PARENTS WANT MORE CONTROL OVER ONLINE GAMING TIME

PARENTS WANT MORE CONTROL OVER ONLINE GAMING TIME

Nearly half of parents worry children spend too much time on games
But concerns over violent games, affect on sleep and stopping them seeing friends are less of a worry
Family friendly online games and games that children can play with friends (like Monopoly, Cluedo and Game of Life 2) can help as can controlling access to gaming devices

Parents’ biggest worry about the rise of online gaming is focused on the amount of time children spend on games, new research* from the UK’s leading digital board game publisher Marmalade Game Studio shows.

Its nationwide survey asked parents who have children who game to rank their biggest concerns about their children’s online gaming and found nearly half (45%) are concerned or very concerned about children spending too much time on games.

Concerns about them playing violent games, the potential effect on sleep and the impact on them seeing friends and being sociable were less of a worry, the study found.

In fact, the numbers who were unconcerned or not very concerned in each of the other potential concerns were bigger than those who were worried, the study found.

The table below shows parents’ views on the key concerns – not seeing friends enough was the second biggest concern.

ONLINE GAMING WORRIES ABOUT CHILDREN	HOW MANY PARENTS WORRY	HOW MANY PARENTS ARE NOT WORRIED
Spending too much time	45%	30%
Affecting their sleep	35%	40%
Not seeing friends enough	34%	36%
Playing violent games	30%	44%

Marmalade Game Studio, which has a range of board games including Monopoly and Cluedo designed to deliver social experiences which connect people, believes the increasing popularity of games that can be played with family and friends could help address the issue. Marmalade Game Studio has recently introduced Bubble in-game video chat allowing gamers to add friends and family to group chats, start games from these, and video chat whilst playing.

Cristina Mereuta, co-CEO at Marmalade Game Studio, said: “Parents are understandably worried about children spending too much time playing online games given that children can play in their bedrooms and if they have smartphones, it is very easy to access games.

“Introducing family friendly games and games that children can play with friends can help as can controlling access to gaming devices.”