Gaming
From blasting through hordes of aliens to speeding through tight streets in a supercar. Playing games online either by yourself or with friends can be really fun. We’ve got advice for you to help you keep safe and make sure the time you spend gaming is fun.
Am I playing too much?
Yes gaming is really fun and many games are designed to keep you hooked and playing for as long as possible. Smashing through a game to collect every trophy and award can make you feel like you want to keep playing that little bit longer. Its easy to get really into a game and before you know it you’ve been up all night and you haven’t even noticed.
5 signs gaming is affecting your life
It’s getting in the way of you doing things like your home work
Your sleep is being affected
You are struggling to stop playing or thinking about games
It’s stopping you from doing other things like getting out with friends and family
You feel anxious or unable to cope when your not playing games
Safe Playing
Playing games online such as Call of Duty, HALO or Roblox is really fun but they do open the door to different risks and there are lots of dodgy people lurking online ready to take advantage of you.
Try our Top Tips to help make sure your not taken advantage of whilst gaming
Be careful what you share
Talking to people online is great and you may feel like the people you talk to online are your friends but it’s really important to think about the information you share about yourself. Think before you share. Do you really know this person?
Things like your address, number, email, school or other personal details even your full name should be avoided from being shared. It’s amazing what a savvy hacker can do with even just a small amount of information from you.
Make Strong Passwords and Usernames
Always ensure your passwords are unique and never include your name etc and for usernames never use your full name, school, date of birth, address or phone number.
Who are you playing with?
Anyone with a pc, console or phone can play games online which means you may be playing with older or younger people.
Be sure to report bullying or abusive or threatening people
Just assume people may not always be who they say they are and that often people online are not telling the truth about themselves
Don’t accept gifts or exchange anything
Don’t be fooled into sharing anything personal about yourself, in particular sending nudes. That’s a one way ticket to abuse and bad times.
Keep on top of your privacy
Make sure you have the right privacy settings to help you keep on top of the people you are exposed to.
Take Breaks and Prioritise your Sleep
Cramming another hour on a game is tempting but you will end up tired and hungry and it will impact other parts of your life
Sleep is your superpower. Without sleep your brain and body can’t function properly. You can quickly go from getting enough sleep to being sleep deprived in just one night. You’ll perform much better and feel better the next day giving yourself a good nights sleep of 8 - 9 hours. Be sure to visit our sleep section for more advice.
Gaming and Gambling
Most games are designed to keep you engaged in playing for as long as possible but some games are also designed to make you spend as much as possible too.
Rules have been tightening on loot crates and the gaming community has certainly voiced it’s opinion on them but they still exist and games are becoming more sophisticated in how they try to extract your money from you.
Gaming can quickly become gambling and for many this can lead to more problematic issues like gambling addiction.
To find out more about Gambling visit the Gambling category in the HUB
Bullying and Trolling Online
Trolls aren’t just those creatures living under bridges in fantasy stories. A Troll online is someone who says or does something nasty to you to just get some kind of reaction. Anyone can be a victim of trolling.
Online Trolls will do things like:
Targeting you constantly in the game encouraging others to ‘gang up’ on you
Say cruel or nasty things to and about you
Attempt to hack or take control of your accounts
Stalk you on social media
Damage, steal or break your online creations
Try not to respond to Trolls. They thrive on being fed and every time you interact, respond and react is feeding them. Just ignore or block them.
If you are struggling with something that is happening online then you should talk to a trusted adult or speak to a professional. Look below for a list of services available to help you.
Further Support
Beacon Counselling Trust
Beacon Counselling Trust provide a free and confidential service to support young people affected by problem gambling or those affected with the wider family unit.
Email – gamcare@beaconcounsellingtrust.co.uk
Call us on 0151 226 0696
The Big Deal
BigDeal is a place for young people to find information and support related to gambling, either for themselves or for someone they care about.
Health Services in Schools Youth Workers
HSIS Youth Workers support young people in Wirral Secondary Schools, Wirral Sixth Form College and Wirral Met College.
Each school/college has a designated HSIS Youth Worker that provides young people with an opportunity to access confidential support on any issues which may be affecting them.
We provide support to young people on a wide range of issues and topics such as: building resilience, reducing risks, healthy relationships, sexual Health (including issuing condoms in some schools) drugs, alcohol, emotional health, Stress and Anxiety.
To find your youth worker visit their page.
KOOTH (Online counselling)
Free, safe and anonymous online support for young people
Monday – Friday 12pm – 10pm
Saturday – Sunday 6pm – 10pm
SHOUT
Shout is an affiliate of Crisis Text Line® in the UK that provides free, confidential support, 24/7 via text. It’s the first free 24/7 texting service in the UK for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. Shout is available in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland
Text SHOUT to 85258 in the UK to text with a trained Crisis Volunteer
or
Text BLUE to 85258 to get resources and sign posting information.
Every texter is connected with a real-life human being trained to bring people from a hot moment to a cool calm place through active listening and collaborative problem-solving. All of our Crisis Volunteers donate their time to helping people in crisis.