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Cyber Expert Reviewer:
Reviewed on Dec 7, 2022
‘Call of Duty’ is a gaming app with multiplayer functions where players interact with one another, playing solo or in teams. This game consists of short play sessions where the objective is to shoot all other players in a predetermined time frame and emerge as the last man or team standing. Children can talk to their friends or strangers while playing the game; however this feature isn’t essential for play.
The chat feature commonly sees users (both friends and strangers) communicating in an aggressive manner. One of the points to remember about Call of Duty is that in-game purchases of skins and weapons for avatars are made with real-world currency, and some kids spend up big money on mum or dad’s credit card to get better equipment. Foul language is often synonymous with shooter style games too, and Call of Duty is no different. Swearing and insults is commonplace on this app.
Parents should be aware of the addictive nature of Call of Duty and the “one more game” mentality. Enforcing your own time limits on the game can be a good way to have open communication and ground rules in place. Using tools like Screen Time on iOS devices can be helpful when trying to enforce a healthy amount of game time.
Many parents' fears about video games and violence are often sparked by media hype and over-the-top news articles. Research, in fact, indicates that violent video games do not ‘cause’ a child to be violent if they already had a relatively even temperament. Video games have been found to exacerbate aggression in children who were already more aggressive than their normal peer group. So violent games don’t necessarily mean children will act violently. What is more likely is that children model behaviors of other players, including swearing and trolling. Teaching online etiquette can be helpful to decrease this possible negative impact of bad player behavior.
In-app purchases are a prominent part of this game. Kids don't need to make any purchases to be able to play and progress fully, but the temptation for kids is very high! Google Family Link or Apple family Sharing can be great tools to help parents curb their children's spending.
The mobile app version of Call of Duty has far more bonuses/rewards than the console version. The app will offer your child rewards for actions such as; playing multiplayer, logging in, checking your messages. These rewards are something to be mindful of, as they are a very clever drawcard the game has, which can increase engagement and screen time issues. Parents should also be mindful of the multiplayer reward system. Having conversations with your child around who it is and isn't safe to play with online can help any privacy and security issues this feature could present.
The skill-based matching feature is worth noting. Players will be matched up with other gamers from anywhere in the world regardless of their age. This can mean that a child who is particularly good at a game, could be matched up with players who are much older than them.
It can be easy to get carried away when playing Call of Duty, however it is crucial to remember to treat other players with respect and how you would expect to be treated. Refrain from swearing or putting anything out there via the voice chats that may come across as offensive or rude.
It is your responsibility just as much as your parents to stay on top of how much time you are spending on your device. Make sure you are taking regular breaks and spending time with your family and friends. Take notice of how you feel when you are playing your game. If you are feeling frustrated, take a deep breath, pause it, go find something else to play with and come back to it later. This app can be very addictive in nature!
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