Children and online gaming, October 2026 Nearly every child who games online plays with friends or family. One rule helps keep it safe 64% of parents name talking to strangers as a worry, more than any other gaming worry Ofcom 43% set rules about who their child can play with online, the rule parents set least Ofcom 55% of children who game online play with people they've only met online, at least sometimes Ofcom 5 days Ofcom's free family challenge: one short mission a day this half-term Ofcom Ofcom's research shows talking to strangers is parents' biggest worry about their child's gaming. Yet of six gaming rules Ofcom asked about, the one parents set least is who their child can play with online: 43%, against 56% for time limits. The good news is that almost all children who game online (96%) play with friends or family, and closing the gap takes minutes. Check the age on each account, agree one simple rule, and set who can contact your child on the console and in each game. This half-term, Ofcom's free Power Up Your Play challenge turns it into five short family missions, one a day. Key facts, checked 15 October 2026 Who this is for: Parents, carers, grandparents and older siblings of children who game on a console, phone, tablet or PC, whether they're five or fifteen, and anyone after a calm half-term plan rather than another list of worries. For the warning signs to watch for, see our guide to Ofcom’s gaming red flags. Direct answer: Almost all children who game online play with friends or family, but more than half also play with people they've only met online. Strangers are parents' biggest gaming worry, yet who their child plays with is the rule parents set least. Who children play online games with, at least sometimes Ofcom's Growing up Gaming summary, published on 13 October 2026, brings together its existing research on children and gaming. Almost nine in ten children aged 3 to 17 play games on some kind of device. Among children who game online, 96% play with friends or family at least sometimes, and 55% play with people they've only met online. One in five do that all or most of the time. What parents worry about most The gaming rules parents set, and the one they set least That's the gap this guide closes. Of the six gaming rules Ofcom asked about, who your child can play with online came last. Rules also fade as children grow up: 96% of parents of 3 to 7-year-olds, and of 8 to 12-year-olds, set at least one gaming rule, against 80% of parents of 13 to 17-year-olds. Ofcom says it has secured changes on Roblox, PlayStation and Xbox, "But while platforms now have a legal responsibility to keep children safe, no set of rules can eliminate every risk online". Direct answer: Agree who your child can play and chat with online, and that they ask before adding anyone new. Start by checking the age on every gaming account, because most child protections switch on from that age. One rule, in plain words Our suggested family rule “Online, you play and chat with people we both know in real life, and you ask before adding anyone new.” Step zero: check the age Make sure every gaming account has your child's real date of birth. Most child protections switch on from it. Younger children Play in a shared space, so you can hear who they're talking to. Teenagers Agree the rule together, and when they can add new friends, so it's theirs too. Ofcom's research summary says parents can "check that the correct age is set on devices, games and platforms", and it matters more than any single switch. Microsoft's rules start Xbox child accounts with online multiplayer blocked, Nintendo keeps GameChat off for under-16s until a parent allows it, Roblox says players who haven't completed an age check can't chat at all, and Epic caps chat settings for under-13s. A child signed up with an adult's date of birth can miss out on protections meant for them. The wording of the rule is ours, built from Ofcom's advice to talk about who your child plays and chats with, and the NSPCC's advice that in-game chat should be about the game only. For younger children, CEOP Education suggests they play "in shared spaces or in the same room as you". Direct answer: Each console has one main setting. PlayStation: Communication and User-Generated Content, set to Restrict. Xbox: the Xbox privacy settings, or the Social tile in the Xbox Family Settings app. Nintendo Switch: Free Communication With Others, plus GameChat on Switch 2. Allow about five minutes per console, and do it with your child so they know what's changed and why. Our console controls guide and ParentalControl.uk's PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch guides cover the rest of the set-up. Direct answer: Set the game's own chat as well as the console's. Roblox, Fortnite, Discord and Steam each have their own controls, and a console's setting doesn't follow your child onto a phone, tablet or PC. Most families need two locks Lock 1: the console Lock 2: the game Roblox and Epic settings are set on your child's account rather than on one device. Epic adds that a console's or device's own settings must be set separately, on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Windows, iOS and Google Play. If your child is 13 or over and uses Discord to chat about games, link your account through Family Center: it shows who your teen talks to, not what they say. Direct answer: Mostly, that one setting covers everything. "Friends only" is only as safe as the friends list, and the console and the game usually need setting separately. Six things parents often assume Direct answer: Download Ofcom's free booklet and do one mission a day. Each takes around 5 to 10 minutes, and finishing all five earns a Power Up Legend certificate. Ofcom's three steps: Check, Chat, Change Check "Check the settings in place for your child's games." The age they're registered with, who can contact them and what they can see. Chat "Talk regularly about gaming." Ask what they enjoy, who they play and chat with, and whether anything has upset them. Change "Make adjustments where needed." Such as restricting contact from unknown players, or agreeing family gaming rules. Half-term week: Ofcom's five missions, one a day The booklet says: "Over the next five days, you'll complete five fun missions with your parent or carer." Wednesday's Friend check challenge is the heart of it: list the friends your child knows in real life, the ones they've met through gaming and who they play with most, then talk about what to do if someone they don't know tries to join their game. On Friday, write your family rule into the pact. ParentalControl.uk's family conversations page has age-by-age prompts if you'd like more. You'll find the booklet on Ofcom’s Parents Power Up page. Direct answer: Tell your child not to reply, keep the evidence, then block and report the player. If a child is in danger, call 999. If you think an adult is grooming your child, report it to CEOP. Ofcom suggests you encourage your child "not to respond to upsetting messages or behaviour" and keep "any messages, screenshots or other evidence". Screenshot messages and usernames, but never save or share a sexual image of a child. If someone threatens to share images unless your child pays, the National Crime Agency says stop all contact and block them, and if your child has already paid, "don't pay anything more". Deactivate accounts rather than delete them, so evidence can be retrieved. The NSPCC Helpline phone is closed at weekends, so on a Saturday the routes that work are 999 or 101, CEOP's online form, the NSPCC's email between 11am and 4pm, and Childline, any time. Above all, reassure your child they won't be in trouble for telling you. As CEOP Education puts it, "Children and young people are never to blame for online sexual abuse." Our red flags guide covers the warning signs, and our online safety hub has more help. Switching broadband? Check its parental controls too Our provider-by-provider guide explains each network filter. Filters work alongside the console and game settings above, not instead of them. Prefer to talk it through? Call 0330 122 1223 In summary Alex's closing thought As a dad of four, I know gaming is one of the best bits of a child's week, and for most children it's a way to play with friends from school and family. This half-term, I'd sit down with each of mine for the Friend check mission, go through the settings together, and agree the rule as a family rather than hand it down. Ofcom's Tony Stower puts it well: "Taking a few minutes to check who your child is playing and chatting with can make a big difference." On BroadbandSwitch.uk On ParentalControl.uk Share it with the school parents group, grandparents, or anyone with a gamer at home this half-term. You are welcome to quote and link to this article. Please credit BroadbandSwitch.uk and link to this page. In a sentence: Ofcom's research, published in October 2026, shows that talking to strangers is UK parents' biggest worry about their child's gaming (64%), yet who their child can play with online is the gaming rule parents set least (43%, against 56% for time limits), so this guide sets out one family rule, the console and in-game settings that control who can contact a child, and Ofcom's five-day Power Up Your Play challenge for half-term. That talking to strangers is parents' biggest worry about their child's gaming, at 64%. Yet only 43% set rules about who their child can play with online, the lowest of six gaming rules Ofcom asked about. 55% of children who game online play with people they've only met online, at least sometimes. We suggest: "Online, you play and chat with people we both know in real life, and you ask before adding anyone new." With teenagers, agree it together so it's theirs too. Because most child protections switch on from it. Ofcom suggests checking that the correct age is set on devices, games and platforms. A child signed up with an adult's date of birth can lose chat limits and approvals meant for them. Go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management, choose your child, and set Communication and User-Generated Content to Restrict. That disables typed messages and voice chat with other players. Pre-written in-game messages still work. On the console, go to Settings > Account > Family settings > Manage family members, choose your child, then Privacy & online safety > XBOX privacy. Or use the Social tile in the Xbox Family Settings app. Your child must sign out and back in for console changes to work. Under-16s need a parent's approval in the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app, and can only chat with people the parent approves. Nintendo says GameChat settings must be adjusted separately from the console's communication restriction. Don't count on it. The console and the game have separate chat settings. Epic says its controls don't cover a console's own chat, and Roblox's Direct chat and Experience chat can reach similar-age players who aren't friends. Set both. It helps, but only if you know who's on the friends list. Talk about who they've added, and use tools that put you in the loop, such as Roblox trusted friend approvals for under-13s and Epic's PIN for friend requests. A free family challenge from Ofcom's Parents: Power Up campaign. Its booklet has five short missions, from showing you a favourite game to writing a family gaming pact, with a Power Up Legend certificate at the end. The booklet says each mission takes around 5 to 10 minutes, over five days. That fits neatly into a half-term week. The NSPCC Helpline phone is open Monday to Friday, but you can email help@nspcc.org.uk between 11am and 4pm every day. Your child can contact Childline any time on 0800 1111. Call 999 if a child is in danger, and report grooming to CEOP online. No. CEOP says it can't receive anonymous reports, and a Child Protection Advisor will look to contact you about next steps. If you've already told the police or children's social care, you don't need to report to CEOP as well. Written by Dr Alex J. Martin-Smith, Founder of BroadbandSwitch.uk and ParentalControl.uk (LinkedIn). Reviewed by Adrian James, Broadband Editor. Published 16 October 2026. We read Ofcom's release, report and campaign pages and every console, game and charity page quoted here on 15 October 2026. Settings change, so check the screens on your own device. This is general information, not professional advice. If a child is in danger, call 999. Corrections are logged publicly.Who is your child gaming with? The rule parents set least
What did Ofcom find about who children game with?
What is the one rule, and how do we set it?
Who can contact my child on PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch?
Console Where to find it What to choose Good to know PlayStation 5 Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management, then your child. Or the PlayStation Family app. Communication and User-Generated Content: Restrict. This disables "Sending text messages and voice chatting with other players". Pre-written in-game messages still work. Your child can ask for an exception for one game, and you decide. PlayStation 4 Settings > Parental Controls/Family Management > Family Management, then your child. Communication and User-Generated Content: Restrict. As for PS5. In the PlayStation Family app, also check the Social privacy settings: who can ask to be your child's friend, and who can interact with them. Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One Profile & system > Settings > Account > Family settings > Manage family members, then your child > Privacy & online safety > XBOX privacy. Or the Xbox Family Settings app. Choose the Child default, or View details & customise. In the app, the Social tile sets who they can communicate with. Your child must sign out and back in for console changes to work. They can ask to play a game online, and you Allow or Deny. Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 System Settings > Parental Controls > Parental Controls Settings > Restriction Level. Or the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app. Free Communication With Others: Restricted. The Child and Young Child presets do this. The Teen preset leaves it Not Restricted. You can also choose Custom to set it game by game. Switch 2 GameChat The Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app. Leave it off, or approve each friend your child can chat with. Under-16s need a parent's approval. The parent needs Nintendo Switch Online and a phone number on their Nintendo Account. The console's communication setting doesn't cover it. Who can contact my child in Roblox, Fortnite, Minecraft, Discord and Steam?
Game or app Where to find it What to choose Good to know Roblox Settings > Parental controls, then your child > Settings you manage. You'll need a linked parent account, or Parent mode on their device. Friends chat: Trusted friends or No one. Turn Direct chat off, and Experience chat too if you'd like no chat with people they don't know. Roblox says Direct chat "can include non-friends of similar age". Under-13s need your permission to add a trusted friend. Fortnite and other Epic games Parental Controls, in Fortnite or in your child's Epic account. Epic Voice Chat Permission and Epic Text Chat Permission: Friends Only or Nobody. Turn on Require a PIN to Add Friends. "Friends, team members, & connections" also means everyone on their team. Under-10s can't go above Friends Only. Minecraft Your child's Xbox privacy and online safety settings on their Microsoft account, plus your console's own controls. Keep multiplayer off, or allow it with communication limited to friends. Minecraft says multiplayer is off by default on child accounts. Discord (13 and over) Family Center, linking your Discord account to your teen's. Check friend request and direct message settings together. In the UK, messages from people your teen isn't friends with go to a separate message requests inbox. They aren't blocked. Steam Steam Families, in your Steam account. Restrict Community and Friends Chat for your child. Your child can ask for extra access, and an adult approves or denies it. Check each game's own chat too. What do parents often get wrong?
How do we do Ofcom's Power Up Your Play challenge this half-term?
What should we do if a stranger worries us?
If Who How A child is in danger right now Police Call 999. You think an adult is grooming your child, or has made sexual contact CEOP, part of the National Crime Agency Report online at ceop.police.uk. Reports can't be anonymous, and a Child Protection Advisor will look to contact you. CEOP doesn't take reports about bullying, fake accounts or hacking. A crime that isn't an emergency Police Call 101. You'd like advice as a parent or carer NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000, 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. Or email help@nspcc.org.uk, 11am to 4pm, every day. Your child wants to talk to someone Childline 0800 1111 or online chat, any time, for anyone under 19 in the UK. A nude or sexual image of your child has been shared Report Remove, from Childline and the IWF Through Childline's Report Remove page, for under-18s. You can help them do it. You come across a sexual image of any child online Internet Watch Foundation Report it at iwf.org.uk. You can report anonymously. A player is rude, pushy or keeps messaging The game or console Block and report them. Ask your child to show you where the tools are.
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Martin-Smith, A. J. (2026, October 16). Who is your child gaming with? The rule parents set least. BroadbandSwitch.uk. https://broadbandswitch.uk/insights/child-gaming-strangers-check-chat-change/ Frequently asked questions
What did Ofcom's Growing up Gaming research find?
What rule should we set about who our child plays with?
Why does the age on my child's gaming account matter?
How do I stop strangers chatting to my child on PlayStation?
How do I control who my child chats with on Xbox?
How does GameChat on Nintendo Switch 2 work for children?
Does turning off chat on the console stop chat in Fortnite or Roblox?
Does "friends only" mean my child is safe?
What is Ofcom's Power Up Your Play challenge?
How long does the Power Up Your Play challenge take?
Who can I talk to at the weekend if I'm worried?
Can I report a worry to CEOP anonymously?
References
Who is your child gaming with? The rule parents set least
Written by Alex Martin-Smith (LinkedIn) • Reviewed by Adrian James (LinkedIn)
Last reviewed: 15 October 2026
Quick summary: Strangers are parents' top gaming worry, yet only 43% set rules on who their child plays with. A half-term plan and five-minute set-up for each console.
Friends or family
96%
People they know in real life
87%
People they've only met online
55%
Only met online, all or most of the time
20%
Talking to strangers through games or chat
64%
Bullying by other players
60%
Inappropriate content, such as violence or bad language
59%
Pressure to make in-game purchases
51%
Time spent gaming
56%
When they can play
51%
Appropriate content
50%
Age ratings
49%
Spending
48%
Who they can play with online
43%
No gaming rules at all
9%
Monday
Become a gaming guide. Your child shows you their favourite game, what they do in it and who they play with.
Tuesday
Age rating detective. Find the game's age rating, and talk about whether a younger friend should play it.
Wednesday
Friend check challenge. List friends from real life, friends from gaming and who they play with most. Do the settings tables today.
Thursday
Smart spending challenge. Check spending controls are on and passwords are private.
Friday
Family gaming pact. Pick your promises, and write your family rule into it. Then sign the certificate.
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