Prioritizing Innovation and Protection 

As we continue to celebrate the 30th anniversary of PlayStation, Sony Interactive Entertainment’s commitment to uphold a decades-long history of protecting players is unwavering. Providing a safe gaming environment is not only the right thing to do, but also a business imperative. Our company leads many initiatives to prioritize this mission and a constant focus on innovating our products and services is at the core.  

The Family Online Safety Institute 

Sony Interactive Entertainment shares FOSI’s mission of working together to make the online world safer for kids and their families. This organization provides a venue for industry leaders who share that philosophy to come together, share ideas and jointly move efforts forward. Through our membership with FOSI, we’re proud to collaborate, not only with other industry players, but with leaders in government, non-profits, and academia.

The theme of FOSI’s recent summit, From Protection to Empowerment, aligns with PlayStation Network’s policies, practices, and family management tools to empower caretakers to play a proactive role in a child’s gaming experience. I was thrilled to participate in a panel this year to highlight the work of our cross-functional safety team in this constantly evolving space. Here’s a rundown of some of the topics I shared in the talk. 

The Three Pillars of Safety 

At the core of Sony Interactive Entertainment’s online safety philosophy are three fundamental pillars:  

  • Control Your Experience  
  • Shield Our Players  
  • Enforce Our Standards 

Control Your Experience 

As a parent myself, I recognize the challenges that we can face in mastering parental control options. Sony Interactive Entertainment has long focused on making these controls accessible and easy to use. According to data from our ratings board in the US and Canada, the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), 86% of U.S. parents say they use at least one parental control setting on a gaming device, third-party app, or an ISP. We offer a variety of options that empower parents, including: 

  • Limiting the amount of playtime kids spend on their PlayStation console 
  • Restricting online communication with other users 
  • Setting spending limits
  • Setting age restrictions by age rating category through ratings like the ESRB
  • Instituting password and PIN parental controls to prevent children from circumventing safety settings 
  • Tools are set by default to strongest setting based on child’s age 

In addition, the PlayStation App allows parents to manage these controls remotely, ensuring safety settings are maintained even when on the move. We seek to always educate parents through device setup guides and aim to meet parents where they are, through various tools and educational channels including our own PlayStation Safety for parents webpage.  

Shield Our Players 

With 30 years of technological innovation under our belt, we have taken a proactive approach in working to protect players from objectionable content.

Notably, Sony Interactive Entertainment was a leader in introducing voice chat reporting on the PlayStation 5 console. This feature allows users to submit short clips of recent voice chat conversations to our moderation team if they believe another player has violated our Code of Conduct. 

Additionally, our policy against hate speech, developed in partnership with internal employee network groups, coupled with innovative proactive detection technology, aims to promote a safe and joyful experience on the PlayStation Network.  

Enforce Our Standards 

I think it’s important to note that Sony Interactive Entertainment employs skilled moderators to ensure players adhere to our Code of Conduct. With a sliding scale of consequences, from suspending communications on PSN to permanently suspending a player’s console from connecting with PlayStation Network for rare but egregious conduct, we differentiate ourselves from other online services. The primary goal is to educate players and encourage voluntary compliance, balancing education with enforcement action to safeguard the community. 

The Positive Impact of Gaming 

There is clear research: Gaming can have a positive impact on mental health and cognitive skills. Research shows that video games can relieve stress, build connections, and enhance well-being. According to the ESA, nearly 80% of gamers report that they play games to bring them joy, provide mental stimulation, and relieve stress. The same research shows that the majority of gamers play together with others, whether it be online or in person. Our company remains committed to responsible video game play and the well-being of our players. We continue to make improvements and enhance features available on PlayStation Network aligned to our three safety pillars. To further provide transparency with our online safety activities, we recently released our first PlayStation Safety report.  

Through our work with FOSI, in the past and into the future, we’re committed to being on the forefront of online safety innovation and sharing our legacy of thought leadership. By prioritizing player protection, fostering belonging, and promoting the positive aspects of gaming, Sony Interactive Entertainment continues to lead the industry in creating a safe and enjoyable gaming environment for all.