Policy Positions
Digital Wellness
Digital Wellness
Video games are fun, often educational and, increasingly, therapeutic. Billions of players worldwide enjoy video games as part of a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle. The ability of people around the world to continue to benefit from this technology depends upon policies that foster and celebrate gameplay.
Video games are fun, often educational and, increasingly, therapeutic. More and more people report that video games provide stress relief while creating positive mental stimulation. Medical professionals and health experts now recognize the benefits of gameplay, employing games to achieve positive health outcomes for patients of all ages. The ability of players, students, patients and numerous others around the world to continue to benefit from this technology depends upon policies that foster and celebrate gameplay for the billions of players who enjoy video games as part of a healthy, well-balanced lifestyle.
The video game industry supports digital wellness by providing information and tools for all audiences to make educated, age-appropriate decisions regarding video games. Nearly all video game devices offer parental controls. These tools offer parents and players the ability to efficiently set preferences that are appropriate for their household. These controls enable parents to block video games by age rating category, manage the amount of money their kids can spend playing video games and limit the amount of time their kids can spend playing video games.
In addition, for more than 25 years, the industry has worked through the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) to ensure that consumers—especially parents and caregivers—have the resources, including voluntary ratings, needed to make informed decisions about video games. The effectiveness of these efforts has been praised by the U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
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U.S. Legislative Staff Joined Riot Games Studio Heads for Behind-the-Scenes Discussion of Promoting Positive Behavior
Events /On Wednesday, April 20, 2022, the Entertainment Software Association hosted an invitation-only webinar for Washington, D.C. congressional staff offering a unique behind-the-scenes look at Riot Games with Senior Vice President and Head of Valorant Studio Anna Donlon and Vice President and Head of League of Legends Studio Andrei van…
Lanzan recursos de videojuegos para padres por el Día del Niño en México
Press Releases /La Entertainment Software Association (ESA) anunció hoy nuevos recursos para padres, educadores y cuidadores para comprender y utilizar mejor las herramientas que ayudan a administrar los videojuegos para el Día del Niño en México.
Video Game Resources for Parents Released for Mexico’s Children’s Day
Press Releases /The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) today announced new resources for parents, educators and caregivers to better understand and use tools that help manage video game play for Mexico’s Children’s Day.
Online Safety a Video Game Industry Priority on Safer Internet Day 2022 and Beyond
“Safety is not a competitive issue for the video game industry—it is a shared priority that requires collective action,” Entertainment Software Association (ESA) Senior Vice President & General Counsel Gina Vetere said.
ESA Partnered With National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Family Online Safety Institute and Take This for Online Safety Webinar
Events /On Thursday, December 2, 2021, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) hosted “Chums, Cheaters and Creeps: An Educational Webinar about Keeping Online Play Safe for Everyone,” a virtual event for policymakers and their staffs focusing on online safety, privacy, children’s protection and video games.Featuring Callahan Walsh of the National Center…
Video Game Industry Expands Parental Resources for Spanish-Speaking Families
Press Releases /The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) today announced the launch of a new online Spanish language resource that provides parents and guardians with information and tools to help manage video games their kids play.