STEAM
STEAM
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MINIMUM AGE: 13+
WHAT IS IT? Steam is an entertainment platform and app where you can play, discuss and create games. WHAT WE SAY: Treat with caution. 🔞 Exposure to Inappropriate Content Steam features games of all types — including violent, sexual, or mature content. Some games are labeled “Mature” or “Adults Only,” but younger users can often still access them through friends, family libraries, or by faking their age. 🔐 Privacy Concerns Steam collects information like friend lists, chat history, purchase history, and game activity. Public profiles can expose usernames, play habits, and interactions unless privacy settings are adjusted. 📢 Lack of Accountability in Chat Steam includes community forums, game chats, and voice features. Toxic behavior, hate speech, or harassment can happen—especially in competitive multiplayer games—often without consequences. 📱 Cyberbullying and Harassment Users may experience bullying or targeted harassment through friend messaging, group invites, or voice chats. Some users spam hate speech or harass others after competitive matches. 🚨 Sexual Harassment While not as prominent as on video chat platforms, some Steam communities (especially in certain game chats or mod forums) can involve inappropriate jokes, unwanted messages, or objectifying behaviour—particularly toward female gamers. 🧑💻 Online Predators & Grooming While Steam isn’t designed for anonymous interaction, it’s possible for strangers to add friends and start private chats. If a child adds people they don’t know, they may be exposed to grooming attempts or manipulative behaviour. 🚨 Criminal Activity & Mods Some third-party mods, pirated games, or community-created content may contain malware, explicit material, or illegal content. Steam has systems to reduce this risk, but users who download from unofficial sources or external links can still be exposed. 💸Steam Wallet & Spending Steam allows users to spend real money on games, cosmetics, or trading cards. With saved payment methods, kids can overspend or fall victim to scams. Steam's item trading system is vulnerable to phishing, scams, and social engineering, especially in popular games like CS:GO or Team Fortress 2. Valuable in-game items can be stolen. 🚨Modding Communities Many games allow “mods” (modifications). While creative, some mods contain adult content, horror themes, or offensive language—and may not be properly labeled. |
SAFETY TIPS:
📲Understand the app: Familiarise yourself with Steam's features and how they work. Knowing how the app works will help you guide your child effectively. 👨👧Parental supervision: Check their interactions and adjust privacy settings accordingly. Try to stay up-to-date on Internet trends and best practices. 📢Underage Accounts: Steam might have an age restriction but it lacks a proper age verification process. Therefore, there’s little stopping users from faking their dates of birth or creating bogus profiles and targetting children and young people. 👥Manage friend requests: Teach your child only to accept friend requests from people they know in real life. 📷 Cover the Webcam When Not in Use Physically cover your camera when you're not ready to go live. Always be mindful of what’s visible in your background—it can reveal location clues. 🧠 Trust Your Instincts If something feels uncomfortable, it is uncomfortable. Leave the chat immediately and don’t engage with users who seem suspicious, aggressive, or inappropriate. 🖥️ Place Devices in Shared Spaces Keep internet-connected devices in living rooms or kitchens, not bedrooms. This makes risky behavior less likely and easier to notice. 🙋♀️Conversations: Have open discussions with children and young people about the topics associated with online use - bullying, grooming, sexual and criminal exploitation, body image, as well as accessing support and how to report. 🚨 Know the Signs of Trouble Watch for behaviour changes—like anxiety, secrecy, mood swings, or suddenly deleting apps. These can signal something inappropriate happened online. 💬Conversations: Have open discussions with children and young people about the topics associated with online use - bullying, grooming, sexual and criminal exploitation, body image, as well as accessing support and how to report. FURTHER SUPPORT: For parents/ carers If you're worried about your child or need support call NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000. If you discover criminal content when online then report it directly to the police or the Internet Watch Foundation. If you're worried about online grooming or sexual behaviour online then report directly to the police or contact CEOP. For Children & young people if they're worried or want to talk, encourage them to contact Childline Online or call 0800 1111. Check out our Resource Centre for further information and useful online safety tips. 
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