Online Gaming and Porn: What Parents Should Know

Online gaming is one of the biggest craze among kids, teens, young adults and even some old timers. As a parent of two teenagers, and an avid online gamer, I wanted to make those that are less involved more aware of what is out there.

Many parents or guardians take for granted the ESRB rating on any game is enough to approve, or disapprove a game for their child. I am here to tell you that is not the case. Perhaps you allowed your teen to have a game that had a "Mature" or "17+" rating for violence. Maybe the game had a control to "turn off" the blood and gore, so you agreed to allow your teen to have this hot new game. Did you know that same game could open the window for porn?

Technology has come so far that many of these online games are extremely customizable. Most multi-player games are equipped to allow the user to customize "maps" or "worlds" for other online gamers to join and play . They are able to change everything from the ground terrain and buildings, to triggering certain actions and special effects as the players move about the map or world.

One such interface allows users to import small clips or videos to billboards that are displayed within the maps or worlds. Other gamers that join these maps or worlds are exposed to the customized clips or videos. Some of which happen to be porn.

I preview and play all games above the "E" ESRB rating before allowing my teenagers to have them. I was shocked and dismayed when I encountered porn in one such game I nearly allowed my teenagers to play. The single player version was fine. It was your typical FPS (first person shooter) style game. But when I engaged the online multi-player version, I was taken to a whole new world.

I joined another player's "map" and began to walk around. I was inside a building that had a pool table, some arcade games and doors that led to other areas. I was impressed with the graphics and interface. Then I entered another room. There was music playing and as I began to look around, I was astonishment by what I saw. There were flat screen televisions hanging on the walls. On the these television screens were actual porno videos. The map maker had imported porn clips to their maps for all to see, including any teens/children that had access to this game.

I immediately contacted the game company. They asked for the map name which I provided. I never heard back from them. And that map is one of the most popular maps out there for this game. Anyone that has the game can download and host this map. Furthermore, anyone that has this game, can join this map.

I also contacted a local television station asking the consumer report department to do a story about this hidden danger. My concern being the parents that cannot take the time to dig a little deeper into the online games their teens may play. Perhaps busy schedules, or believing the ESRB rating is enough, put their teens at risk to being exposed to unwanted porn. Again, I was ignored. At least now, through this article, you can be more informed.

You already know the importance of monitoring who your teen/child interacts with while online. Sexual predators, stalkers, identity theft, these are all over the news. I encourage all parents and guardians to get more involved in the games your teens/children are interested in playing. Especially if it is an online multi-player game.

Online gaming can be fun, but it is also becoming more and more dangerous for our teens/children. The amount of sexual exposure your teen or child can face has gone beyond what anyone could have previously imagined.