When my kids were younger, they often complained that I was "the only mom" with strict rules about the types of movies, games and other entertainment they were allowed to consume. Although I still wear this badge proudly, I see many parents struggling to set similar boundaries at home. After all, considering the rapid page of technological change all around us, who can blame them?
Children are connected and engaged online at an early age and it goes without saying that parents need to stay actively involved to ensure that their kids are using technology appropriately. Fortunately, when it comes to video games, easy-to-use tools can help parents recognize which games are appropriate and to help set parental controls - including a new website - ParentalTools.org. As the president of the non-profit ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) and "the only mom" in my kids' universe with rules about entertainment - here are some suggestions for how to get started:
You may already be familiar with ESRB ratings for "boxed" video games. But you may not know that those same ratings are also assigned to mobile games and apps in Google Play and downloadable games in the Playstation Store, Nintendo eShop, the Windows Store and Xbox Store. The ESRB rating system has three-parts:
Here is an illustration of the ESRB rating system:
Most devices today feature parental controls, allowing you to manage games and apps without having to hover. Almost all parental controls let parents block or limit the games available to their children based on their age rating, but most offer even more choices for you. Depending on the devices, parents can manage:
Most robust parental controls can even include creating a friends' "whitelist", giving you the ability to proactively approve of who can play with your children online, while blocking people who are not on your approved list. These controls are PIN, or password protected, so once you've activated them, don't share your password with your kids, unless you want them to circumvent the controls you have put in place! And don't forget, if you are the account holder, you will always be notified that a purchase has been made so check your messages or email.
Here are five must-dos for today's digital parent:
Video games are always changing, and so are the ways your children interact with them. And, taking control of your family's video games just got easier. #TakeControl #OkayToPlay
This blog was previously published March 5, 2018 on macaronikid.com.
* Denotes member of FOSI Board
As president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), Ms. Vance leads the non-profit, self-regulatory body for the video game industry in the United States, which includes the assignment of age ratings to video games and mobile apps, enforcement of marketing guidelines adopted by the video game industry and operating Privacy Certified, an FTC-sanctioned COPPA Safe Harbor privacy seal certification program. Ms. Vance is also the chairperson of the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC), a ground-breaking global rating and age classification system for digitally delivered games and apps that reflects the unique cultural differences among nations and regions.
Ms. Vance also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences and was appointed to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's Online Safety and Technology Working Group (OSTWG), which was established by Congress to make recommendations on the protection of children on the Internet through education, labeling and parental control technology.
Prior to joining the ESRB in 2002, Ms. Vance spent 18 years at Disney/ABC, with responsibility for the development of a broad range of new media and market initiatives. As Senior Vice President, General Manager of the ABC Internet Group, she oversaw the operations and strategic development of ABC-branded news and entertainment related web sites, and was also responsible for launching and/or managing several interactive entertainment and educational software publishing ventures, the direct response marketing of ABC programming and ABC's in-flight entertainment business.
Ms. Vance holds a B.A. in International Relations/Russian from Washington University in St. Louis, is the mother of two daughters and lives in New York, NY.
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