Games are social spaces, and most of the risk sits in two places: who can reach your child, and how easily money can be spent. A short check of each console and game settles both.
Check contacts and chat
In each game and on each console, look at who can send friend requests, who can message, and whether voice chat is open to everyone or only to friends. Setting these to friends only is the single most useful change you can make.
- Friend requests limited to people they know
- Text and voice chat set to friends only, or off
- Screen name that does not reveal their real name, age, or school
Check spending
Look for a saved card, and turn on a password or approval step for any purchase. Many games sell extras and loot boxes (surprise bundles you pay for without knowing what is inside), which can add up quickly.
- Purchases need a password or a parent’s approval
- You know whether a card is saved to the account
- A family account is linked, so you can see and approve buys
Where to find these settings
Each console has family settings built in: PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch all group these controls together, and each has a companion app for your own phone. Individual games also have their own settings inside the game menu, so check both.