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What Is an MMO?
Any parent in the know will tell you that an MMO is what, in many cases, has your child glued to their PC for hours at a time—especially as the bulk of MMOs aren’t played on gaming consoles. Still baffled? “MMO” stands for massively multiplayer online, or a game in which players socialize and work together virtually within a particular digital world. Role-playing versions of MMOs are called MMORPGs, and their fantasy-genre origins can be traced back to the 1974 tabletop game Dungeons and Dragons.
In an MMO, hundreds and even thousands of internet players are occupying and traversing the same game world at the same time. This means that your child is digitally swimming in a sea of strangers whose real identities remain hidden, as most users in any multiplayer online game go by handles (fictional usernames) instead.
Popular MMOs include World of Warcraft, Minecraft, Fortnite, Farmville, and World of Tanks. Playing these types of games can be both fun and quite beneficial to your child, as they can help kids to:
Build social skills in a low-pressure setting by playing with “IRL” friends
Gain teamwork and cooperative problem-solving abilities
Implement strategic plans for reaching goals
Participate in an increasingly mainstream part of American and global culture
Develop an interest in reading, as many MMOs are based on specific books or take place in worlds heavily informed by historical eras and events
However, strangers are strangers, and your child’s safety in MMO games is paramount.
How To Keep Your Child Safe in an MMO or MMORPG
In addition to ensuring that your child is as literate as possible about internet dangers as a whole, you can help to keep them safe in MMOs and MMORPGs by taking the following steps:
Discuss boundaries. Talk to your child about things like which friends and family members they can play with, what kinds of information not to share, how to avoid strangers, and what to do about bullies.
Choose wisely. Limit your child to high-quality games rated for children or use parental controls that let you restrict your child’s actions (including time spent playing) and others’ access to them.
Consider games with private access options. Some titles include options for private access-only gameplay, in which a smaller game world contains only a select list of friends or family members.
Keep up. Check in with your child about how the game is going and who they are playing with. Consider playing the game together as a family or ensuring that your child is playing in a high-traffic, easily monitored area so you always know what they are doing.
Teach Kids Safe Tech Use With Net Positive
The mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Utah County is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens and leaders. We accomplish this by providing evidence-based programs with a focus on those that improve academic engagement, build character, and improve healthy behaviors.
Our Net Positive Program educates K-12 students about digital safety, health, citizenship, and leadership. After participating in our program, students are 97% better prepared to face internet dangers. Contact us to learn more and ask your school to schedule a Net Positive Presentation, or support us with your donation today!
References
“Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game.” TV Tropes, https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MassivelyMultiplayerOnlineRolePlayingGame.
“Multiplayer Games Online: How to Help Keep Kids Safe.” HealthyChildren.org, https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/multiplayer-games-online-how-to-help-keep-kids-safe.aspx.
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