Among Us Guide for Parents

Among Us is an online game where a group of players work together in a cartoon-style space setting to complete simple tasks. In the game, one or more players are secretly assigned the role of “imposter,” whose goal is to disrupt the group without being caught. Players regularly stop the game to talk about what they have seen and decide who they think the imposter might be. The game is not graphic or realistic, but it does involve communicating with other players through chat. For parents, it’s helpful to know that this interaction can include both friends and strangers online.

Among Us Parent Video

What is Among Us?

• Among Us is an online multiplayer game where players work together in a cartoon-style space setting while trying to figure out who in the group is secretly sabotaging the mission
• Players are placed on maps such as a spaceship, space headquarters, or planetary base, and are assigned a character role at the start of the game
• The two main teams are Crewmates and Impostors. Crewmates try to complete tasks and identify suspicious behavior, while Impostors secretly attempt to eliminate players and sabotage the mission without being discovered
• The goal of the Impostors is to kill Crewmates, frame innocent bystanders, and sabotage tasks while pretending to be part of the crew
• The game can be played with 4–15 players, and typically, 1–3 players are assigned as Impostors
• Players can join public games with strangers, create private games with friends using a passcode, or play locally with others on the same Wi-Fi network
• Friends can also be invited by sharing a unique friend code within the game

What is Among Us rated?

Additional info: Owned by InnerSloth LLC, Based in USA

Apple App Store Rating: 9+

Google Play Rating: E (Everyone 10+)

Available on: iOS and Android devices,PC Version on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, Playstation, Windows, and Mac

Privacy Policy

Terms of Use

Among Us in the news

[One player] says his hacks have allowed him to kill players at will, impersonate other players, teleport around the game, walk through walls, supercharge his character's speed, control the movements of other players, obtain paid in-game items for free, ban players without being the host, or remove a ban on himself. - Wired

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The game revolves around murder, so obviously it can be violent at times... There's an unsupervised chat component.... There's an option to pay for upgrades. - Popsugar

Another mother issued a similar warning on Facebook in November after her child received a message from a user asking “wanna be my boy” and “how old are you?" - 7 News

Why do students want to play Among Us?

• Among Us has become a piece of pop culture for kids, with the online game, merchandise, and references to the game in everyday conversation
• Students connect with their friends online and play the game together in groups
• Kids enjoy cross-platform play across gaming consoles (Nintendo Switch, Xbox, PlayStation), PCs, and other smart devices
• Among Us is often a topic of discussion among students, even when they are not playing
• Students enjoy watching others play Among Us on third-party apps such as Discord and Twitch, and viewing Among Us videos on YouTube
• Among Us is free on all devices

What should parents know?

• Players in Among Us can communicate through text chat during discussions, which means teens may interact with people they do not know online
• Because the chat is created by other players, kids may sometimes see inappropriate language or rude comments from strangers in the game
• The game allows players to join public matches or private games using a code, and when teens enter public games, they may be playing with people they do not know
• The fast-paced rounds and social nature of the game can make it very engaging, which may lead some teens to spend more time playing than parents expect
• Since the game involves accusing other players of being the “Impostor,” some players may become rude, blame others aggressively, or engage in negative behavior toward other players
• While the game itself is inexpensive or free on mobile devices, it does offer optional in-game purchases for cosmetic items such as skins and pets 
• Users are able to create their own usernames, which means teens might occasionally see usernames that are inappropriate or offensive

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One player’s warning about bullying on Among Us:

What can parents do? 

• Download Among Us and play it before deciding if you want your kids to use it
• Play the game together as a family to understand how it works, what your kids like about it, what they do when they are playing, and why it’s such a popular game to play
• Set up parental controls through the Innersloth Parent Portal
  
  • Turn off the “Free-Text Chat” option so that the student can only use computer generated chat terms
• There is no way to disable public gameplay, but you can set rules and teach your kids tips to avoid chatting with strangers on Among Us:
  
  • Play only local games with people who share the same local Wi-Fi network
  • Create or join a private online game and only share the code with people you know in real life
  • Turn on “Censor Chat” by clicking the gear icon, which will show **** instead of profanity

• If playing the public option of Among Us, remind students to never share their contact information (including usernames for other apps) with other random players
• Agree as a family to never follow a stranger off Among Us to a different chat app or service like Discord or Twitch
• Discuss the differences between trying to trick or deceive someone while playing Among Us versus lying in real life

Key terms/slang about Among Us

• Crewmate - The majority of the players in the game that are completing tasks and attempting to discover the identity of the Impostor
• Imposter - 1-3 players whose goal is to kill as many players without being detected
• Sus - Suspicious
• Emergency Meeting - Meetings are called when a player wants to discuss suspicious behavior with other Crewmates and vote on the Imposter‍
• Vent - Sections of the game where the Imposter can move undetected from one location to another undetected

Conclusion

Among Us can be a fun way for kids to connect with friends, practice teamwork, and enjoy problem-solving. However, because the game often involves online chat with other players, it’s important for parents to stay aware of how their child is playing and with whom they are interacting. Setting clear expectations about online communication and encouraging kids to play with people they know can help keep the experience positive and age-appropriate.

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