Gacha Life
Gatcha Life
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MINIMUM AGE: 9+
WHAT IS IT? Gacha Life lets you dress up anime-inspired characters and act out scenarios. WHAT WE SAY: Treat with caution. Access to Inappropriate ContentOne of the major concerns with Gacha Life is the ease with which users can access inappropriate content. While the game is designed for a younger audience, users can upload and share their own creations, including characters, scenes, and stories. Some users may choose to create explicit, graphic, or violent content that is not suitable for children. Direct Messaging: Direct messaging (DM) in Gacha Life may seem like a fun way to connect with other players, but it can also open the door to unwanted interactions. Strangers can send private messages, some of which may be inappropriate or even predatory. There’s also the potential for users to engage in harmful or manipulative conversations that might lead to emotional distress or unwanted attention. Online Predators and Grooming: The anonymity that online platforms like Gacha Life provide can unfortunately be exploited by online predators. These individuals may attempt to manipulate, deceive, or groom young users into providing personal information, photos, or engaging in inappropriate conversations. Cyberbullying Gacha Life allows for extensive interaction between users, including the ability to share character designs, stories, and even interact in virtual worlds. However, like many online platforms, it opens the door to cyberbullying. Players may face negative comments about their creations or appearance, or even receive hurtful messages from other users. Dangerous Searching: Be cautious of what you search for around Gacha Life online, particularly on YouTube. YouTube is host to thousands of Gacha Life videos telling stories containing sexual and adult content. High search volumes on Google for Gacha Life porn, Gacha life sex, and Gacha Life porn, along with searches on social media for the hashtag “Gacha heat”, a trend in the gacha community where the focal part of the story revolves around sexual imagery, violence and dominant or abusive relationships. |
SAFETY TIPS TO CONSIDER:
Within the app there are are its extensive “gacha” collectables, in-app purchases, adverts, and data collection for under 13s – kids should be careful not to enter any personal information anywhere. Keep an eye on the YouTube videos your child watches, especially the younger they are. Don’t save credit card details on devices and set up profiles for your children that are not connected to your payment details, to avoid any surprise in-app purchases. Kids may feel pressured to create and share Gacha Heat content with 'suggestive' themes, all in the pursuit of fitting in within the online gaming community. 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. |
