{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"By Nominet","standfirst":"","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EThe theme of this year\u2019s \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.saferinternetday.org/en-GB/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESafer Internet Day\u003C/a\u003E, on Tuesday 8 February, is \u2018All fun and games?\u2019 It reminds us that in the UK, a staggering \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/report/gaming-the-system/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E93%\u003C/a\u003E of under 18s are thought to take part in online gaming on a regular basis, and that there are specific dangers associated with this. We need to be aware of these dangers and consider the young people who might not have the tools they need to protect themselves.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOverall, is about inspiring global conversations about online safety: how best to create and maintain it collaboratively. The more people, companies and organisations that join together, the more likely we are to achieve positive change.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMore specifically, this year\u2019s campaign also asks everyone to discuss and think about online \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/safer-internet-day-2022/films\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Erelationships and respect\u003C/a\u003E. These are hugely relevant to the world of online gaming.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMillions of young people all over the world forge relationships in the virtual world now and lots of these are positive. But relationships in the gaming environment can often come under pressure as a result of being in an intensely competitive environment that\u2019s both global and intergenerational.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/16736/110917_safer_internet_day_badge_2020.jpg","width":769,"height":769,"altText":"Safer Internet Day Badge, light blue with Scouts fleur-de-lis logo and partner Nominet logo, with 2D images of digital symbols around such as location pin, play button, speak bubble, all of these are in white","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003ESafer Internet Day reminds us of the resources and support available online for young people learning to stay safe online. One of those is the \u003Ca href=\u0022/staged-badges/digital-citizen/\u0022 title=\u0022Digital Citizen\u0022\u003EScouts Digital Citizen Badge\u003C/a\u003E, launched back in September 2020 in partnership with Nominet, when the world was at the peak of the pandemic.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBy encouraging critical thinking and teaching young people ways of looking after themselves while online, the Digital Citizen Badge turned out to be a huge benefit to so many, as young people ended up spending more time online than ever before.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut there\u2019s more to online gaming than learning how to protect young people; it\u2019s also important to instil the values of gaming etiquette. Gamers need to know how to conduct themselves online to protect themselves and others.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThere\u2019s an existing, unspoken code of conduct within the gaming community that\u2019s emerged between players with the aim of making sure participation in video gaming is enjoyable and harm free. But things can go wrong: bullying, exclusion and ostracism are as harmful online as they can be in reality. There\u2019s even a phrase in gaming for youngsters who, hurt and angry, will suddenly leave the game: \u2018ragequitters\u2019. What happens to them when they go offline?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBy encouraging all gamers to take personal responsibility for their own behaviour and observe gaming etiquette, we can help prevent a lot of this conflict and harm.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"quoteText":"Each year, we work with hundreds of thousands of young people to help them build life skills. Having a healthy relationship with technology is an essential skill for life and what it means to be a good citizen. \n\nSupported by our brilliant partner Nominet, for this year\u2019s Safer Internet Day we\u2019ll be helping young people earn their Digital Citizen Badge by exploring respect and relationships online, especially while gaming.","attribution":"Matt Hyde, Scouts CEO","gridType":"quote","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe essential advice for parents, teachers, policymakers and carers to give young people is that how they behave with friends is how they should behave online: be friendly, don\u2019t use personal insults, know the difference between friends and strangers, never use swear words and bad language, avoid being drawn into arguments, take time to congratulate your opponents on a win (don\u2019t be a bad loser!), and finally, always be a positive team player.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAlmost everyone will have direct contact with at least one young person who plays online games, and we should understand that gaming offers children some amazing opportunities to have fun and socialise.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYet young people, particularly vulnerable individuals and \u2018noobs\u2019 (short for \u2018newbies\u2019, gamer language for those who are new to games), will still need help from parents, carers and the professionals looking after them. They\u2019ll need help recognising when difficulties are happening, knowing when to call for or seek help, and understanding how to gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to help keep the internet safe.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENot just on Safer Internet Day, but every day.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"quoteText":"We are still learning what constitutes a healthy digital life, and what puts us in harm\u2019s way. With Safer Internet Day as a firm fixture in our annual calendars we are regularly reminded of our collective responsibility to protect and respect others, both on and offline, and show ways of getting help.","attribution":"Amy O\u2019Donnell, from Nominet\u2019s Social Impact team","gridType":"quote","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EThe bottom line is that we must all treat others as we would like to be treated, in online gaming as elsewhere, and remember that what might seem like harmless banter to some may be perceived very differently by watchers and other players. We all need to be able to respond with confidence to the continuously evolving virtual environments and the associated challenges they bring in the real world.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout the UK Safer Internet Centre\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe UK Safer Internet Centre works to promote the safe and responsible use of technology for children and young people. A partnership of three leading charities, Childnet, Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL), the Safer Internet Centre in the UK was set up in 2011 as one of 31 centres of the InSafe Network and has a shared mission of making the UK the safest place in the world to go online. The UK Safer Internet Centre offers leading education, training and awareness for children, parents and educators demonstrating how to stay safe online while enjoying all the positive benefits the internet has to offer.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbout Nominet\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENominet is driven by a commitment to use technology to improve connectivity, security and inclusivity online. For 25 years, Nominet has run the .UK internet infrastructure, developing an expertise in the Domain Name System (DNS) that now underpins sophisticated threat monitoring, detection, prevention, and analytics that is used by governments to mitigate cyber threats. Our social impact programme aims to improve the lives of one million people, providing support and opportunities to tackle some of the most important digital issues facing young people in the UK today.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"08 February 2022","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"Safer Internet Day","url":"https://www.saferinternetday.org/","newWindow":true},{"caption":"","title":"Digital Citizen Staged Activity Badge","url":"/staged-badges/digital-citizen/","newWindow":false}],"relatedLinks":[{"caption":"","title":"Discover our supporter Nominet","url":null,"newWindow":false},{"caption":"","title":"Staying safe online","url":"/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/safeguarding-in-the-programme/scouting-online-safely/","newWindow":false}],"id":39221,"nodeName":"Why the etiquette of online gaming is so important","title":"Why the etiquette of online gaming is so important","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/16736/110917_safer_internet_day_badge_2020.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1d9becd1c4f4330","caption":"110917 Safer Internet Day Badge 2020","type":"jpg","size":138196,"width":769,"height":769,"altText":"Safer Internet Day Badge, light blue with Scouts fleur-de-lis logo and partner Nominet logo, with 2D images of digital symbols around such as location pin, play button, speak bubble, all of these are in white"},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Why the etiquette of online gaming is so important","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"Learn more about this year\u0027s Safer Internet Day, with our partner Nominet.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC8zOTIyMSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2022/february/why-the-etiquette-of-online-gaming-is-so-important/"}