What Every Parent Needs To Know About FIFA
Keeping our kids safe online is a top priority for parents, especially when it comes to the ever increasing popularity of kids playing online games. An online game called FIFA is one of the most popular online games all around the world, is not just a game; it has become a global sensation. Parents today are asking if the FIFA game is safe for children to play for hours at a time? What are some of the hidden risks that come with playing video games online? Today, we will discuss what every parent needs to know about the super popular video game called FIFA, the potential risks of your child playing online games, and how you can keep your kids safe while they play and enjoy their favorite online games.
What is FIFA?
FIFA is a soccer simulation video game series that has quickly become very popular with kids from around the world. It is not just popular with kids, it has become one of the best-selling sports video games for people of all ages and for people all over the world. Players can play the game in a wide variety of gaming modes, like single-player or multiplayer mode, online against other players from all over the world, or offline just between them and the computer system. While the game itself is designed to simulate real life soccer matches, the added online component of the game adds a competitive edge that has attracted millions of players, including lots of children.
Is FIFA Suitable for Children?
When it comes to online gaming, one of the biggest questions parents ask is, “Is online gaming safe for my child?” In a general sense, FIFA is rated suitable for players aged 3 and above. However, what they don’t say is that this rating primarily reflects the offline game play experience (like a player against the computer or someone in the same room with another controller), not playing the often less safe for kids online version against strangers from all over.
The online version, where players interact with others from around the world, introduces a very different set of potential risks that parents need to consider when contemplating if you want your child to play the game. These can include potential exposure to inappropriate language, aggressive and competitive behavior from other players, and the possibility of encountering online predators that can easily message your child. Parents need to be aware that while the game itself is family friendly, but the online interaction portion against strangers may not always be safe for your children.
Gambling Risks and In-app Purchases
One of the biggest concerns that parents have with the FIFA game are the in-app purchases and a special tool they call “loot boxes.” As part of FIFA, these come in the form of Ultimate Team packs, which players have to buy with real money or in-game currency. These packs contain random player cards that are used to enhance a team’s performance with special skills or perks. These are great additions to your online play, but this part of the system has been criticized for resembling gambling, as players don’t know what they’re getting when they purchase a loot box pack for their team.
The excitement of potentially obtaining a rare card can lead children into spending more money than intended, or were authorized to spend, often without fully understanding all of the consequences involved in purchasing the packs. This financial aspect of the FIFA game has become a major concern for parents, as it can lead to addictive behavior in their child and often times big financial issues. Anything collectible has had this mania attached where you want to collect as many packs as you can to get the rare baseball card or the Golden Ticket in a Wonka Bar, it is the same with the best tricks in the FIFA game. Sometimes people can get caught up in how cool the packs are and spend more than expected.
Is FIFA Mobile Safe for Kids?
FIFA Mobile, is a version of the game that is designed to bring the game to mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. The mobile version shares many of the same features with its at home console counterparts, including the online play and the in-app purchases, the mobile version also comes with its own set of risks that parents need to consider. Parents should be weary about the amount of time their kids spend on the FIFA Mobile app, as it is easily accessible from anywhere and can end up being more addictive due to the game’s portability factor. In addition, the same online gaming risks can apply, with children potentially interacting with strangers or predators and potentially being exposed to inappropriate content.
Is There an Age Limit for FIFA?
As we mentioned earlier, the FIFA game carries an friendly age rating of 3+, which might give parents the impression that it’s suitable for all ages, even young kids. However, this rating doesn’t fully take into account the online aspects of the game. Most of today’s online platforms, including the FIFA game, require that their players need to be at least 13 years old to create an account to play. This is a cookie cutter, standard rule across many of the online gaming platforms to comply across the board with most global regulations. Despite this safety guard, often we see that younger children play with accounts that were created by their parents or older siblings, I stead of making their own account. This makes it crucial for parents to monitor their children’s gaming activities often and to ensure they are playing within a safe and age appropriate environment.
Nutcracker Tips For Parents About The FIFA Game and Other Online Dangers That Lurk Online
Understanding what the risks that are associated with online gaming is the first step in protecting your child while they play online games, including FIFA. Nutcracker, a leading software in child online safety, offers the following useful tips to help parents manage their child’s FIFA gaming experience to help keep them safe:
Set Daily Time Limits For Your Child’s Online Play
Monitor and limit the amount of time your child can spend playing the FIFA game and other similar games to help prevent excessive gaming and its associated risks to your child’s brain development. It is also important to model this behavior with your own screen time whether that is on your phone or playing games.
Educate Your Child About In-app Purchases
Explain to your children about what in-app purchases are and the potential dangers of spending real money in the game. Make sure your child understands that they are using real money when they buy something in the game and not to just click yes to pop-ups on the screen. This is especially important if your child cannot read since they do not know what they are agreeing to. Children often click on pop-ups to remove them from the screen, which can lead to accidental in-app purchases. Consider removing your credit card completely from all games to add the extra layer of protection from little hands buying things without you knowing.
Set and Enable Parental Controls
Utilize the important parental control settings available in most of today’s current gaming consoles and mobile devices to restrict your child’s access to certain unsafe features and to content that might not be age appropriate for them to access. These settings are mostly easy to install and add an extra layer of protection for your child against the outside world.
Discuss Your Child’s Online Interactions Often
Talk to your child regularly about the potential risks of interacting with strangers online and encourage them to report any inappropriate behavior they encounter online or even hear that their peers’ experience. Open and honest dialogue is important for your child to feel comfortable coming to you to discuss instead of trying to hide it with fears you may be upset. We all want our children to stay safe and letting them talk freely and openly with you is a key factor in internet safety.
Use our Nutcracker Platform
Parents should consider using our Nutcracker’s software to monitor all of your child’s online activity. You will receive real time alerts that are sent to you with any potentially risky behavior that your child encounters, and ensure a much safer online gaming experience. By staying informed and taking a proactive approach with online safety, you can help your child enjoy playing the FIFA game while also minimizing the risks that come with the online play portion.
Safeguarding Your Child’s Online Experience with Nutcracker
The FIFA game is a fun and exciting game for children of all ages, but it is important for parents to be well informed of all of the potential gaming risks that come from your child playing the online version of the game. The Nutcracker platform provides parents with the much needed tools that they need to protect their children in today’s digital world, with online gaming or any other internet activities they choose. Whether it is monitoring your child’s online interactions or setting up the necessary parental controls, the Nutcracker platform makes it so much easier for you to ensure your child’s safety while they are using the internet. We all want our children to be safe and Nutcracker is here to help protect your child.
To stay ahead of the curve and to safeguard your child’s online experience, use the Nutcracker platform. Take the necessary first step towards a safer digital environment to ensure protection for your family and sign up today!