AMONG US
AMONG US
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MINIMUM AGE: 7+
WHAT IS IT? Among Us is an online multiplayer social deduction game where players work together to complete tasks on a spaceship, but among them are "Impostors" whose goal is to sabotage and eliminate other players without being detected. The rest of the crew members, known as "Crewmates," must identify and vote out the Impostors while completing their tasks. WHAT WE SAY: Treat with caution. 🔞 Access to Inappropriate Content Although the game uses cartoon-style graphics, Among Us includes themes of murder, betrayal, and deception. Public lobbies can expose players to inappropriate language, bullying, or mature discussions during in-game chat. There are no strict filters for adult topics in chat unless manually enabled. 💬 Direct Messaging and Chat Among Us has both text and quick chat functions. Players can use free text chat or a quick chat wheel with pre-defined phrases. While filters can be turned on, public lobbies can be unpredictable. 📱 Cyberbullying Arguments, false accusations, and name-calling are part of the game dynamic, but they can escalate into bullying - especially for younger players. Players may be mocked, ganged up on, or excluded. This can impact children emotionally, especially if they don’t fully grasp the social dynamics. 🚨 Online Predators and Grooming Because Among Us matches strangers together in public lobbies, there is always a risk of predators initiating contact during or after gameplay. The game doesn’t allow private DMs within the app, but users often exchange info to continue chatting on external platforms (like Discord or social media). 📢 Account Safety & Age Verification Accounts can be created with minimal verification, and children may falsely register older ages to bypass restrictions. 💸 In-Game Purchases Among Us is low-cost or free depending on the platform, but offers in-app purchases like cosmetic skins, hats, and pets. These don’t affect gameplay but can be tempting due to peer influence. Children may not fully understand the real-money cost of purchases. 🎮 Game Spaces: Users join games by downloading the app. They then select either 'Local', 'Online' or 'Freeplay'.
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🛡️SAFETY TIPS:
📲 Understand the game Familiarise yourself with the games 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. 🔒 Quick Guide: Verifying Your Child’s Account:
💸 Limit In-App Purchases Set spending limits or disable in-app purchases on your device to avoid accidental or excessive spending. 🚨 Avoid Unofficial Downloads Stick to downloading the game from official sources (like the App Store or Google Play) to avoid malware, data breaches, or compromised versions. 📢 Underage Accounts This game 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 targeting 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 behaviour 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. 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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