Responsible gaming is important, especially when it comes to having fun online. How you look after yourself and interact with others is crucial to ensure you have a good time playing and that you create a harmonious experience for everyone who might be within that gaming community.
From checking whether websites are legitimate and not a scam to being safe with your personal information. Everything you can do to protect yourself and be responsible is important. So, with that being said, here are some helpful tips on how to be responsible when gaming online.
Do your research to find games you love
First and foremost, make sure to do your research in order to find the games you love. There are going to be some games you enjoy and others that just are not up your street when it comes to playing preferences or genres of games.
Of course, everyone is different; that is what makes us unique, and that is what ultimately has led to a variety of games being made available online.
However, it is always good to do your research to find games that you love in order to provide yourself with some of the best experiences possible. It also helps you find a starting point to navigating what is a digital library of games to choose from. Trust us, there’s a lot to pick from, so it is good to have a starting point.
Check if the websites are legitimate
It is good to check if the websites you are looking to game on are legitimate. Of course, there are plenty of legitimate sites to choose from and pretty much all of them are not going to be trying to fleece you out of your important information or financial details.
However, there will be some gaming sites that present themselves as legitimate sites on the surface but are dangerous in some way. Whether that be stealing your financial information or encouraging you to download games that are actually viruses on your computer.
If you have any sort of feeling that the site might not be legitimate, then it is best that you click off and look elsewhere. Otherwise, there are other signs that the site itself might not be one you should trust.
For example, if it is got poor spelling and grammar mistakes, to bad reviews left by other users on third party review sites. These are things you should trust and avoid said website if this is the case.
Look for player protection resources
Whether you are playing poker or a first-person shooter game, player protection resources should be available.
Addictions are everywhere and can come in many forms beyond just alcohol or drugs. Gaming addictions can occur when players simply spend too much time gaming online and end up causing real problems in their lives as a result.
On any type of site that you choose to go on to do online gaming, you should look for any sign of player resources that are helpful should you be struggling or just need general guidance on gaming and staying safe online.
These websites all have a responsibility to their gamers to look after them, and providing resources is not too much of a hassle, nor should it be.
Inform and educate yourself on responsible gaming
As well as the websites having a responsibility to look after their gamers, you have a responsibility for yourself too. After all, you are likely to be an adult reading this, so your responsibility for your own safety is important to prioritize.
Think about what you could learn and do more of in order to keep yourself up to date with everything to do with gaming. Perhaps you are concerned about spending too much time online gaming and want to cut that activity down. It might be that you find yourself getting a bit too hot-headed with some games, and that is impacting your well-being.
Informing and educating yourself on the risks and dangers of online gaming is important so that you can always be responsible for yourself and for others if needed.
Be safe by not giving out personal information
Safety is essential when you are navigating the online world, and just like you would when you are in the real world, stranger danger exists. You would not go up to some random person in the street and start telling them your credit card information or where you live, right?
The same goes for the online world, too. Everything you say and hand over when it comes to your personal information can be dangerous. You want to make sure that you are not giving out any personal information to people online, especially if they are asking you for it.
It is important that you are aware of what sites you do hand over information to, for setting up an account for example. However, there are limits to how much information you should give out and who to, so be mindful of this when gaming online.
Set limits on how often you game and for how long
Setting time limits on how often you game and for how long is definitely worth doing. As mentioned above, you can have too much of a good thing if you are not careful, which is why you want to be mindful about how long you game for and how often you do it throughout the days or weeks in general.
If you are gaming too much, then try to set some limits. Setting those boundaries is healthy and something you are going to thank yourself for doing, rather than allowing yourself to continue down a potential path where it might do more damage than good if you are not careful.
Whether you are an avid gamer or a beginner to the online gaming world, always be mindful of how often you are playing and take note of any signs that you might be playing too much at once or if it is affecting your mood or behavior in general.
Be kind to others online when playing
We often say that we like to be treated the way we treat others. However, the online world has certainly fueled this new age of hate and trolling to others online that these individuals do not even know or have met in their life.
As such, it is important to encourage as much positivity and love for others online as you can. That way, you make the experience for everyone a positive one where possible. If you are seeing any bad behavior happening on the gaming platforms or online in general, it is always good to do your bit and report it where possible.
That way, you will hopefully get rid of one more troll from the internet!
Get help if you are addicted to gaming
Finally, and one that should be stressed, if you have a potential addiction to gaming, always ask for help. There are plenty of resources out there to look at, as well as helplines for those who may be struggling. Those people on the other end of the line will listen without judgment and help or guide you however they see fit and however you might want to take it.
Addictions are common when gaming, so knowing that you’re not alone is something that is comforting to know too. Do not be afraid to speak to loved ones and those you trust to get as much help as possible from those who can support you as you navigate a troubling time.
With that being said, use these tips to make sure you are a responsible gamer online this year and every year you play. This will ensure you get the most out of every gaming session.
