Ukie and its membership releasing lesson plans, content for parents and promoting safe online play for this year’s Safer Internet Day
February 8, 2022
[This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Game Developer and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press]
Author: Ukie
08 February 2022
EMBARGOED - Tuesday 8th February, 00:01am
The UK games industry has come together to back Safer Internet Day by promoting a range of content and activities aimed at supporting safe online play.
The theme for this year’s Safer Internet Day is ‘All fun and games? Exploring respect and relationships online.’
It aims to explore the way that young people shape the interactive entertainment spaces that they are part of and help celebrate the role that young people have in creating a safer internet through the content they make or interactions they have online – including in games.
Ukie has become a partner of Safer Internet Day and is supporting the initiative this year through the following ways:
Ukie’s Digital Schoolhouse, together with Nintendo UK, has collaborated with SafeToNet and Computing At School (CAS) for its Safer Internet Day Schools Competition to encourage children to come up with the next great game idea that has safety at the heart of the experience.
The programme has also teamed up with Lloyds Bank to launch a range of lesson plans to help young people understand how to avoid the risks of financial harm online with the support of the Ukie backed SHIELD initiative.
Ukie’s responsible play site www.askaboutgames.com is hosting content from Ubisoft’s Customer Relationship Centre (CRC) team providing parents and carers with advice on how to watch out for phishing schemes in games as part of the organisation’s Get Smart About PLAY campaign. The CRC team, based in Newcastle, UK. handles Player Interactions, Community Management and Player Experience for Ubisoft across the globe.
The Ukie team has also supported a range of events aimed at promoting Safer Internet Day, including Catch-22’s event exploring the intersection between playing online games and developing skills in the workplace.
In addition to these activities, Ukie’s Education programmes and a range of members will also be promoting activities of their own or messaging from the Safer Internet Centre to help show its support for the day.
The industry’s support comes ahead of its Westminster Games Week event in March 2022, which will include a day dedicated to fostering fun and sensible play in line with the messages of Safer Internet Day.
“We’re pleased to back Safer Internet Day and its positive efforts to empower young people,” commented Dr Jo Twist OBE, CEO of Ukie. “We know from research that young people who play games online with friends are better equipped to navigate the digital world safely and we’re looking forward to showing how much the games industry cares about supporting young people in the digital world.”
For more information about safe and sensible play, head to www.askaboutgames.com for more information.
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Notes to editor
Ukie has three spokespeople available to discuss the topics explored on Safer Internet Day.
Dr Jo Twist OBE is the CEO of Ukie and is able to speak about the work that the industry does on a wider basis to support fun and responsible play, both online and offline.
Shanelia Saaed is the Programme Director of Digital Schoolhouse and a former teacher, who is able to give a perspective on the games industry’s work in the classroom.
Andy Robertson is the editor of www.askaboutgames.com and a family games expert. He is able to provide advice to parents about managing online play, including how to manage safety controls and pick great games.
If you would like to approach us for comment on a piece or a broadcast opportunity, please contact George Osborn at [email protected].
About Ukie
Ukie is a not for profit trade body that represents the UK games and interactive entertainment industry. Its mission is to make the UK into the best place to make, sell and play games in the world.
It represents over 500 businesses working across the UK, including game developers, publishers, platforms and service providers. It supports companies through business support programmes, political engagement, speaking with the media on behalf of the sector and running education initiatives to boost the industry talent pipeline.
The organisation also supports and manages key industry responsibility campaigns such as www.askaboutgames.com and the Get Smart About P.L.A.Y. parental outreach campaign.
Website: www.ukie.org.uk.
Contact: [email protected]
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