p>How does Minecraft work and is it safe for children? it for children? Here's everything you need know.
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p>Minecraft is a virtual "sandbox game. You can design your own virtual worlds or experiences making use of resources or building blocks. While you'll need begin with the basics and then move onto more complex resources, you will eventually be able to create your world any way you'd like.
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p>While the price ranges may vary depending on which platform you use, Minecraft will never cost more than PS25. This price includes all mods (community-made improvements to a game) as well as skins (aesthetic enhancements to a character). You can play Minecraft on smartphones, computers tablet, XBox, Nintendo Switch or Playstation.
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p>You can play in either a single-player or multiplayer mode. In the multiplayer mode players collaborate to create their Minecraft world.
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p>Why is it so popular?
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p>Minecraft is a free-form game. There aren't any rules or goals. Players are free to create and explore as they please. It's often compared to virtual Lego.
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p>This gives Minecraft fans plenty of choice in the way they play. You can create a fantasy world from scratch or create one from scratch. You can also battle villains and find adventure.
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p>It can be played at any level. In a lot of popular games, you must have some level of skill to move on to the next difficulty. This can be a challenge for younger youngsters who may not have the capabilities or the time required to make real progress in a game. Minecraft allows children to create their own adventure at every level.
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p>What are the things parents should be aware of?
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p>Age restrictions
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p>Different versions of Minecraft have different age limits Some mods have more violence than others. Keep in mind that Minecraft provides in-game chat. The age ranges vary from 7+ to 13+.
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p>Minecraft's standard terms and conditions stipulate that children who are younger than 13 years old must have parental consent to play. Children younger than 13 can play Minecraft in the UK without parental consent. However, it is not illegal. https://twitsoc.com/ </p>
p>Despite the age restriction, Minecraft is very popular with children in primary school. The game isn't inappropriate for children.
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p>Chat functions
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p>There are two kinds of chat in Minecraft: Realms and Server chats. Realm chat is hosted by the game developers, Mojang and moderated by Mojang. They moderate it. Server chat is setup by the players themselves. Usually, players invite their friends to join their Minecraft server and chat. However certain players provide an invitation to anyone to join.
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p>Inform children about the dangers associated with talking to people they don't know online.
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p>Be aware that some players may be chatting on Discord, a different chat platform with different security settings. Make sure children aren't logging onto other platforms to chat with others.
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p>Chat features allow children to communicate with others who share similar interests in gaming. However, there is no way of verifying who these people could be. We recommend that children under the age of 5 not communicate with other players via chat rooms in-game unless they know them.
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p>It is also important that children do not give out any personal information, or transfer their conversations to other online areas that could be considered to be private.
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p>YouTube videos on Minecraft
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p>A lot of Minecraft users view fan-created YouTube videos to enhance their skills and learn new techniques.
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p>Many of them are suitable for children of all ages. Minecraft does not have any particular graphic content, however some of the videos feature spiders, monsters, trolls and zombies, which some kids might find frightening. Some videos contain explicit or sexually explicit commentary, while others encourage bullying. Take a look at these videos to determine whether you feel they're appropriate for your needs.
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p>You can try searching for 'profanity-free Minecraft servers'. Even then, it's worth checking out the videos before young children watch them.
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p>You can also turn on YouTube's Safety Mode to block content that is not appropriate for children.
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p>Listen to Parent Zone's podcast, Tech Shock.
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p>Reporting functions
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p>Minecraft currently does not offer an instant "report" function. Your child should be aware when joining a server. Your child may be exposed to insulting language and rude remarks when playing with someone older than them. However, Minecraft do reserve the right to ban any player if they break the rules and conditions.
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p>You can complain about players by going to Minecraft's helpdesk and making a complaint. This is something that an adult may prefer to do, rather than an infant. It's a little complicated.
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p>You can report any user who violates the rules to a moderator, who can ban them.
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p>Have you noticed something that doesn't appear exactly right? You can email librarian@parentzone.org.uk to submit comments and feedback.
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