Learn more about some of Play Nintendo's best practices for online interaction in video games.
Certain Nintendo Switch games require a Nintendo Switch Online membership for online play. With a Family Membership, up to eight Nintendo Accounts in a family group can use Nintendo Switch Online services—even if everyone lives under a different roof. You can set restrictions for each supervised account via parental controls.
Visit customer support to learn more about Nintendo Switch Online Family Memberships.
Lesson 1: Set guidelines with parental controls
Take control of what your child can (and can't) do on their system, from accessing the internet to sharing personal information. The Nintendo Switch and Nintendo 3DS family of systems have parental controls that let you set rules for using the system—so you can spend less time worrying and more time having fun.
For more details, check out the crash course on parental controls.
Lesson 2: Keep personal information private
Talk to your kids about how they shouldn’t be sharing online, like their name, address, email address, and phone number. Gamer handles, or online names, shouldn't include any identifying information, such as their age or actual name.
Lesson 3: Get to know their online friends
Online interaction is one of the biggest concerns facing parents today. You can use parental controls to restrict your child's ability to interact with other players online. Encourage your child to tell you if they receive a friend request from an unknown user, or if they notice any suspicious activity between friends.
Lesson 4: Help prevent cyberbullying
If your child is being harassed by other players while playing a Nintendo game online, you can contact customer service and issue a complaint. You can also block users from contacting your child via their system.
Lesson 5: Encourage face-to-face fun with friends
Online gaming is fun, but it's no substitute for real-world friendships. Make sure your kids and their friends are maintaining social ties.
Lesson 6: Find the Nintendo Switch Online membership that fits your family
Enhance your games with features like online play, cloud saves, and more with an Individual or Family membership to Nintendo Switch Online or Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack. Check out the Nintendo Switch Online Crash Course to learn more about the benefits that can level up your family’s gaming experience.