Nintendo Wii - A Predator’s Open Door.

 The online gaming threats continue. The latest medium? The Nintendo Wii. Parents and guardians must be on the lookout for sexual predators who continue to find unique ways of contacting kids.

The Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force recently received complaints of an adult male contacting Missouri children through a Nintendo Wii interactive game called “Animal Crossing: City Folk.” Over the past months, the task force and other agencies have received reports of young children receiving inappropriate contact through a variety of internet based games and programs. The children’s ages have ranged between seven and 11-years-old. All were girls. Three children in Missouri  and one in the state of California have been contacted by the subject.

Predators are growing in number and getting smarter. Let’s show them they’re in for a fight.

When Is Game Time Too Much Time?

Many affirm that relationships strengthen over time. Boy meets girl. Girl meets boy. They spend a great deal of time together, either falling deeply in love or growing to hate each other. In most cases, affection deepens the more time people spend with each other. With this in mind, how critical is it for guardians to monitor the online gaming time our kids consume?

Is game time too much time? Not that there is anything wrong with playing online video games, but do our children spend too much time interacting with their friends? Or perhaps sexual predators? Make no mistake, pedophiles and predators have direct access to our kids through online gaming. They spend an incredible amount of time with our children, befriending them and grooming them. If the experts are right in affirming that relationships strengthen over time it is not far-fetched to believe our kids are developing a fondness for predators.

The wolves are not the only problem, however. Too much time at the console leads to a lack of responsibility, a deficiency in face-to-face social interaction and high risk addiction. Kids who spend too much time gaming have also gained weight and have slacked off in their school work, causing their grades to take a nosedive. In rare cases, some kids have literally perpetuated the violence they’ve become accustomed to while gaming online.

So, when is game time too much time? It’s hard to determine. Every scenario is different. Every child is different. And online gamers are a small community when compared to the social network craze. Nevertheless, online game time should be monitored. Or should it? Some would argue it’s the children’s prerogative and there is a plus to it. It keeps them off the streets. But at what price?

1 Million Safe would love your thoughts on this matter.