Today, 8 February 2022, marks Safer Internet Day 2022. This year’s theme ‘All fun and games? Exploring respect and relationships online’ focuses on keeping young people’s experience of playing video games fun, safe and healthy.
Safer Internet Day 2022 aims to celebrate the role young people play in creating a safer internet. It promotes the safe and positive use of technology for young people and encourages conversations about being responsible and respectful online.
Gaming is a huge part of young people’s lives, and the pandemic saw a huge rise in online gaming, 80% of children aged 12 to 15 played online video games in 2020 – 2021[1]. It is important to ensure young people can play games safely.
The Government has committed to ensuring the UK is a safe place to be online. TIGA’s guide to the Draft Online Safety Bill is available here and TIGA’s assessment of what the Bill might mean for the video games industry is available here.
TIGA’s five principles for safeguarding players can be seen here.
TIGA supports the Government’s commitment to make the UK the safest place to be online and to play video games.