What it is
Call of Duty is a shooting game with online matches. The age rating is for older teens and adults because of the violence and the language. Voice chat is on by default in many modes, so a child can hear and be heard by adults in the same match.
Party chat continues after the game. That is where strangers try to keep a child talking.
What to look out for
- Voice chat with the microphone on.
- A party of people they do not know.
- A headset in use behind a shut door for long sessions.
- Friend requests from recent matches.
Ways to stay safe
These steps are for Call of Duty. The house rules still apply on every app.
- Do not put your card details on their device. Not in the App Store, Google Play, the game, or PayPal. If you choose to pay, type the card in yourself for that purchase, then remove it.
- If they are under the game’s age rating, it should not be installed.
- For older teens, turn voice chat to friends only or off, and keep the microphone off in public matches.
- Use a gamertag that hides their real name and age.
- Check who is on the friends list after a few weeks of play.
In the news
Published reports you can read yourself. A headline is the proof, not a set of instructions, and this page does not repeat graphic detail.
- Fortnite, Roblox and Minecraft have child-safety gaps, Australian regulator finds The regulator’s warning is about adults reaching children in voice chat on big games. Call of Duty puts players in a lobby with a microphone.
A way to start the conversation
You can say: "The people in that lobby are mostly adults. You do not have to talk, and you do not accept a friend request from a match. If someone is sexual or will not leave you alone, you mute them and tell me."
Video
Parent briefing
A short video for this guide can be added by an editor. Until then, the written briefing above is the one to use.