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NEWS

Half of Young Gamers Say Parents Aren't Involved Enough

Rob Crossley's picture

By Rob Crossley

March 5, 2009

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A new study claims that 69 percent of children want parents to be more involved in checking the games they play.

The survey, carried out as part of Microsoft’s second annual Play Smart, Play Safe study, shows that half of young gamers believe their parents are not concerned enough with the games they play.

Of the young people surveyed, 47 percent said that their parents “never” get involved in their gaming pursuits, or do not do so enough.

Meanwhile, 64 percent of parents surveyed admitted that they “sometimes allow” their children to play games rated higher than their age range.

Despite this, 94 percent of the surveyed parents said they feel personally responsible for checking the age rating of the games that their children play. Unfortunately, only 60 percent of adults said they fully understood the current rating system.

However, the study also stated that 73 percent of parents are aware of parental controls on game consoles, a rise of 13% from the results in last year’s Play Smart, Play Safe study.

Microsoft has not revealed its survey methodology.

Marq's picture
On March 8th Marq said:

"Unfortunately, only 60 percent of adults said they fully understood the current rating system."

I think it is too optimistic estimation. They said that they understood - but how many of us really know what their kids play? Although I pay sometimes with my 8 year old son online games like club penguin or driving kids, I don't understand criteria of rating system and trust more my own opinion about games.

Markajaw's picture
On March 7th Markajaw said:

"Of the young people surveyed, 47 percent said that their parents “never” get involved in their gaming pursuits, or do not do so enough."

It's pretty obvious to me that those young people checked "never get involved in their gaming pursuits" but there is no way they're looking for them to censor games more. That's just stupid.

There's still the fact that no court has ever drawn any link between violence in video games causing real life violence. Parents are too sensitive towards violence. I would bet a lot money that young gamers playing GTA are not going to grow up to be overly sensitive adults like their parents. Generation by generation violence in media will become more acceptable and that's a good thing.

intergalactic's picture
On March 5th intergalactic said:

I think your being a bit harsh in your responses,

The one incident I can think about in which someone sued a gaming company for negligence was the situation with RockStar. Where a Grandmother bought the game for her grandson, which was a big mistake on her part. But in return the RockStar should have never had hidden content in there game...which I believe wasn't rated, wasn't it "Hot-Coffee"?

Now I fully agree that parents/grandparents should be taking the time to know what kind of games their kids are playing but I don't think it's fair to assume that all parents are oblivious.

I grew up playing games and I know my kids will be gamers too, I just think there's a generation gap where some parents don't understand the technology and their kids are going to manipulate them into buying the games their friends are playing.

My 2 cents.

savagehenry's picture
On March 5th savagehenry said:

Just playing Devil's advocate. But on UK release GTASA was certificated 18 right from the start. If the content was hidden, it wasn't hidden very well. I agree that Rockstar should have acted a little more responsibly, but having said that, Granny should have never bought the game for her under-aged grandson in the first place. This game and its content was NOT suitable for minors and any parents who allow their children to play mature rated games have absolutely no come back when they find the content not to their liking.

The first section of GTASA is about establishing your gangs turf after other "Families" have muscled in - you can kill crack dealers and prostitutes and take territory by brutally murdering swarms of rival gang members. All for more and more power... The point I'm trying to make is why was Granny tolerant of all the swearing and the particularly heinous crimes, but when it comes to the natural union of two people ie.. sex, she takes offense?! Can anybody else see that her attitude is completely bonkers?! Sex is Offensive!... Violence isn't, Why is that ?

Exercise some parental responsibility, because it seems that the children are calling the shots whilst adults sit idly by waiting for the next bandwagon to drive by..

But you are right there is a huge gap, my parents have always been technophobes when it comes to consoles (the amount of groveling I had to do as a kid just to get a Game Gear was outrageous) all because they were fearful that I would neglect other responsibilities, like schoolwork. It'll be different I am sure with the children of the "PlayStation Generation" because by then we'll hopefully be more educated and able to make a more informed decision about what is suitable interactive entertainment for a minor to be involved with.

But until then I guess we have to put up with surveys like this which try to pinpoint the problem with a sledgehammer.

toadwarrior's picture
On March 5th toadwarrior said:

It just goes to show parents rather not do their job and the sue big companies for not factoring in their complete incompetence as a parent when creating a product.

Ozzman_79's picture
On March 5th Ozzman_79 said:

So, 34% of parents say they're "checking the age rating of the games their children play" but don't fully understand it? What's the point then? Also, excellent job of parenting by the way. Going through the motions and all.....

Chris_Eals's picture
On March 5th Chris_Eals said:

"Despite this, 94 percent of the surveyed parents said they feel personally responsible for checking the age rating of the games that their children play. Unfortunately, only 60 percent of adults said they fully understood the current rating system."

What's to understand? There's a red label on the front that tells them their kids shouln't play the games until they're 15 or 18.