In today's digital age, children and teenagers are spending more and more time playing video games. While video games can be a fun and educational way for kids to spend their time, it's important for parents to be aware of the potential risks and to take steps to protect their children.
Epic Games, the developer of popular games such as Fortnite and Rocket League, offers a number of parental control features that can help parents keep their children safe while they're playing online. These features include the ability to set limits on playtime, restrict access to certain games, and monitor and manage their children's online activity.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at Epic Games' parental control features and explain how you can use them to protect your children while they're playing online.
epic games parental controls
Keep kids safe online with these key features.
- Set playtime limits.
- Restrict access to certain games.
- Monitor online activity.
- Manage friend requests and messages.
- Enable two-factor authentication.
- Report inappropriate behavior.
- Educate kids about online safety.
- Use parental control apps.
- Stay involved and communicate.
By using these parental control features, you can help your child have a safe and enjoyable experience while playing Epic Games.
Set playtime limits.
One of the most important things you can do to protect your child while they're playing online is to set playtime limits. This will help to prevent them from spending too much time gaming and neglecting other important activities, such as school, homework, and spending time with family and friends.
To set playtime limits on Epic Games, you can use the following steps:
- Log in to your Epic Games account and go to the "Settings" page.
- Click on the "Parental Controls" tab.
- Under "Playtime Limits," you can set daily and weekly limits for how long your child can play games.
- You can also choose to block access to games during certain times of day, such as during school hours or bedtime.
Once you have set playtime limits, your child will be notified when they are approaching their limit. They will also be unable to play games once they have reached their limit.
Setting playtime limits is a great way to help your child balance their gaming time with other important activities and responsibilities.
Restrict access to certain games.
Another important feature of Epic Games' parental controls is the ability to restrict access to certain games. This is useful if you want to prevent your child from playing games that are inappropriate for their age or maturity level, or if you simply want to limit their exposure to certain types of games.
- Block games by age rating.
You can block games based on their age rating, such as E for Everyone, T for Teen, or M for Mature. To do this, simply select the appropriate age rating from the "Allowed Age Ratings" drop-down menu in the Parental Controls settings.
- Block games by title.
You can also block specific games by title. To do this, simply enter the name of the game in the "Blocked Games" field in the Parental Controls settings. You can also use wildcards to block multiple games at once. For example, to block all games that contain the word "Fortnite," you would enter "Fortnite*" in the "Blocked Games" field.
- Block games by genre.
You can also block games by genre. To do this, simply select the appropriate genre from the "Blocked Genres" drop-down menu in the Parental Controls settings. You can also use wildcards to block multiple genres at once. For example, to block all games that are in the "Shooter" or "Battle Royale" genres, you would enter "Shooter*" or "Battle Royale*" in the "Blocked Genres" field.
- Block games by developer or publisher.
You can also block games by developer or publisher. To do this, simply enter the name of the developer or publisher in the "Blocked Developers" or "Blocked Publishers" field in the Parental Controls settings. You can also use wildcards to block multiple developers or publishers at once. For example, to block all games that are developed by Epic Games, you would enter "Epic Games*" in the "Blocked Developers" field.
By restricting access to certain games, you can help to ensure that your child is only playing games that are appropriate for them and that align with your family's values.
Monitor online activity.
Epic Games' parental controls also allow you to monitor your child's online activity. This can be helpful for keeping track of who they are playing with, what games they are playing, and how much time they are spending online.
To monitor your child's online activity, you can use the following steps:
- Log in to your Epic Games account and go to the "Settings" page.
- Click on the "Parental Controls" tab.
- Under "Monitor Online Activity," you can view a history of your child's recent gaming activity, including the games they have played, the people they have played with, and the amount of time they have spent playing.
You can also enable email notifications to be sent to you whenever your child plays a new game, adds a new friend, or sends or receives a message.
By monitoring your child's online activity, you can stay informed about their gaming habits and identify any potential problems, such as excessive gaming, inappropriate behavior, or contact with strangers.
Monitoring your child's online activity is an important part of keeping them safe while they are playing Epic Games.
Manage friend requests and messages.
Epic Games' parental controls also allow you to manage your child's friend requests and messages. This can help to protect them from inappropriate contact from strangers and to prevent them from sharing personal information online.
- Approve or decline friend requests.
You can approve or decline friend requests on behalf of your child. To do this, simply go to your child's Epic Games account and click on the "Friends" tab. You will then see a list of all pending friend requests. You can click on the "Approve" or "Decline" button to accept or reject each request.
- View and delete messages.
You can also view and delete messages that your child has sent or received. To do this, simply go to your child's Epic Games account and click on the "Messages" tab. You will then see a list of all of your child's recent messages. You can click on the "View" button to read a message or the "Delete" button to delete it.
- Block users.
You can also block users from contacting your child. To do this, simply go to your child's Epic Games account and click on the "Blocked Users" tab. You can then enter the username of the user you want to block and click on the "Block" button. The blocked user will no longer be able to send your child friend requests or messages.
- Enable "Whisper" filtering.
You can also enable "Whisper" filtering to prevent your child from receiving private messages from strangers. To do this, simply go to your child's Epic Games account and click on the "Parental Controls" tab. Under "Chat and Communication," you can enable the "Whisper" filter. Once the filter is enabled, your child will only be able to receive private messages from people who are on their friends list.
By managing your child's friend requests and messages, you can help to protect them from inappropriate contact and online predators.
Enable two-factor authentication.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is an extra layer of security that can help to protect your child's Epic Games account from being hacked. When 2FA is enabled, your child will be required to enter a code from their mobile phone in addition to their password when they log in to their account. This makes it much more difficult for hackers to gain access to your child's account, even if they have their password.
To enable 2FA on your child's Epic Games account, you can use the following steps:
- Log in to your child's Epic Games account and go to the "Settings" page.
- Click on the "Password and Security" tab.
- Under "Two-Factor Authentication," click on the "Enable" button.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to set up 2FA.
Once 2FA is enabled, your child will be prompted to enter a code from their mobile phone whenever they log in to their account on a new device or from a new location.
Enabling 2FA is one of the best ways to protect your child's Epic Games account from being hacked. It is a simple and effective way to add an extra layer of security to their account.
By enabling two-factor authentication, you can help to keep your child's Epic Games account safe and secure.
Report inappropriate behavior.
If you see or experience inappropriate behavior while playing an Epic Games game, you can report it to the company. Epic Games has a zero-tolerance policy for cheating, harassment, and other forms of inappropriate behavior. They encourage players to report any incidents of inappropriate behavior so that they can take action to investigate and address the issue.
- Report players for cheating.
If you suspect that a player is cheating, you can report them to Epic Games. To do this, simply open the game's menu and select the "Report Player" option. You will then be asked to provide information about the player, such as their username and the type of cheating you suspect they are doing.
- Report players for harassment.
If you are being harassed by another player, you can report them to Epic Games. To do this, simply open the game's menu and select the "Report Player" option. You will then be asked to provide information about the player, such as their username and the type of harassment you are experiencing.
- Report players for other inappropriate behavior.
You can also report players for other types of inappropriate behavior, such as using offensive language or symbols, or griefing other players. To do this, simply open the game's menu and select the "Report Player" option. You will then be asked to provide information about the player and the type of inappropriate behavior you are reporting.
- Report inappropriate content.
You can also report inappropriate content, such as mods or maps that contain offensive or copyrighted material. To do this, simply visit the Epic Games website and click on the "Report Content" link. You will then be asked to provide information about the content you are reporting.
By reporting inappropriate behavior and content, you can help to make the Epic Games community a safer and more enjoyable place for everyone.
Educate kids about online safety.
One of the most important things you can do to protect your child online is to educate them about online safety. This includes teaching them about the risks of sharing personal information, the importance of creating strong passwords, and how to recognize and avoid online predators.
Here are some tips for educating your child about online safety:
- Talk to your child about online safety early and often.
Don't wait until your child is a teenager to start talking to them about online safety. Start talking to them about it when they are young and continue to talk to them about it as they grow older.
- Teach your child about the risks of sharing personal information.
Teach your child that they should never share their personal information, such as their name, address, phone number, or school name, with people they don't know online.
- Teach your child the importance of creating strong passwords.
Teach your child to create strong passwords that are at least 12 characters long and include a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Teach your child how to recognize and avoid online predators.
Teach your child to be wary of people they don't know who try to contact them online. Tell them never to meet in person with someone they don't know online.
- Encourage your child to come to you with any concerns they have about online safety.
Let your child know that they can come to you with any concerns they have about online safety. Assure them that you will listen to them and help them resolve any problems they are having.
By educating your child about online safety, you can help them to stay safe while they are playing Epic Games and other online games.
Use parental control apps.
In addition to using Epic Games' parental controls, you can also use parental control apps to help you protect your child while they are playing online. Parental control apps allow you to set limits on screen time, block inappropriate content, and monitor your child's online activity.
There are many different parental control apps available, so you can choose one that best meets your needs and preferences. Some popular parental control apps include:
- Bark
- Circle
- Google Family Link
- Kaspersky Safe Kids
- Net Nanny
- Norton Family Premier
Parental control apps can be a valuable tool for parents who want to keep their children safe online. However, it is important to note that parental control apps are not perfect and they cannot replace parental supervision.
By using parental control apps in combination with Epic Games' parental controls, you can create a safe and supportive online environment for your child.
Stay involved and communicate.
One of the best ways to protect your child while they are playing online is to stay involved and communicate with them. This means talking to them about their online activities, setting limits and expectations, and being there for them if they have any problems or concerns.
Here are some tips for staying involved and communicating with your child about their online activities:
- Talk to your child about their online activities.
Ask them what games they are playing, who they are playing with, and what they like and dislike about their online experiences.
- Set limits and expectations.
Talk to your child about how much time they can spend playing online games each day or week. You can also set limits on the types of games they can play and the people they can interact with online.
- Be there for your child if they have any problems or concerns.
If your child comes to you with a problem or concern about their online activities, listen to them and offer your support. You can also help them to find resources and solutions to their problems.
- Be a good role model.
Children learn by watching the adults in their lives. If you want your child to be safe and responsible online, you need to model those behaviors yourself.
By staying involved and communicating with your child about their online activities, you can help them to stay safe and have a positive online experience.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) from parents about Epic Games parental controls:
Question 1: How do I set up parental controls on my child's Epic Games account?
Answer: To set up parental controls on your child's Epic Games account, you will need to create a parent account and link it to your child's account. Once you have done this, you can access the parental controls settings by logging into your parent account and going to the "Settings" page.
Question 2: What kind of parental controls can I set?
Answer: Epic Games parental controls allow you to set limits on playtime, restrict access to certain games, monitor your child's online activity, manage friend requests and messages, enable two-factor authentication, report inappropriate behavior, and more.
Question 3: How do I set playtime limits?
Answer: To set playtime limits, go to the "Parental Controls" tab in the "Settings" page and select "Playtime Limits." You can then set daily and weekly limits for how long your child can play games.
Question 4: How do I restrict access to certain games?
Answer: To restrict access to certain games, go to the "Parental Controls" tab in the "Settings" page and select "Restricted Games." You can then block games by age rating, title, genre, or developer.
Question 5: How do I monitor my child's online activity?
Answer: To monitor your child's online activity, go to the "Parental Controls" tab in the "Settings" page and select "Monitor Online Activity." You can then view a history of your child's recent gaming activity, including the games they have played, the people they have played with, and the amount of time they have spent playing.
Question 6: How do I manage friend requests and messages?
Answer: To manage friend requests and messages, go to the "Parental Controls" tab in the "Settings" page and select "Friend Requests and Messages." You can then approve or decline friend requests on behalf of your child, view and delete messages, block users, and enable "Whisper" filtering.
Closing Paragraph: These are just a few of the many questions that parents may have about Epic Games parental controls. For more information, please visit the Epic Games website or contact customer support.
In addition to using Epic Games parental controls, there are a number of other things you can do to help keep your child safe while they are playing online. These tips include talking to your child about online safety, setting limits and expectations, and being there for them if they have any problems or concerns.
Tips
Here are some practical tips for parents to help keep their children safe while playing Epic Games:
Tip 1: Talk to your child about online safety.
One of the best ways to keep your child safe online is to talk to them about it. Teach them about the risks of sharing personal information, the importance of creating strong passwords, and how to recognize and avoid online predators.
Tip 2: Set limits and expectations.
Set limits on how much time your child can spend playing online games each day or week. You can also set limits on the types of games they can play and the people they can interact with online.
Tip 3: Be there for your child if they have any problems or concerns.
If your child comes to you with a problem or concern about their online activities, listen to them and offer your support. You can also help them to find resources and solutions to their problems.
Tip 4: Use parental control apps.
In addition to using Epic Games' parental controls, you can also use parental control apps to help you protect your child while they are playing online. Parental control apps allow you to set limits on screen time, block inappropriate content, and monitor your child's online activity.
Closing Paragraph: By following these tips, you can help to keep your child safe while they are playing Epic Games and other online games.
Remember, the most important thing is to stay involved and communicate with your child about their online activities. By talking to them, setting limits and expectations, and being there for them, you can help them to have a safe and positive online experience.
Conclusion
As a parent, you want to do everything you can to keep your child safe, both online and offline. Epic Games parental controls can help you to do just that. By using these controls, you can set limits on playtime, restrict access to certain games, monitor your child's online activity, manage friend requests and messages, and more.
But parental controls are just one part of keeping your child safe online. You also need to talk to your child about online safety, set limits and expectations, and be there for them if they have any problems or concerns. By working together, you can help your child to have a safe and positive online experience.
Remember, the most important thing is to stay involved and communicate with your child about their online activities. By talking to them, setting limits and expectations, and being there for them, you can help them to navigate the online world safely and responsibly.