Minecraft is a wildly popular video game that fosters creativity and problem-solving. Players dig (or mine) and build (or craft) different kinds of 3D blocks across varying environments and terrains. It’s often described as a virtual version of LEGOS, but with various modes and chat features. There are some dangers parents should be aware of.

In this SmartSocial.com app guide, parents and educators will learn the basics of Minecraft. Readers will also discover the educational benefits, dangers, and ways to make the game safer for younger players.

Minecraft overview video for parents

Minecraft safety settings video

What is Minecraft?

Explore dehydrated deserts, bubbling bayous, frozen tundra, and more in an infinite world that you help create! Play with your friends and embark on adventures complete with beautiful landscapes and sudden peril. - Minecraft Marketing

• Players explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things within the Minecraft world
• It is a "sandbox" style game, meaning it has a great deal of creativity with little to no objectives
• It's designed for solo play or online as a multiplayer game with friends or strangers
• There are several different game modes and levels of difficulty

Is Minecraft safe for kids?

• There are many ways to customize gameplay with in-app purchases
• Many players look on the internet for 3rd party skins, maps, and mods. Those downloads could contain malware
• Minecraft has chat for online multiplayer games and there are many Minecraft servers where students can play with others unless disabled in settings
• Since Minecraft is an open-ended game with limitless possibilities, it can be easy for players to lose track of time and spend a lot of time playing
• Minecraft does not show blood, but there is cartoonish violence where players can kill animals or other players in multiplayer mode
• Watching other people play Minecraft on YouTube and YouTube Kids is big business.  Videos related to the game have been viewed more than 1 trillion times (Source: YouTube)
• Players can also live stream their games or watch other people play Minecraft on 3rd party apps, like Twitch or Discord
• Parents should know that videos and live streams of other players could contain explicit language and adult ideas

Education benefits of Minecraft

• Gameplay involves coding and problem-solving skills
• Players must use memorization skills
• Children can express creativity and build a team with their friends
• Reading and writing is part of the game since players need to have a good understanding of the written guides that appear on-screen and must read and write messages back and forth if they’re playing on a team with friends
• Players learn how to manage resources by calculating how much things cost and also the time required for certain tasks

What can parents do?

• Play the game with your students to learn about the game first-hand and spend time doing what your kids want to do  (Here are some gameplay tutorials and Minecraft lingo here)

• The safest way for younger kids to play Minecraft is in single-player Creative mode in the Peaceful setting. They will be playing by themselves, without joining a server, and without violence or communication with other players. If you plan to let your child play online multiplayer games, research safe Minecraft server options
• Set up parental controls using a Microsoft account through Microsoft Family or through an individual gaming consoles (Nintendo Switch, Playstation)
• After the Microsoft account is created, add your family members, and set up a Xbox Live account for your student
• The Xbox Live account will allow parental controls as long as your student is logging in with their Microsoft account and will work across most gaming platforms
• ~Minecraft multiplayer servers
• ~Cross-platform play
• ~Sharing and streaming permissions
• ~Adding friends
• ~Communication methods
• ~In-game purchases
• Talk with your children about cyberbullying and grooming and let them know they can always come to you for help
• Explain the dangers of giving out personal information to a stranger
• Discuss spending limits for in-app purchases in the Minecraft Marketplace and through 3rd party sellers
• Consider setting time limits for gameplay and encourage a healthy balance of online and/or offline activities
• Learn more about the pros and cons of video games in our SmartSocial resource: Pros and Cons of Video Games for Families

Additional information about Minecraft

What is Minecraft rated?

• Four versions of the game exist and have different costs

• ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board): E (Everyone 10+)‍
• App Store: 9+‍
• Google Play: 10+‍
• Windows, Mac, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Wii U, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, iOS, Android, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Game Pass‍
• Official website: Minecraft.net (Developed by Mojang Studios and headquartered in Sweden, Owned by Microsoft)
• Anyone can play the classic version of Minecraft for free at Classic.Minecraft.net‍
• Privacy Policy‍
• Terms of Use‍
• Safety Center

Minecraft offers different playable game modes

1. Creative Mode - This is the safest mode for younger players and is focused on creative play. Players have access to unlimited resources, can fly, and won’t be attacked
2. Survival Mode - In this mode, players must explore the world and mine resources to feed, house, and protect themselves from other creatures
3. Hardcore Mode - This is like Survival Mode, but players only have one chance to survive. The game ends when the player dies and the entire world they created is permanently deleted
4. Adventure Mode - This mode lets players explore a map but can't destroy blocks without using the appropriate tools (like in Creative mode)
5. Spectator Mode - This mode lets players observe worlds without interacting

Different versions of Minecraft

• Minecraft
• Minecraft Dungeons
• Minecraft: Education Edition - educational version used in classrooms
• Minecraft Legends

 Java and bedrock editions

• Java Edition is available on a personal computer (Windows or Mac)
• Bedrock Edition (Minecraft) is played on Windows, Mac or on a console (like Nintendo Switch or Xbox)
• New Minecraft purchases for Windows PC now include both the Java edition and the Bedrock edition for one price

Why is Minecraft so popular with kids?

• Minecraft has more than 141 million active monthly players (Source: Statista)
• Players can create anything from towns to roller coasters to castles
• There are no rules to the game and the possibilities are endless
• Many kids enjoy playing with their friends, helping each other build new things, and talking about it even when they’re not playing
• Minecraft is now a huge part of popular culture and Minecraft toys and apparel are everywhere

What other parents say about  Minecraft

This game is a wonderful single-player, the only difficulty is when the child decided to go online. The child will be exposed to inappropriate phrases, pictures, sounds and gametags. Some online users circumvent the name restrictions and/or dress up as bannable costumes. Some online gaming servers involve drawing an object, and instead of drawing the object some users draw offensive objects that the child shouldn't be looking at. - Parent, Common Sense Media

You may think it's unrealistic, but what really matters is if it's fun, and my kids love it! They wanted me to try it out, and honestly, I liked it too! - Parent, Common Sense Media

Minecraft in the news

From smaller-scale issues like civil planning through to natural disaster preparation, these lessons enable students to think critically and use visual representations in Minecraft to better understand the reality of climate change. - CNET

Games are just one type of tool traffickers use to gain the trust of their victim...That’s a key thing they’re not using the game itself to exploit the victim. What they are trying to do, through the game, is gain the trust of the victim. - FOX 29

Conclusion

Minecraft continues to reign as one of the most popular online games of all time. Young and novice players can safely experience Minecraft and explore randomly generated worlds by playing the solo version, but eventually, many kids will ask to play with friends or on multiplayer servers. Since multiplayer gaming comes with risks, it’s essential for parents to stay involved and remain aware of what their kids can access through online play.

Additional Resources

Watch or listen to our Roblox and Minecraft Parent Safety discussion with Josh and Beth

VIP course preview: "Pros and Cons of Video Games for Families"

Click here to watch the entire course for VIP members