Among Us is an online multiplayer game released in 2018. The game’s plot is heavily inspired by the horror movie The Thing. And the rules are nearly identical to party games like Mafia or Werewolf. Due to the popularity and multiplayer nature of the game, parents often ask, “Is Among Us safe for kids?” If you opened this article looking for an Among Us review for parents, this is your place. Reading this article helps you reach the most suitable conclusion for your child. In this article, we will discuss the following:
- The fundamental features and rules of Among Us
- The amount of violence in the game
- The ways strangers can interact with your child
- The game’s price and in-game purchases
- The benefits of playing Among Us
- Ways to provide a safer gaming environment for your kid
What Is Among Us?
Among Us is an online multiplayer social deduction game. In Social deduction games, players must figure out each other’s hidden roles using logic or bluff and conceal their true identity. Players can join a public game to play with people randomly or create a private game to play with their friends. The game is usually played with two teams—the good side and the bad. Like other games from this category, Among Us divides players into two groups: crewmates or imposters. If you’re a crewmate, you are with the good guys. But if you’re an imposter, you are the killer and the bad guy. Here is what crewmates should do:
- Go to each task’s associated room and start doing their tasks following the pertaining guide shown on the screen.
- Report a dead body if you find one, and discuss where you found it. This will start an emergency meeting. Try to figure out who killed them using your and others’ info. You can do the same thing by pressing the emergency button in the middle of the map.
- Vote who to eject from the ship. If the majority chooses the imposter, you win the game.
- Another way to win the game is by finishing your tasks. You should keep doing them even after the imposter kills you. However, if they do, you can’t communicate with your crewmates anymore.
If you’re the impostor, here is what you should do:
- Walk up to the good guys and press the “Kill” button to kill them. You better do this when there’s no one in the room so they won’t report the body immediately and call you out in the meeting. You can also report the dead body yourself.
- In discussions, make sure no one suspects you.
- Set off faults or lock down specific areas to slow the crewmates’ progress.
- Use vents to move around the map faster but ensure no one sees you. Since only an impostor can use the ducts, they will immediately figure out your identity if they see you jumping out of a vent.
- To win, kill everyone on the ship until there’s only one crewmate left.
How Violent is Among Us?
Having your kid play a game where the ultimate goal is to kill or be killed might worry some parents. However, there are several things to consider before reaching conclusions:
- While the game’s plot revolves around murder, the violence is cartoonish and mild. The blood is also not graphic or realistic at all.
- The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has given Among Us an Everyone +10 age rating. They say the game has “fantasy violence” and describe the presence of blood in Among Us as “mild.”
- Violence in video games does not translate into vicious behavior in real life in kids, studies suggest.
Which Platforms Is Among Us on?
Among Us was a mobile game at first, being only released on iOS and Android devices in June 2018. But the Innersloth team ported the game to Windows later that year. In two years, the game was also released on Nintendo Switch. And now, it is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. Plus, the game is cross-platform, meaning that your kid will encounter players from all these platforms, which brings us to our next topic.
How Will Other Players Interact with My Kid in Among Us?
As an online multiplayer game, it is inevitable for your kid to encounter strangers while playing the game. Each match can have between 4 to 10 players. The good news is that there is no in-game voice chat function, so the interaction between your child and strangers is minimal. Plus, the in-game text chat feature is only available in short intervals for players to discuss who the impostor is.
However, it is still possible for young people to run into bullies or other problematic individuals. This is where the Among Us’s chat safety gets compromised. Racial slurs, sexist comments, and harassment are all examples of what your child could encounter in the in-game text chat. Furthermore, your kid may use third-party apps like Discord to connect with others through voice chat. Discord is a popular social platform infamous for its inappropriate content for kids under 13.
Benefits of Playing Among Us for Kids
While merely a game, Among Us doesn’t just help your kid burn time. Due to its multiplayer nature, the game may help increase your little one’s social skills by letting them communicate with other players. Plus, the game is all about making logical decisions. So, players may hone their decision-making skills and develop their sense of judgment as they play the game. Besides, the game is an excellent way to entertain your kid.
Is Among Us Safe for Kids?
According to the Among Us’s age rating, Among Us is appropriate for kids above ten. However, parental supervision is required to maximize children’s safety while playing Among Us. The game lacks a voice chat communication feature, so parents don’t have to worry too much. But that doesn’t mean you should let your kid play Among Us fully unsupervised. That’s because Among Us isn’t safe for 7-year-olds or any child younger than 10. While the interaction between players is limited, your child is still exposed to receiving inappropriate messages or requests to move the conversation to another platform like Discord, Zoom, or Skype. Plus, playing games excessively and staring at the screen for too long can be unhealthy for your little one. Here are a few safety measures you can follow to maximize your kid’s safety on Among Us:
Censoring Profanity in Text Chat
No third-party apps can filter inappropriate language used in Among Us’s text chat. However, the game features a Censor Chat option that detects inappropriate messages and automatically censors them. While this tool is far from perfect, it can help parents safeguard their kids against cyberbullying, harassment, etc. To enable the Censor Chat feature, go to settings and look for “Censor Chat.” Make sure it is on.
Setting Screen-Time Restrictions
In the quest to maintain a secure digital environment for your child, implementing robust parental control measures is paramount. Beyond specific game restrictions, parental control apps like Safes offer a comprehensive solution to manage your child’s screen time effectively. By using features such as Safes’s Smart Schedule, parents can not only limit the time spent on games like Among Us but also ensure a healthy balance that guards against the risks of excessive screen exposure. Empower your parenting with a safer digital environment! Sign up now for Safes’ free trial and gain access to advanced parental control features that cover all devices and platforms. Start protecting your child’s digital world – begin your trial today!
When contemplating the safety of your child in the vast digital landscape, it’s essential to extend your protective measures to popular communication platforms like Discord. Alongside dedicated parental control apps, consider leveraging the default controls on various devices your child may use. For iPhone users, our guide on “iPhone parental controls” provides step-by-step instructions, while Android users can refer to our comprehensive “Android parental control guide.” Additionally, Windows users can enhance safety by following “instructions for enabling Windows parental controls.”
Conclusion
The question on every parent’s mind is, “Is Among Us safe for kids?” While the game contains mild, cartoonish violence, it is important to note that the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has designated the game as “Everyone +10,” emphasizing the game’s overall suitability for a younger audience.
Finally, navigating the world of Among Us with your child requires striking a balance between embracing the game’s positive aspects and putting in place effective safety measures. Parents can ensure that their children enjoy the game while remaining safe in the online gaming realm by staying informed and engaged.
