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Are mobile games safe for kids? What parents need to know

Games are where most children spend their time on a phone or tablet. Here's what modern games actually do, in numbers, and the three things to set up first.

By Drew Harding, author of Safe PlayUpdated 5 min read5 cited sources

The short answer

Gaming isn't bad for children, but the landscape has shifted. Many free mobile games are built around collecting data, showing ads and encouraging spending, and 31% of 8 to 17s who game online chat with strangers while gaming4. Start with three things: link your child's account to yours with Google Family Link, require approval for purchases9, and turn chat off or to friends only. Then keep talking about what they play.

What is Google Family Link?
Google's free parental controls app. Link your child's account to yours to approve downloads and purchases, cap content by age rating and set time limits.

How big a part of childhood gaming has become

This isn't a small thing any more. Chances are, if your child has an Android phone or tablet, games are one of the main things they use it for.

  • 97%of UK 8 to 17-year-olds play games online1
  • 53%of those players spend money inside the games1
  • 1 in 3children who spend money online regret their in-game purchases12

Each figure stands for 1 in 10 children.

Key facts

Free to quote, with a link to this page

  • 97%

    of UK 8 to 17-year-olds play games online, and 53% of those players spend money inside the games1.

    Source: Ofcom, 2025

  • 1 in 3

    children who spend money online regret their in-game purchases12.

    Source: Ofcom, 2025

  • 31%

    of 8 to 17-year-olds who game online chat with strangers while gaming4.

    Source: Ofcom, 2024

Safe Play guide page 4: the introduction, with 97% of 8 to 17-year-olds playing games online and 53% of them spending money inside the games
from the full guideThis is page 4 of Safe Play. The full guide covers purchases, chat, ads, privacy, red flags and more, in 40 pages.Download the free guidePDF · no email needed

What modern games actually do

Modern mobile games aren't just entertainment. Many are built around three things, sometimes before a child even understands what they're agreeing to:

Then there's the social side. Many popular games now include chat, voice calls or open multiplayer lobbies: features that let your child talk to people they've never met.

  • 22%of 8 to 17s talked while gaming to people they didn't know outside the game (2023)3
  • 31%of 8 to 17s who game online chat with strangers while gaming (2024)4

Myth vs fact

What parents often hear, checked against the sources

Myth

“Gaming is bad for kids.”

Fact

Gaming itself isn't the problem. What's changed is how free games make money, and who children can talk to inside them: 31% of 8 to 17s who game online chat with strangers while gaming4.

The most important part

Gaming isn't the problem. The landscape has shifted.

None of this means gaming is bad for kids. It means the tools and habits that kept children safe a few years ago might not be enough today.

You don't need to become a tech expert to keep up. Settings help, and this guide walks through every one. What lasts is a child who tells you when something feels off.

Easy ways to start talking

You don't need a script. A few openers that work at any age:

  • What's your favourite game right now? Can you show me?

    Start with interest, not rules. Ten minutes playing together tells you more than any settings menu.

  • Does anyone you don't know ever talk to you in a game?

    Ask it casually, early and often, so it's normal long before anything happens.

  • If a game ever asks you to pay or share something, come and get me.

    Agree it as a team rule, not a punishment waiting to happen.

More conversation starters

What the guide covers, chapter by chapter

Safe Play has 14 chapters in five parts. Read front to back, or jump straight to what's worrying you.

  1. 02How to set up Google Family Link for kids' games
  2. 03Which permissions should a kids' game ask for?
  3. 04How to stop in-app purchases on Android
  4. 05How to turn off chat with strangers in games
  5. 06Dark patterns: the design tricks behind accidental taps
  6. 07PEGI ratings on Google Play, explained
  7. 08How much gaming is too much?
  8. 09Privacy settings for kids' gaming accounts
  9. 10Red flags: signs something's wrong in a game
  10. 11What to do if something goes wrong (UK)
  11. 12How to talk to your child about gaming safety
  12. 13Are free games really free?
  13. 14A note from the author

Put it into practice

Actions you can take now

Everything this chapter covers, as a short to-do list you can work through now, while it's fresh.

Quick wins, a few minutes each. Tick them off as you go.

Common questions

Are mobile games safe for children?

Gaming isn't bad for children, but many free mobile games are built around collecting data, showing ads and encouraging spending, and many include chat with people your child has never met. With the right settings and an open conversation, the risks are manageable.

How many children play games online in the UK?

Ofcom found 97% of UK 8 to 17-year-olds play games online, and 53% of those players spend money inside the games1.

Do children talk to strangers in online games?

Often. In 2023, 22% of 8 to 17s had talked while gaming to people they didn't know outside the game3, and in 2024, 31% of those who game online chatted with strangers while gaming4.

Where should I start?

Link your child's Google account to yours with Family Link, require approval for downloads and purchases9, and switch off or limit chat in each game. Then keep talking about what they play.

Is this guide only for Android?

The step-by-step settings are written for Android and Google Play. The advice on spending, chat, dark patterns, red flags and talking with your child applies whatever device they use.

Sources

  1. Ofcom, Top trends from our latest look at UK children’s online lives (2025) · ofcom.org.uk
  2. 5Rights Foundation, New research reveals how children face financial harm online (2025) · 5rightsfoundation.com
  3. Ofcom, Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes Report (2023) · ofcom.org.uk
  4. Ofcom, Children and Parents: Media Use and Attitudes Report (2024) · ofcom.org.uk
  5. Google For Families Help, Purchase approvals on Google Play · support.google.com

Page updates

  1. Chapter 01 published as its own page.
From the author

Or start with games that need none of these settings.

"Before a family holiday, we went looking for a couple of simple travel games. We found video adverts, sneaky paywalls and accidental taps. So I built an alternative: classic games with no adverts, no tracking, no sign-ups and nothing to buy, ever."

Drew HardingDad of two, author of Safe Play and founder of Pumpkin Cat Games
  • 8 classic games
  • Zero in-app purchases
  • PIN-protected parent controls
  • Daily time limits
Download on Google PlayDiscover the games
Free · no email · 40 pages

Know it. Set it up. Be ready.

Safe Play covers in-app purchases, chat with strangers, dark patterns, privacy settings, red flags and who to call, so you're no longer guessing.

Download the free guide

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