Play Together / Play Smart

A mobile-first gaming generation

• The research shows that half (50%) of kids are now playing games on their phones every day.
• 44% of children are playing sandbox games like Minecraft, The Sims and Roblox
• More boys than girls play simulation games (FIFA) and shooter games but there is an even split when it comes to sandbox games

Who are they playing with?

• 60% of children are playing with friends from school
• 27% of children are playing with their siblings
• 24% say their children play with a parent, this drops to 14% for children aged 14-16

How are children communicating with people they play within the game?

Children are not just communicating via in-game chat functions but off-platform too, with over a quarter of children using WhatsApp and text messaging to communicate with other players.

Parental involvement

Dads participate more with their children’s gaming than mums; 30% of dads play computer games with their children most of the time, +9%pts more likely than mums (21%).

Parents have told us that they are most concerned about the amount of time their child is spending gaming, becoming addicted and sharing personal data.

Six in 10 (63%) worry their kids are spending too long playing on their devices (up from 44% in 2019). Over half (52%) are concerned about their kids’ video gaming with strangers (up from 38% in 2019), and 45% fear their child being bullied when playing (up from 40%).

More dads say they game with their kids, and they are also more likely than mums to recognise the concerns of gaming, particularly around notifications received when gaming (+24%pts), spending in games and in-game purchases (both +23%pts).

Gaming safely and responsibly

Encouragingly many parents actively talk to their children about how to game online safely. Two in five (42%) talk to their child about safe gaming and only 37% have set up parental controls.

However only a third of parents have said they have set parental controls on their consoles and games. Of those who haven’t, 58% are unaware of parental controls, they don’t know how to set them up or find it too difficult.

Understanding and usage of PEGI ratings

PEGI ratings is a system used to ensure that entertainment content, such as games, but also films, tv shows or mobile apps, is clearly labelled with a minimum age recommendation based on the content they have.

• 74% say they are a useful guide
• 72% say PEGI ratings are necessary
• 41% say they would let their kids play regardless
• Only 29% of parents check PEGI ratings of games

74% of parents who play with their kids say it helps their child be creative (versus 42% who don’t), and 72% say it helps with their child’s concentration (versus 39%).

Nearly seven out of 10 (69%) say it builds self-confidence and a similar number (67%) believe it helps in social development – this is more than double the amount compared to parents who don’t play video games with their kids.