Minecraft

What it is

Minecraft can be a private world, a realm shared with friends, or a public server full of strangers and their own chat rules. Those are three different experiences wearing the same name.

On a private world the risks are mostly time and the odd fright from a game mechanic. On a public server, chat, mods, and voice can include adults, bullying, and requests to download something "so you can join". The download is a common way harmful software gets onto a family computer.

What to look out for

• Public servers you have not looked at.
• Chat that your child minimises when you walk in.
• Mods, launchers, or "free capes" that ask them to download a file from a random site.
• Voice chat tools running beside the game.
• Anyone asking for their real name or photos.

Ways to stay safe

These steps are for Minecraft. 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.
• Prefer a single-player world or a Realms server with people you know.
• Turn off online chat for younger children.
• Only install mods from places you have checked. If they cannot explain the download, it waits.
• Keep the Microsoft or store account in your name for younger players.
• Agree that a server with no rules and open chat is a no, even if a friend already joined.

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 BBC News · 2025 The regulator said weak tools let adults contact children inside games.
• Roblox and Fortnite predator jailed BBC News · 2025 Police said he used those games to befriend children and message them in private.

A way to start the conversation

Ask whether tonight's world is "ours" or "a public one". If it is public, ask to see the chat for a minute. That request should be normal in your house.

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