13 WTHR IndianapolisConnected Kids: Live gaming

Live gaming systems such as Xbox Live are the rage with teenage boys because they can work as part of a team from the comfort of their homes.
    
But are they also opening the door to danger?
    
Like many boys his age, 13-year-old Sam Pirino is a big fan of Xbox Live.
    
In his family's living room, he sits with headsets on, controls in hand, focused on the his favorite game, "Modern Warfare 2."  

"Shooting as many guys as I can," Sam explains the objective, enlisting the help of a "team" of soldiers - other gamers online at the same time.
    
"He does have a tendency to obsess on playing for several hours," his mom, Laura, admits.
    
She doesn't let him, however.
    
In fact, she sets firm rules when it comes to live gaming.  Laura limits the time Sam plays; and also makes sure the game stays in a central location in their Avon home.
    
But she can't control everything.
    
"I've heard cussing in the past," Laura says, describing the conversations she's overhead when Sam played.
     
"Have them take off their headset and put in on live TV and you will hear language that will rival that of an R-rated movie," explains Dan Claasen, program director for My Cyber Guardian, an organization that educates parents about today's technology.
    
Claasen does say live gaming can be a positive experience for teenage boys because, "The concept is to work together as a team."
    
But the problem, Classen says, is "teammates" can be anyone, from anywhere.
    
"If your youth are working with people they've never met," says Claasen, "who are using voice-masking technology, that's where I have a concern."

Laura insists her son only play live with people he knows.
    
As for wearing his headsets?
    
"He's supposed to stop the game if he hears anything inappropriate," Laura insists.
     
Experts recommend parental controls on the gaming console, where you can set the program to "friend."
    
Make sure the teen is playing only with people they know and trust.
    
And don't rely on parental ratings for the game they are playing.  Instead, have the teen remove their headsets .
      
Learn more about how to protect your child online:  http://becomeanupstander.org/