How to Make Online Gaming and Entertainment Safe for Our Kids

Updated March 5, 11:40 a.m. PT

Posted by Robbie Bach 
President, Entertainment and Devices Division

As the post below mentioned, Microsoft hosted a reception in Washington, D.C. on March 4 to discuss our commitment to equip parents with easy-to-use tools to help ensure their children’s digital entertainment experiences are healthy, balanced and age-appropriate.  Click Read More to view the full post and video of Robbie Bach, President, Entertainment and Devices Division, speaking at the event. 



 

In his recent address to Congress, President Obama said: “There is no program or policy that can substitute for a mother or father who will attend those parent-teacher conferences, or help with homework after dinner, or turn off the TV, put away the video games, and read to their child.”

Microsoft agrees that active parental involvement is essential to ensure a healthy and safe media experience for kids. We are committed to giving parents the resources they need to manage the digital content their kids interact with. Our Xbox 360 and Windows Vista gaming platforms, for instance, include powerful and easy-to-use parental controls.  

Parents also have questions about what kinds of games are age-appropriate, and whether their kids are striking a healthy balance between game play and homework, exercise and other activities. That is why we and several of our partners created the Get Game Smart educational campaign and Web site, which I blogged about last month.

Tonight, Microsoft will host a reception in Washington, D.C., with policymakers and leading children’s advocacy groups to talk about the Get Game Smart initiative, and how to make the world of connected entertainment – video games, TV, movies and music, across a range of devices – healthy for kids.

Tonight’s event is part of an ongoing conversation we are starting with families, advocacy groups and policymakers about what we can all do to foster balanced and appropriate digital media use for kids. I encourage you to join the conversation by commenting below, or by visiting the Family Spotlight page on GetGameSmart.com to share your ideas about what Microsoft and its partners can do to make digital entertainment part of a healthy and safe children’s experience.