president of ConnectSafely – a non-profit organization that raises awareness about child safety online.

Roblox themselves are currently policing the issue and do have parental control settings on the games – but as parents, we do need to be aware and understand what content kids could potentially be exposed to.

## Sexual Games on Roblox

At the moment, five of the most prominent sexually explicit and pornographic Roblox games are as follows:

1. Shower Stimulator: Whereby players can take a bath together, leading to intimate and erotic moments and conversations between participants
2. Dance Club: Players engage in sexual dance moves
3. Shedletsky’s Dirty Place: Kids come together in Shedletsky’s house and engage in a variety of dirty activities
4. Obby Games: Involving disturbing tasks that the player needs to complete before moving on to the next level
5. Club Iris: Seedy activity in seedy hotel rooms

For younger children, if they don’t know how to search for sexual Roblox games, it’s unlikely they will come across any of these concerning games.  However, it is important to check with your kids about what they are being exposed to and open the channels of conversation to discuss what kinds of games they like playing.

Additionally, the violence of some Roblox games can also be upsetting. For example, Zombie Attack requires you to kill all the zombies by stabbing or shooting, with shockingly graphic blood spurting out. Haunted Hunters is a shooting game that is actually meant for adults, but can still be accessed by kids. And Survive the Killers is notoriously violent and terrible, whereby kids use an array of weapons to slaughter and kill other players.

In Submarine Story, your avatar is in a submarine, setting out to explore the ocean. Not particularly worrying. However, squid men falling through the roof and trying to kill you with a knife, and shouting messages like “You will perish!” are pretty haunting – especially as the squid man’s face is eerily creepy. 

Remember, although Roblox undoubtedly attracts millions of kids under the age of 12, Common Sense Media warns parents that due to ‘iffy content’, it should really have a 13+ rating. Adult predators are also able to interact with kids using the platform. 

So take the time this summer to explore the platform a little and understand how Roblox works. By familiarizing ourselves with what content Roblox has to offer, parents will be in a better position to comprehend what kids are seeing, playing, and being exposed to – and hopefully will be able to protect kids from anything untoward, and from stumbling across sexual and porn-related subject matter on Roblox’s platform.

It is also strongly recommended to utilize a parental control app that can alert you if your kids are being exposed to inappropriate content or flags when sexual, pornographic or bullying keywords are used. A parental control app like FamilyKeeper can help give parents peace of mind, safeguarding young family members from offensive content across the most popular social media platforms.

For more information on the FamilyKeeper app, visit: [https://familykeeper.reasonlabs.com](https://familykeeper.reasonlabs.com) and join our [Facebook Community Group Digital World Parenting](https://www.facebook.com/groups/dwparenting).

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It’s almost impossible these days to keep up with what games are popular online - never mind how to play them! Aside from anything else, it’s extraordinary to see how easily the younger generation picks up online game rules, techniques, and maneuvers while their parents are left scratching their heads at what seems like an impossible game to decipher.

Gacha Games are a relatively new genre of online gaming, whose popularity is on the rise. But what is gacha, who is playing gacha games, and what are the risks? Here’s everything you need to know:

## Gacha games - “gacha” meaning

“Gacha” comes from the Japanese word “[gachapon](https://www.google.com/search?q=gachapon+meaning&oq=gachapon+meaning&aqs=chrome.0.0i512j0i390i650l5.9889j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8)” - an onomatopoeic term connecting the sound "gacha” for the hand-cranking action of a toy-vending machine, and "pon" for the toy capsule landing in the collection tray. 

“Gacha games” are a type of mobile game that involve players spending in-game currency or real money to obtain random virtual items, characters, equipment, or units through a virtual lottery or “vending machine”, often in the form of randomized rewards known as "gacha pulls" or "loot boxes." These items may be used to enhance gameplay and further progress in the game by buying chances to get better or rarer items, or simply for collection purposes. 

## What is a gacha game?

Gacha games typically have a strong emphasis on social features, such as multiplayer modes or player rankings, and may offer regular events or updates to keep players engaged. While gacha games are popular and lucrative, they have also been criticized for their addictive nature, predatory monetization practices, and potential for encouraging gambling behavior.

## Who plays gacha games?

Gacha games are played by a wide range of people of different ages and backgrounds. Gacha games are particularly popular among gamers who enjoy collecting and customizing characters, as gacha games often involve collecting virtual items and characters through randomized draws. 

In general, gacha games are popular among gamers who enjoy mobile gaming, as they are often designed to be played on smartphones and tablets. However, gacha games can also be played on other platforms, such as PC and consoles.

## Why is gacha popular?

Gacha games have become increasingly popular in recent years and many games of this type use anime or manga-style graphics and storytelling. Players can use their collections of virtual items to battle other players, progress through the game's story, or simply collect and show off their favorite characters.

What makes gacha popular though? There are probably several reasons we can attribute to the growth in popularity of gacha games:
- **Accessibility**: Gacha games can be easily downloaded and played on mobile devices. Additionally, gacha games’ variety of characters and items that can be randomly obtained creates a sense of excitement and anticipation for players.
- **Sociability**: Another factor contributing to the popularity of gacha games is the social aspect of the games. Many gacha games form strong communities of players who can share information, strategies, and experiences with each other.
- **Engagement**: Gacha games are also very engaging, as they offer regular updates and events which can keep players motivated to continue playing. These updates and events may introduce new characters, items, and storylines, which can offer a sense of freshness and variety to the game.

## Gacha Games Mobile - Android and iOS

As mentioned above, because gacha games can be played on your mobile phone, this makes them easily accessible and can offer regular new and evolving content.

Some of the most popular gacha games for mobile play on the market include some legendary favorites - Pokémon Masters, Marvel Strike Force, and Nintendo’s Fire Emblem Heroes - as well as some newer creations such as Arknight and Azur Lane. 

## Gacha games - Gacha Life

One of the most popular gacha games is [Gacha Life](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.com.lunime.gachalife&hl=en&gl=US&pli=1), a mobile game app developed and published by Lunime. Players can create their own anime-style characters and customize their appearance, outfits, and accessories using a wide variety of clothing items and accessories. The game also features a studio mode where players can create their own scenes, skits, and stories using their customized characters. Users can also interact with other players. 

Gacha Life is not a gacha game in the traditional sense. While the game does feature a gacha system where players can spend in-game currency to obtain randomized items such as clothing, hairstyles, and accessories, the focus of the game is not on collecting rare or powerful characters. Rather, the gacha element is a way for players to expand their options for customizing their own characters. In this game, players can earn virtual currency and spend it on "gacha" machines to obtain rare clothing and accessories for their characters.

Gacha Life has gained popularity among young people and has also become a platform for creating and sharing user-generated content, including skits, animations, and music videos featuring Gacha Life characters.

## Are Gacha games dangerous? 

Gacha games have some potential risks and dangers, particularly for vulnerable individuals such as children, teenagers, or individuals with gambling addiction tendencies. So what could make a gacha game dangerous?

Some gacha games have faced criticism for their monetization practices and for promoting gambling-like behavior among players. These games often use randomized mechanics to distribute rewards and offer various forms of in-game purchases, which can lead to addictive behavior or excessive spending.

Players can become emotionally invested in their virtual items and experience distress or depression when they fail to acquire desired items or lose them. Furthermore, some gacha games may feature inappropriate content, such as violence or sexually suggestive imagery, which can be harmful to younger players.

However, it is important to note that not all gacha games are synonymous with being dangerous or harmful. Some gacha games may contain content that is more geared toward children, while others may be more geared toward adult gamers. Some games may offer fair and transparent reward systems, and age-appropriate content, and provide players with a fun and enjoyable experience.

Even so, as with any form of online entertainment or gaming, it is essential to be aware of the potential risks and take appropriate measures to ensure safe and responsible gameplay:

- Parents and guardians should monitor their children's gaming habits, and understand how the gambling aspect of gacha games is utilized to verify if it’s appropriate.
- Speak to your child about using any kind of currency online, whether it’s crypto or other - set clear spending limits and decide depending on their age and level of responsibility what is and isn’t acceptable, both from financial and security perspectives.
- Setting clear screen time limits is also recommended as these kinds of games can prove very addictive.
- Stranger danger can also be a concern, and as such, be aware of any online gaming communities your child may wish to join through gacha games. 


#Gaming