Playing online games with friends is often an exciting experience for young people. With the addition of in-game chat, children and young people can collaborate with team mates, plan strategies together, or just chat about their day.

When it comes to in-game chat, the more you understand its features, the greater control you have over its settings.

How does in-game chat work?

In-game chat is usually text- or voice-based. Players can type message or transmit their voices through the game and other people in the game can choose to read or hear it. In-game chat doesn't involve video. You won't be able to see the faces of the people you are chatting with.

The in-game chat lets players say just about anything they like, with some restrictions to make the game experience more enjoyable for everyone.

In-game text chat in most games has some kind of profanity filter built into it, so that players can't ruin the atmosphere with excessive swearing. In-game text chat might also have a 'spam' limiter. Players who post too frequently may get temporarily blocked from using the in-game chat for 20 to 30 seconds. Players who simply hammer gibberish into the keyboard over and over again are most likely to receive a temporary spam block. Players can still play the game while they are blocked from text chatting.

Voice chat is less restricted, people can say practically anything into their microphone, but there are often options to select from whom you send and receive voice messages. You might only want to send and receive voice messages from people you have added as friends in the game, or only the people on your team for that game, or for everyone on the game. You can control these voice settings and change them whenever you want.

You do not need to use in-game chat to play online games. Many popular games are including ways to communicate to your team with simple symbols and prepared responses so that you don't have to type or talk to communicate with your team.

Tips on making in-game chat safer

Nobody using in-game chat can touch or see other players, but it is still likely that many other people in a game will be strangers. As a result, it can help to find a few ways to make it safer for children. Consider the following:

• Suggest that your child only uses in-game chat to talk to real-life friends or people they know
• Encourage your child to hide their personal details and information, and make sure never to share personal details in chat
• Encourage your child to talk to you if they are concerned about anything they read, hear or experience in online chat and help your child to report any cyberbullying they encounter.
• Know and use preventative measures to mute, block or report other players. For more details, see 'Preventative measures' below.
• If you are particularly concerned, turn off in-game chat.

Learn more about ways to control in-game chat for popular games at the Office of the eSafety Commissioner's Games, apps and social networking web page.

Preventative measures

Be aware of how to prevent or resolve issues and show kids how to do this. There are usually many options available, including:

• Muting – Players can usually ‘mute’ themselves and others. Muting yourself will mean that nobody can hear you or see what you type, but you can still hear other players and read what they type. Muting another player means you will no longer hear or see anything they say, but will still be able to chat with other players in the game.
• Blocking – Players can block another player to prevent that player from sending you messages and from joining games that you are in.
• Reporting – Players can submit a formal report against another player for inappropriate or unsporting conduct. This includes inappropriate communication, cheating, or other actions that violate the game’s terms and conditions. The exact method of reporting varies depending on the game, but you can find a ways to report players on a list of popular games at the Office of the eSafety Commissioner’s Games, apps and social networking web page..

According to research, children often think of reporting as ‘dobbing’. Start a conversation that shows you understand this dilemma and empower them to know when to report another player. Reporting bad behaviour online improves the game experience for all the other players, and can make your time spent in a game more enjoyable.