Hidden Dangers: Safe Gaming Newsletter There is a game function that automatically June 2018 allows other online players to speak to each other through voice and text chat. This means • Trending Now • Challenges and Dares “101” that kids playing Fortnite can easily be • Tips & Resources for Safe contacted by anyone else who is playing the Gaming game (strangers, adults posing as children etc.). From our research, we understand that What’s Trending: parents can disable voice chat in the game via Spring/Summer 2018 the settings menu, but the text chat function apparently cannot be turned off.

Quick Facts:

• Violent theme and content masked by Safe Gaming Online Websites: cute, cartoonish imagery

• The goal is to be the “last person Common Sense Media • standing” by fending off attacks & getting the most number of “kills”. Media Smarts

• Common Sense Media Age Rating: 13+ Government of Canada: Get Cyber Safe • Peer interest and enthusiasm about the

game can intensify interest among Canadian Centre for Child Protection younger children

• Younger children playing the game may act out violence in the game through their play / behavior. • Sometimes described as “games” to appeal to young people but some are very dangerous and are really cruel acts of (i.e, “Blue Whale”, “Choking Game”, “Salt & Ice Challenge”)

Online Challenges & Dares • Often cyberbullies are digitally anonymous

• It is virtually impossible to remove all Quick Facts: references to dangerous and illegal • Viral trends on social media platforms challenges and dares from the internet (e.g. ) and websites • Sometimes photos and video evidence • Participants are asked to record of challenges and dares are used to themselves doing something that can blackmail or further cyberbully range anywhere from fun and silly to someone mean and dangerous • Harms can be both physical and mental. • Some are inspired by good intentions and good causes (e.g, ALS ) Some of the most dangerous current • “Dare” games or websites challenge challenges and dares referenced people to perform a specific dare or a online: series of escalating, riskier dares or stunts Hot-Pepper Challenge • Kids have a harder time than adults Salt & Ice Challenge judging what is safe from what is unsafe Tide Pod Challenge Choking/Fainting/Pass-Out Challenge • Kids are susceptible to online and Blue Whale Challenge offline peer and societal pressure to

participate • Adults may unintentionally add to pressure on children to participate Learn about internet challenges, dares and games. The more informed we all are (parents, teachers and other caretakers), the easier it is to talk to kids in a calm and knowledgeable manner and work together to manage safety.

For more Information about dangerous challenges and dares:

Adult Guidance & https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/12- Supervision youtube-challenges-your-kid-already-knows- about

Younger Children (k-6) Games Adolescents Shouldn’t Play (G.A.S.P.) Website: www.gaspinfo.com Do not allow any privacy online: Keep the computer in a common area where you can Set rules and expectations: Teach about safe watch and monitor its use; not in individual online practices and set strict rules about online bedrooms. Monitor any time spent on activity and social media participation. Tell kids smartphones and tablets. Enable parental to check in with you before participating in any control options. online challenges or dares.

Ensure only supervised access: Find out what Check-in regularly: Ask questions about supervision and protection is in place where friends, school, and trends. Listen. Ask about kids could use a computer without your specific games and challenges and what they supervision i.e, after school clubs, friend’s home think or know about them. Remember that knowing and talking about challenges and Make it okay to talk to you: Let kids know that stunts is not the same as actually participating it is not their fault if they get messages that in them. Calmly educate and correct any make them feel uncomfortable i.e, scared, misinformation using language they afraid, worried or threatened. Tell them that understand. Be honest and straightforward. their job is to stop playing/messaging right Kids need information about dangers and risks away and tell a responsible adult. to stay safe. From Kidshealth.org Get kids to think ahead and think critically: Children and Youth Dares and challenges are currently trending in youth culture i.e, online, movies, celebrity Model responsible online habits. Through our endorsements. Acknowledge the potential actions, we can teach children how to protect influence. Encourage taking a step back and privacy, stay safe and not give into peer actively help kids walk through challenges and pressure or the latest fads or trends. When we dares to identify where things could go wrong. model restraint in terms of posting personal Encourage critical thinking with respect to information online or participating in viral media and marketing to youth. challenges, this helps children practice restraint. Make it okay for kids to choose to say “no” to online challenges.

Dear Parents, Guardians and Caretakers,

If you are concerned about your child’s level of interest, knowledge or participation in risky or dangerous online games, challenges or dares and need support, please:

ü Contact your child’s school ü Reach out to a child and family community service organization. If you do not know where to reach out to, contact the Centralized Access Network (1-855-486-5037)

If you are concerned that your child’s friend(s) or classmate(s) may be showing

excessive interest in risky or dangerous online challenges or dares or actually participating in them, please:

ü Notify the friend’s parent or guardian ü Notify the child’s school

If you are unable to notify a guardian or remain concerned that a child’s safety is at risk because of their online activity, please contact local child welfare authorities:

ü Thunder Bay Children’s Aid Society: 343-6100 ü Dilico Anishinabek Family Care: 623-8511 (Ask for Child Welfare Intake)

Sincerely,

Mirella Fata Omer Belisle Mental Health Leader Superintendent of Education