The National Cyber Emergency Response Team (National CERT) has launched a countrywide awareness campaign to highlight the dangers of online gaming and protect children from potential risks such as scams, hacking attempts, financial fraud, and exposure to harmful content.
Online games pose risks beyond entertainment
According to the National CERT, many online games negatively influence children’s thinking by promoting violence, abusive language, vulgarity, and immoral content. Some children are also reported to have engaged in unauthorized financial transactions during gameplay without their parents’ permission, causing distress for parents.
Officials warned that hackers and scammers often lure young players with offers of free coins, prizes, or upgrades, while fake accounts are used to build trust and exploit innocent children.
Guidelines issued for parents
To minimize risks, the National CERT has issued guidelines for parents, urging them to:
- Use monitoring tools for online gaming.
- Train children not to share personal or financial information with strangers.
- Educate children about digital safety and responsible gaming.
- Report suspicious activities to authorities promptly.
The team emphasized that ignoring the dangers of online gaming can have long-term harmful effects on children, making awareness and preventive measures essential.
Digital safety shared responsibility
Officials stressed that while online games can provide entertainment, they also carry serious risks of fraud, scams, and exploitation. Parents, schools, and communities must work together to enable children to enjoy the digital world safely and responsibly.
