Creating Safer Spaces for our Youngest Players with Save the Children

PlayStation is designed to be a safe space that encourages human connection, shared experiences, and forged friendships. While the majority of interactions on PlayStation Network reflect our commitment to a respectful and safe environment, we continuously work to uphold these standards and address the occasional behavior that doesn’t align with our Code of Conduct. To provide support at an early stage, Sony Interactive Entertainment is collaborating with Save the Children Sweden to support child players who have either experienced or caused interactions that breach our Code of Conduct. This joint pilot program with Save the Children Sweden reflects our shared commitment to safe and enriching online environments where children can explore the joys of gaming while feeling supported and protected. 

This initiative launches today as a pilot program in Sweden, Denmark, and the United Kingdom, focusing on child players who are affected by Code of Conduct violations¹. In these pilot countries, every child account that reports a violation or is confirmed by skilled moderators to have violated our Code of Conduct will receive an email from PlayStation Safety guiding them to resources where they can talk about their experience. The purpose of these resources is to provide support to child players who need it, whether they reported a Code of Conduct violation or caused one. 

The resources provided in this pilot are organized by Save the Children Sweden, in coordination with reputable institutions such as BRIS in Sweden, Red Barnet in Denmark, and Victim Support in the United Kingdom.  The support services are funded by the Swedish Postcode Lottery. 

“All children have the right to feel safe online and in the gaming world. Yet, that’s not always the reality. To make the gaming world a safer place for children, we need to work in new and innovative ways — this collaboration is one such example”, says Sara Damber, National Director, Save the Children Sweden.

Supporting Respectful Behavior with Security in Mind 

We believe that digital civility is learned, and that our youngest players are most likely to benefit from supportive experiences when given the opportunity. Participation in these resources is voluntary and is intended to complement, not replace, the Code of Conduct. Warnings and suspensions related to Code of Conduct violations will still apply as part of our ongoing efforts to keep our community safe and welcoming for everyone.

Any support provided through Save the Children Sweden’s services is confidential and subject to applicable terms set out by Save the Children Sweden. To protect the privacy of everyone involved, no identifiable player information will be shared between Sony Interactive, Save the Children, or the participating service providers.

We are excited to have Save the Children Sweden, BRIS, Red Barnet, and Victim Support join us in this exciting new effort to protect and empower younger players. By taking this approach to online experiences for children, we can help educate our young players and actively foster safer, more inclusive spaces for everyone.

Together with Save the Children Sweden, we look forward to contributing to a better online world.