Youth Esports Safety Initiatives

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) and the British Esports Association have joined forces to host the first-of-its-kind Safeguarding in Esports Conference, aimed at raising awareness and promoting best practices for online safety and protection of young people in the esports industry. The conference, which will take place on February 9th, 2024, at the Confetti X esports arena in Nottingham, will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops from experts in both traditional sports and esports, as well as representatives from the NSPCC and the Child Protection in Sport Unit. The event is open to anyone interested in learning more about the challenges and opportunities of safeguarding in esports, including educators, parents, influencers, athletes, coaches, and organizations.

The Safeguarding in Esports Conference is part of the NSPCC's Game Safe Festival, a week-long series of events and activities that aim to support better gaming habits and help children be safer in online environments. The Festival, which runs from February 5th to 11th, 2024, is supported by several partners, such as EPIC.LAN, NSE, and SAF, and will include an EA FC tournament called the Game Safe Cup, as well as online resources and guidance for parents and children. The NSPCC and British Esports hope that the conference and the festival will help to establish a new standard for safeguarding in esports and gaming, and foster a positive and healthy culture for all participants.

Image Credit: British Esports, NSPCC