In preparation for Safer Internet Day, Minecraft Education has released CyberSafe: Good Game. This is a new world designed to equip young players with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate online spaces safely and responsibly. This is tailored for both Minecraft Education users and Minecraft Bedrock players, and this interactive adventure teaches valuable lessons about digital citizenship through engaging gameplay and practical scenarios.
The story of Cyberspace: Good Game unfolds as a group of friends plan their summer break. Their gaming plans disrupted by one friend’s negative experiences with online bullies. To support their friend and promote a positive online environment, players embark on a quest to create a “Good Game Guide,” a personalized handbook filled with strategies for handling common online challenges.
It is exactly what you’d think it would be, and that’s why we’re sure it will make its way to classes in schools. This is a great way to teach kids about online safety without doing it yourself, making it a great tool for teachers. The adventure gives players scenarios to overcome, like cyberbullying, excessive distractions, and inappropriate language. In each situation, they’re presented with different tools and responses, such as ignoring, correcting, muting, or reporting the behavior.
After reflecting on their choices, players add entries to their Good Game Guide. It honestly sounds like a bad after-school special in Minecraft form.
“Good Game empowers players to be agents of their own safety journey. In a world that needs more collaboration and dialogue, fostering healthy and respectful online communities is crucial.”
Carlos Figueiredo, Director of Player Safety at Minecraft
Research from Microsoft’s Global Online Safety Survey reveals that 87% of children surveyed confide in their parents about online risks. That’s pretty awesome because the adults today were kids in the early days of the internet. That was prime time for liveleaks and many other things I will never forget. (Please give me back my RuneScape account, you scammers!)
The article from Xbox Wire that announced this also references a report from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The report emphasizes the benefits of starting conversations about online safety early and tailoring discussions to children’s understanding of online spaces. It’s an interesting take on cyber safety, and Minecraft is probably the best way to do it.
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