How Young Is Too Young For Home?
by Burbie52, HSM team writer
Home has an age limit of thirteen, according to the Terms of Service agreement. But the other day I met a kid from Brazil – of all places – who was only eleven years old. I said to myself, “Where are his parents in all of this?”
I have met other kids on Home that are way too young as well, and the protective mother in me always rears up. I tell them to be very careful of who they talk and give any information to.
I know that this issue is probably largely unenforceable by Sony. Rule or no rule, kids can and sometimes will fake their age when they become members of the PSN. They can get away with it, as there is no proof required by Sony of your age other than your word. And how would a thirteen year old prove their age anyway? At that age they don’t have a driver’s permit or license to give a number to prove it. In order for that to work, the minimum age would have to be at least sixteen.
Many would argue that giving out “proof of age” type of information to Sony would also make us more vulnerable to hackers if they go after it again. I agree with that as well. So what can be done?
This is a good question, and I really don’t have an answer to it either. Home is a community, and as such, I am beginning to think that it is going to be up to us as members of that community to do something about this issue, since Sony basically has its hands tied to a large extent.
Those of us who are responsible adults need to step up. When you meet a child in Home, watch out for them. Or – even though they haven’t behaved badly – sending a report, which will snapshot the chat log, documenting the user stating their age is less than what is accepted in the TOS. It sounds cruel, but technically it is a reportable offense, and you could be saving them from a greater danger.
However, it isn’t just the kids who shouldn’t be in Home due to their age that need help and guidance. There are plently of thirteen- to seventeen-year-olds out there that could also use a watchful eye and a helping hand.
I have a friend in my club who asked me — and another female club member — to do just that for his sixteen-year-old daughter when she is in Home using his PS3. Both of us talk to her and make sure that she has someone to turn to when she has a question and keep her safe as best we can. I wish that all of the people here in Home would take this approach when we find kids that are too young to be on their own.
There is another friend whose twelve-year-old son was allowed to come into Home, but he was watched carefully by his parents for the whole time he was on. Now that he is thirteen, his parents still keep an eye out, but they feel he is Home-savvy enough to be given more leeway. His parents are also active members of the Home community, so they are aware of the dangers here; something I believe that many of the parents may not be aware of.
I met some people who have a club called the Kingz and Queenz; their names are Northern Raptor, Sacred Harmony, Deadratcartombs and themaze007. They have what they call a junior league within the club structure for people ages thirteen to eighteen. I spoke to them about this concept to get some insights as to how they handle their younger members.
The first thing they said to me was that they try to have a positive influence on the kids and stress to them that they are not their parents. That being said, there are still a few that look at them that way, probably because of a lack of parenting in the real world. They currently have about twenty members in their junior group and all are very active.
I asked them what they do with the young people that is any different from the other club. Raptor said they play games with them, like one called dress the noob where they give them an assignment to create a certain outfit from free items available in Home — or games like the Infamous demo – kind of like a clothing scavenger hunt. This is not only fun, but also gives them new clothes, as their parents will not – or cannot – provide them with any extra money to spend. The younger ones have their own clubhouse to hang out in together so that they get to know their peers, but they also hang with the older members as well for public events.
One of the things that Raptor and Harmony both stressed is how we as adults treat the younger people in Home. Many people are very dismissive of them; if they learn a user is only thirteen or fourteen, they will tell them to get lost or just ignore them entirely. They think that part of the problem is lack of respect on both sides of this issue, and I tend to agree with that. Respect is one thing that is stressed in their club, both in the adult division and in the junior one. They have rules that need to be followed, such as no swearing, and proper respect for each other and any non-club citizens they meet in Home.
Raptor and Harmony both said that some of the kids they have in their club show more maturity than many adults they have met in Home. When asked what he thought could help, Northern Raptor stated, “How about informing others on what a proper attitude should be toward younger people; helpful, not dismissive.”
Try being helpful to a new person
I for one think that attitude should be the prevailing one for any encounters in Home, be it young people or new people. It would make this a better place for all of us.
After all that’s said and done, this is an issue with many sides and few solutions except those that we as a community have to provide. Sony is not responsible for babysitting our children, or fully able to enforce the Terms of Service rule for thirteen and above; those are the responsibilities of the parent(s) in their lives.
Unfortunately, in our society, many parents are over-stressed, over-worked, and things like this fall through the cracks. So it is up to us as responsible citizens of Home to pick up the slack. What do you think?
June 15th, 2011 by Burbie52 | 13 comments
Burbie52 is a 62 year-old published author and founder of the Grey Gamers group within Home. Born and raised in Michigan, she has lived there her entire life, with the exception of a twelve-year residency on the Big Island of Hawaii. She enjoys reading and writing, as well as video games, especially RPG's. She has one son in his twenties.
Age verification by government issued identification is a good idea. If that means being 16 or older, so be it. I mean, we have all seen the conversations on Home. Scary to think 13 year olds are involved in these conversations!
Wow, this article really upset me. If you see a young Home body telling their age report them?! Why? Can’t kids be left alone? Watch over them!? What are they, a newborn? If they have a PS3, they should be able to play Home. If the kid is 12 I doubt that he/she would have an interest in Home anyways. I say sociate with them, treat them the same as an adult. At least the kids can’t be treated equally in one world.
I never said anything in this article about treating younger people with anything more than respect. They do need guidance though if they are younger because like it or not they aren’t savvy many times in the ways of the world. I am just saying that they should be protected from the people in Home that might wish to do them harm.
Hi I seen a 6 year old on home be4
aggreed mentor instead of seperation care instead of igoring i’m 14 and i hangout with 30yr olds because we’re on the same level thy dont look at my age thy look at my mind i’ve been told numerous times that i’m 21 in maturittly
While i agree that the idea of 13 year olds running around Home is scary,and let’s face it we all have probably met 1or2 kids younger than 13 on Home,I don’t see how Sony can verify the person presenting the government documents is really who they say they are.10 year old”johnny” could probably filch a parents document long enough to set up an account if they were motivated enough.It only takes 5 min. or so to set up an account,more for someone brand new to a PS3 but not much more.Maybe some kind of eye scanner would work,if everyone with the government documents were in a database for Sony to access.Knowing some of the ppl I’ve met on Home I wouldn’t let my child on Home til’ 17,and then only if we had “the talk” yet.There are really ppl on Home that prey on young kids in a few different ways.Having said that,i do know of at least 1 14 year old that is very mature and has his affairs together better than 80% of adults I meet.I feel he could handle himself in any situation on Home but he is a rarity.This is a thorny question I don’t like the thought of limiting someones enjoyment because of the actions of others but I also don’t like the idea of kids being used/abused.The advice about reporting someone under 13 is wise and a good example of how you can be kind by seeming to do something cruel.Also the example of the KINGZ and QUEENZ is a very good one,many children need or want someone to look up to,to learn things from.Nice work being there for them to help them grow.
hey who was the 1 14 year old you know of if you dont mind me asking i’m 14 myself
There is no real way to age verify somebody on ANY virtual world service. Of course Second Life’s Custom,er services may require you to age verify by scanning both Photograph ID or Passport number and sending via email, but ANY kid determined enough will raid their parent’s hand luggage or drawer to gain that information.
Of course there are always the concern of sexual predators that operate also on virtual worlds that parents should be more aware of. Although on Home this is seen as a rarity, but it is something to be vigilant of.
Yes we are not babysitters. I can understand some of the reasons why some adults ignore minors on Home, for the fear they may get into trouble if they are seen talking to them. And i’m not just talking about on Home either.
I’m in agreement with cthulu93 that the KINGZ and QUEENZ club are doing something a little different in that they are actively insering themselves into a position for children in that they have someone that they can look up to in that they can be positive role models.
Have met 30 and 40-somethings who are too immature to be on Home… or even online at all! In fact, maybe their parents should have never even let them leave the nest. But that is another issue altogether.
Comments like, “Can’t kids be left alone? Watch over them!? What are they, a newborn? If they have a PS3, they should be able to play Home. If the kid is 12 I doubt that he/she would have an interest in Home anyways. I say sociate with them, treat them the same as an adult. At least the kids can’t be treated equally in one world.” would (if Nos had any) cause neck hair to stand on end.
Having offspring ranging from age ten into the twenties, gives one a different perspective than a mature adult without children. As is it different from that of a child, teen, or young adult.
That said, the ten year old Nosling will definitely NOT be accessing Home until it is at least thirteen years of age. Even then, it is hard to say…
It is impossible for Sony to police ages of users whether in Home or on the PSN in general, but it is not impossible for parents to monitor their children.
Do think that every less-than-age-of-majority user encountered in Home should be reported. It is likely their parents are unaware.
I agree completely with the assessment that younger ones should not be allowed to come in Home at all, like I said I always wonder where the parents are in the situation. If they are right there beside them then the situation is different just as the maturity level of each person is different. This is an issue with many sides so I wanted to give people who read HSM the opportunity to give their thoughts on the matter, I think this is an important matter that needs to be addressed.
Very nice article Burbie. Glad to hear that there are organizations like Kingz and Queenz on Home. Keep up the great work. I have a 16 year old and when he first went on Home, we watched him closely. Now he doesn’t have much interest in Home. If he decides to get back on, I will steer him towards Kingz and Queenz.
I have a kid in my friends list as young as 8 but she is being supervised by her parents while she accessed home.
i have 3 kids one witch is 10 years old.i might talk about letin them on homes when there around 15-16