INTERVIEW
MOBILY ESPORTS
IT’S ALL IN THE GAME
Online gaming has grown exponentially across the Middle East region since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, CNME Editor Mark Forker, explores what the gaming industry needs to do to reduce the risk for children gaming online in a candid conversation with Loui Kofiah, Brand Communication Director at Mobily, and Mobily eSports.
A
28
report commissioned
percentage regarding the risk is
or by grooming, by trying to be
by Mobily eSports
lack of understanding. It is not
friendly with that kid and then
unearthed some
really the case that the gaming
moving that kid away from the
alarming statistics and
world is overtly risky, but instead
public chatroom into a private
figures and clearly illustrated that
it is more about the lack of
one,” said Kofiah.
the current COVID-19 climate had
understanding that is involved
significantly heightened the risk
when it comes to gaming. One
not direct blame towards the
for children gaming online.
of the major things we noticed
kids - and stressed that they are
with many people was that they
outspoken and exploratory by
jumped off the page from
classed video games as ‘kids only’
nature, and view everybody as
the comprehensive research
territory – although most video
their friend.
conducted by Mobily eSports was
games are targeted for teens and
that 74% of parents were worried
older,” said Kofiah.
Some key numbers that
The technology with ProtectSet is quite simple, but it is the way that it has been packaged that makes it a special product
about the safety of their children
“Video games and the online space in my opinion is all about mutual trust. If you trust your
online, whilst 46% said they were
a generational aspect at play
kid to have an open channel
unsure as to who their children
when it came to gaming from
with you then they will come
were gaming with online.
many parents, who were blissfully
back to you and tell you about
unaware that all these video
their experiences, but usually
Internet Watch Foundation
games have public lobbies that
the way you react either opens
noted a monthly record of
enables you to connect with other
the door for further dialogue,
15,000 reports of online child
users online.
or completely closes the door.
In September 2020, the
abuse in that month alone – and
“Back in the day when gaming
Parents need to be cognisant of
the NSPCC found 1,220 online
was in its infancy, there was a
the fact that kids don’t know they
grooming offences against
clear distinction between which
are doing anything wrong, so they
children had occurred in the first
games are offline and which
could be providing information
three months of lockdown.
games are online. However,
willingly regarding their
nowadays almost every single
exchanges online without you
eSports, is an avid gamer, and
game, even the mobile games
even asking them,” said Kofiah.
understands the environment,
have public chat lobbies, and what
but he is also a parent - and
happens is that there is a lot of
eSports also revealed that
he offered his summary on the
targeting that occurs, either by
in many instances research
current situation.
bullying or harassment once you
indicated that many of these
identify there is a kid in the lobby,
online predators adopt a
Loui Kofiah, Director at Mobily
“I think a large chunk of the
APRIL 2021
He pointed out that there was
Kofiah declared how he does
The Director at Mobily
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