This year, we intend to post a fortnightly blog sharing information on how to keep our children safe online. It has been noticeable that since ‘Lock down’, children’s screen time has inevitably increased, as has their accessibility to content that may not be appropriate.

Children are children, and need support in making choices, and as adults, we need to know exactly what our children are watching and playing. Their brains are still developing, and exposure to inappropriate content will inevitably cause trauma: we cannot ‘unsee’ images.

At TMS, we strongly believe that children need correct information to make choices, and this also includes us as parents. So here is blog #1 … we are all learning together.

Grand Theft Auto

In the few short days since we have returned to school, we have had several parents and carers express concerns about children in the school playing a computer game called Grand Theft Auto.

The parents are right to be concerned as, despite what your children may tell you, this is not a game for children in primary school, or indeed secondary school.

What is it?

Grand Theft Auto (GTA) is a series of computer games whose stories revolve around a criminal underworld (such as the mafia), where players are cast in the role of gang members who must commit brutal crimes to rise through the ranks. These acts are carried out without remorse or consequences and include activities such as theft, murder, torture, prostitution, nudity, drug dealing and rape.  

Where might my child be accessing this game?

The game is available on Playstation, Xbox and Windows. Versions of the game can be downloaded to mobile devices.

Should I let my child play this game?

While, ultimately, the decision is that of the parents, as a school our answer to this is no.  Allowing young children to access this game will expose them to content that is beyond their emotional capacity to understand, will frighten them and could encourage negative attitudes towards groups of people.  Commonsensemedia.org rates this game at 18+ and this sentiment is echoed by PEGI who also rate the game at 18.  https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews/grand-theft-auto-v

There is a ‘strip club game’ in which players are allowed to fondle strippers’ naked breasts. There are children as young as 7 in our school who have reported playing this.

The school considers it is a safeguarding concern if children are playing this game and we will phone home with our concerns. It is equally a concern if adults are playing the game whilst children are in the same room.

My child says all of their friends are playing it.

The truth is that they are probably not.  Children often like to show off in front of their peers and the reality is that most children (thankfully) do not have access to this kind of material.