Gaming, screens and safety. What parents really need to know
Level up your family’s online safety this Safer Internet Day.
By Ron Curry, CEO of IGEA
It can sometimes feel like the calendar is overflowing with awareness days, a national day for this, an international day for that. But at their best, these moments act as helpful nudges: to check our smoke alarms, book a health appointment, or reach out to someone we haven’t spoken to in a while.
February 10, 2026 is Safer Internet Day, one of those useful days that can act as a reminder for the digital world we live in. It’s a chance to pause and do a quick digital check-up: update passwords, review privacy settings, and make sure our individual and family online safety settings are still doing what we need them to do.
With 82 per cent of Australians playing video games and nearly three-quarters of households owning two or more gaming devices, online safety is an important consideration for all players. Technology, safety tools and gameplay experiences continue to evolve rapidly, and 2026 is already seeing major advancements. That means online safety is never a “one and done” task, it’s something we revisit as our games, devices and families change.
For more than 25 years, the Australian video games industry has been committed to creating safe, positive online spaces for players of all ages. It’s a shared responsibility between industry, parents, caregivers, educators and players themselves. Safer Internet Day isn’t about fearing the online world, it’s about making sure we can keep enjoying it with confidence.
IGEA’s most recent Australia Plays research shows just how positive playing games can be for families. In 2025, 54 per cent of parents who play games with their children told us they do so as a fun way to connect and spend time together. The question many families ask is: how do we keep that experience safe and appropriate?
Gaming safety tools
Most major gaming platforms offer a wide range of parental controls and safety tools. These can be set at a device or game level and help manage:
- Age-appropriate content
- Playtime limits
- In-game spending
- Who children can communicate with online
Recent changes worth knowing about
There have also been some encouraging updates across the industry:
- Roblox now requires facial age estimation or ID verification before users can access chat. Once verified, users can only communicate with others in similar age groups, significantly limiting contact between adults and minors. Australia and New Zealand were among the first to introduce mandatory age checks in late 2025, and this is now a global requirement.
- The free PlayStation Family app lets parents manage playtime, content, spending limits and privacy settings, with activity reports and real-time controls straight to their phone.
- In Australia and New Zealand, games must display classification markings by law. These age ratings offer clear guidance on suitability and are a simple, powerful tool for parents navigating a crowded games market.
Safer Internet Day tip for parents
Take a little time to learn, or refresh, your understanding of parental controls and the classification system. These tools are there to help children enjoy games safely, not to make parenting harder. IGEA also offers practical, easy-to-follow advice for families in the Trust and Safety section of their website.
Six easy things you can do today
As a gaming household, here are some simple steps you can take right now:
- Update your passwords and password manager
- Review privacy settings on at least one gaming device
- Check privacy and communication settings in at least one online game
- Explore the Trust and Safety section on the IGEA website
- Visit the Office of the eSafety Commissioner for trusted advice
- If your kids play games, spend some time playing, or learning to play, alongside them
Great starter games for younger players
For families just starting out, there are plenty of high-quality Australian-made games rated G or PG, including:
- Tempopo (Witch Beam): Use your wits or trial and error to find the perfect configuration, solving puzzles with inventive solutions.
- Mars First Logistics (Shape Shop): Build physically simulated rovers to transport awkwardly shaped cargo across the rugged terrain of Mars.
- Wylde Flowers (Studio Drydock): Join Tara on a heartfelt journey to become a witch in Wylde Flowers. Farm by day and cast spells by night.
- Carmen Sandiego (Gameloft): One from our childhood, Carmen Sandiego has recently been revamped for a new audience where players can become the super thief.
Video games are a powerful way for people to connect with friends and family. With a few simple steps, we can help ensure they remain safe, positive and fun, not just on Safer Internet Day, but all year round.
