Microsoft Helps Parents Protect Their Children with New Xbox Gaming Safety Toolkit

Microsoft has come out with a new resource for parents and caregivers to help them understand the common safety risks in gaming.  

Launched today in Australia and New Zealand, the Xbox Gaming Safety Toolkit is the company’s response to the increasing concern over children’s safety in the digital world. 

“Enabling safe experiences online is critical to Microsoft’s mission to empower every individual and organization on the planet to achieve more,” Courtney Gregoire, Chief Digital Safety Officer at Microsoft explained in a press release. 

The new toolkit contains proper guidelines for parents and caregivers so they can better understand the gaming ecosystem, and the tools and controls that can be found on Xbox.  

The toolkit is split into two parts: the first part lays down general tips that support safe and responsible gaming for children, while the second part contains safety guidelines that cater to specific age groups.  

Family mobile apps designed for safety make it easier for parents to monitor their child’s gaming activity.  This is why Microsoft’s safety manual also spotlights the Xbox Family Settings App, providing guidelines on the parental and player controls available on the Xbox. “We emphasize that parental controls are part of a holistic approach to online safety and are most effective when used to support existing rules and boundaries that parents and caregivers discuss and agree with their kids,” Gregoire added.  

Additionally, the tech giant sought out help from a wide variety of trusted government and civil society organizations to create messages and instructions that make it easy for parents to understand.  

These organizations include the eSafety Commissioner, Department of Home Affairs, Alannah and Madeline Foundation, and the Interactive Gaming and Entertainment Association (IGEA).  

The Xbox Gaming Safety Toolkit is downloadable now via PDF, even for parents and caregivers outside fo New Zealand and Australia.  

“Microsoft, and by extension Xbox, takes a holistic approach to safety on our services. This centres on the idea that safety requires engagement from everyone including platforms and players,” the company shared.  

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