UK Video Games Industry Encourages Parents to Power Up This Christmas by Activating Parental Controls on Children’s Consoles

• 2 out of 3 parents would like to speak with their children more about their online behaviour when playing games.
• Almost three quarters of parents think that parental controls on game devices offer the right level of assurance that their children are safe in-game.
• Yet 83% of parents would like to know more and how to implement parental controls.

11 December 2023, London - The UK video games industry has today relaunched their Christmas ‘Parent Power Ups’ initiative, encouraging parents to power up this Christmas and set up parental controls on their children’s consoles before putting them under the Christmas tree.

With over 70% of households now owning some form of gaming device and 23% of British children spending 6-10 hours per week in-game, children are playing video games now more than ever. This is the perfect time to get ahead and ensure a safe and happy holiday by setting up parental controls BEFORE gifting a console.

The initiative drives parents to visit Ukie’s Ask About Games website, which serves as a vital first-stop resource for parents looking to set up parental controls and establish boundaries around their children’s game time, in-game spending and online safety. The website offers step-by-step guides for setting up parental controls across all gaming consoles, making the process easy for even the least tech-savvy of parents.

Ukie’s top 5 tips to set healthy habits around video games:

1. Visit the Ask About Games website to learn everything you need to know about responsible play.
2. Set up parental controls on new devices BEFORE gifting them to your kids this Christmas.
3. Agree boundaries on game time, spending and behaviour as soon as your child unwraps their new console using the Power Up Pact.
4. Game together with your child to bond with them and learn about their new device.
5. Check in with your child regularly to ensure they maintain healthy habits beyond Christmas day.

The industry body has partnered with psychologist and host of the How Not To Screw Up Your Kids podcast, Dr Marhyan Baker, to explain the importance of setting boundaries for children:

“Battles over gaming devices can be avoided when we are clear on expectations. Setting up parental controls before gifting the console and spending time discussing clear boundaries around its use is vital to ensure your child forms healthy habits. It’s not a one-off exercise, it’s a continuous conversation which evolves as our children age and change”.

Almost 40% of parents already play video games with their child once a week, which provides an excellent chance for parents to start conversations about online safety and responsible gaming while also bonding over a fun shared activity - even after setting up parental controls on their children’s devices.

Andy Robertson, Author of Taming Gaming and Editor of Ask About Games, explains: “Christmas is a great time to get ahead of new tech. It’s really important to set up a new console before you wrap it up. Get it out the box and online so you can download any updates it needs, or new games you have purchased. Don’t leave it until Christmas Day, as it could take hours, because everyone else is doing exactly that at the same time. While the download is progressing, you can set up child accounts and other settings for your family too, making sure you’re are all set for the big day.”

Daniel Wood, Ukie Co-CEO says: “Tens of millions of people of all ages play video games in the UK every day, and it’s great that so many parents are already having conversations with their children about how to play responsibly.

This Christmas, we’re encouraging parents to power up and set up parental controls on their kids’ devices. Using the free downloadable ‘PowerUpPact’ resource, parents can learn how to tackle the topic of responsible gaming with their children and find a balance that works for their family.”