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Cyber Expert Reviewer:
Reviewed on Dec 7, 2022
Set aboard a virtual spaceship, Among Us is a ‘whodunit’ style game for iOS, Android, console, PC, and Mac devices. In the game, a team of players works together to complete tasks aboard the ship while trying to avoid being killed by the imposters among them. This game can be played privately with friends or online with strangers.
At the start of basic gameplay, one or more players are assigned the role of imposter, and tasked with secretly sabotaging and killing crewmates (the other players in the game). Crewmates win the game if they manage to complete all assigned tasks before being killed, or if they figure out who the imposters are and vote them off the ship. Once the basics have been mastered, the game can be made more interesting with the introduction of other characters (each with unique attributes) including scientist, engineer, guardian angel or shapeshifter. Other features such as number of imposters, number of tasks and player visibility can also be altered.
Once Among Us is downloaded, players are required to acknowledge the privacy settings and enter their birth date to ensure they are over nine years of age (although this is not verified). Once signed in, players have several gameplay options to choose from, including playing offline, or online with friends and other users worldwide. To play online, players must sign in and create an account using their email. They can also elect to play as a guest, which will provide them with a randomised username and give them access to most of the features of a full account; however, chat will be limited to the quick chat mode. Creating a login enables a player to play on multiple devices and uninstall Among Us without losing their account.
Although Among Us can be downloaded and played for free, the game actively encourages in-app purchases for hats, skins (different avatar ‘looks’), features, bundles or to remove ads. They range in price from USD1.99 to USD24.99 and although the cost for each purchase may appear insignificant, they can quickly add up over time. Additionally, ads are displayed after every game, some offering enticing upgrades for a discount.
We strongly recommend parents disable in-app purchases on their child’s device. For detailed instructions, please visit the ‘How to’ section of this app review. Parents who wish to remove the temptation of their child ‘grabbing a bargain’ when an ad for in-app purchase discounts is displayed should consider paying to upgrade to the ad-free version of the game.
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Among us can be a lot of fun to play; however, there are a number of risks outlined below:
Chat function Players can use the game’s chat feature to discuss tactics with teammates, including who they think the imposter may be and who they intend to vote off the spaceship. This chat area contains language that can be likened to ‘locker room talk’, so parents should be mindful if they are sensitive to their children being exposed to swearing. Although the chat has a censor option that filters out inappropriate language, it is not password protected and players can turn this feature off as easily as they can turn it on. Among Us has a quick chat text feature, a slightly safer and faster alternative to the open text chat option. Children under 13 years are given a menu of generic messages they can use to chat, rather than having the freedom to type whatever they like.
Gameplay in ‘online’ mode Among Us gives players several options when it comes to gameplay. They can elect to play in ‘local’ mode with real-life friends by joining a friend’s game or creating their own game and inviting their friends using a unique code. Alternatively, players can select the online option, enabling them to join any game they choose. With game player numbers ranging from four to 15 players each, children could be interacting with up to 14 complete strangers if they elect to play in this mode. Unfortunately, the online play component of this app cannot be disabled; therefore, it is vital parents talk with their children about keeping their personal information private and ask them to play Among Us with real-life friends only.
Graphic content Although the imagery in Among Us is cartoon-like, it contains animated gore and violence. Players can be killed by being stabbed in the back with a knife, and within the game it is common to see words such as kill, dead, murdered and bodies, and they are also provided with their kill stats. Although these are given within the context of a game, such content helps normalise violence. Consequently, parents should familiarise themselves with the content found in Among Us before deciding whether it's appropriate for their child to play.
Online bullying Among Us is unmoderated, and therefore, online bullying and poor behaviour can occur, both in-game and within chat. Players are expected to self-monitor their games and block players who may be behaving inappropriately, either by kicking them from the game or booting them completely. Unfortunately, with freedom of choice and lack of moderation users are left to decide what behaviour they deem to be inappropriate, which may be difficult, particularly for younger players. This freedom can also cause issues in teams as opinions on what defines appropriate behaviour will differ for each individual. The booting/kicking feature can also be used in the ‘local’ setting which can see children booting out their real-life friends as a form of exclusion and bullying.
Excessive screen time Among Us is set up in such a way that players can find themselves participating in one game after another (they can begin a new game as soon as they have completed or failed the last one) without realising how long they have spent on their screen. The use of a parental control tool and including screen time limits within the family tech agreement can help curb the screen time issues that this game presents.
Links to external platforms Like most popular games, Among Us has an array of external communities and fan pages, which may not be appropriate for young users. The game’s home screen also features quick link icons for Discord, Twitter and Facebook, and players will be prompted to download these platforms if they aren’t already on their device.
Online privacy Among Us collects and stores player data that it shares with third-party partner organisations and service providers, and this may be considered a privacy risk. Full details can be found in the game’s privacy policy.
Most games and apps have some form of risk associated with them. Parents can teach their children to minimise online risks so they can enjoy using tech safely by following a few simple tips:
By using the boot icon in the chat feature, Among Us lets you kick out or ban people you no longer want to play with. This is really useful if someone is behaving in an inappropriate way, being rude, trolling, or making you feel uncomfortable. It is important for you to remember that this feature is there to keep you safe and happy while you play. If you do feel the need to kick out or ban someone from your game, it would also be a good idea to chat with your parents or a trusted adult about what has happened. Some people may use this feature in a mean way to exclude friends from games, but this isn’t kind and can really hurt someone’s feelings. If you see this happening or if it happens to you, take a screenshot and ask a trusted adult for help.
The chat feature in Among Us can allow you to connect with all kinds of people from around the world.To help protect yourself, you should only connect, chat and play with friends you have met in real life. Unfortunately, in games like this there may be people pretending to be someone they are not, and you must remember that sharing even the smallest details about yourself can be unsafe. Make sure you never share any of your personal information with anyone, including your name, age, where you live or where you go to school.
Your parents have probably talked to you about how much screen time you’re allowed, and you may even have a family tech agreement. Remember that it is also your responsibility to stay on top of the amount of time you are spending on your device. You can cut down on your screen time by taking lots of regular breaks and doing something different like spending time with your family and friends. When you are playing, stop and have a think; how is my mind feeling? How is my body feeling? If you find yourself feeling tense or stressed, take a deep breath and go find something else to do. You can always come back to your game later.
Even though Among Us is free to download and play, it is very clever at finding ways to try and get you to spend money on things like skins, pets and hats. It is important to remember that these items cost real money and you can play the game just as well without these sneaky upgrades. You should always ask your parents before buying anything in the game.
When you are playing Among Us, you will find that ads will pop up throughout and after every completed or failed game. It is important not to click on these ads as they can take you to external sites that may try to entice you to spend real life money or may not be appropriate.
1. Open your Apps list and tap on the Play Store icon to open it.
2. Press the Menu button in the top-left corner of the Play Store, then scroll down and tap Settings.
3. Find and press require authentication for purchases to choose how long to wait before asking for your password again.
4. Finally, press the option to require authentication for all purchases through Google Play on this device. Now, you'll need to enter your password for every app or in-app purchase.
The Gold Standard: COPPA [Implemented globally, legally enforced only in the U.S.]
California: CCPA
U.K and Europe: GDPR-K
Australia: Online Safety Act 2021