RO

Apps

Steam

Medium-high risk

The world's largest PC gaming platform — with adult content accessible via a checkbox, unmoderated community forums, and a thriving scam ecosystem targeting young players.

Start here — 3 things to do today

  1. 1

    Enable Steam Family Controls

    Set the parental PIN from a parent account before the child starts browsing the store or adding friends.

  2. 2

    Block Steam Community access

    Turn off Steam Community and Online Features because those are the highest-risk surfaces and children do not need them to play local games.

  3. 3

    Remove saved payment methods

    Delete stored cards and use gift cards or wallet credit instead so spending stays inside a fixed budget.

What parents worry about most

Steam's adult content toggle is a checkbox that any child can tick. There is no technical barrier between a child's account and explicit content — only a yes or no prompt they can answer themselves.

The one thing to do right now

The Steam Parental PIN and the removal of saved payment methods are the two controls that matter most. Set the PIN first because it locks purchasing and Community access independently of anything else.

Risk level

LowMediumHighCritical

Age rating

13+ for accounts

Users

The largest PC gaming platform

Platform

PC, Mac, Linux, Mobile companion app

Age recommendation

Treat adult content access as open until Family Controls are enabled

Checkbox birthdate only

Adult content gate

Largely unmoderated

Community forums

Young players are primary targets

Scam targeting

Sales, bundles, limited-time offers

Spending triggers

Warning signs

Warning signs to know

Adult and violent game content accessible via false birthdate

High

Steam's adult content filter requires only clicking I am over 18 to bypass. There is no verification. Explicitly sexual games are available in the same store a 10-year-old can browse.

Steam Community forums contain unmoderated content

High

Game discussion boards, community hubs, and Workshop comments contain adult content, hate speech, extremist rhetoric, and contact attempts. These are not separated from the core game experience.

Trading and marketplace scams specifically target young players

High

Fake item trade offers, Steam Support impersonation, and phishing links shared in game chat or Community are specifically engineered to target young players who do not recognise the patterns. Account takeover and item theft are common.

Sale mechanics and bundle design drive compulsive spending

Medium

Steam sales like Summer Sale and Winter Sale create artificial urgency. Children with access to stored payment methods regularly spend significant amounts during sale events without fully registering the real-money cost.

Friend requests from strangers in multiplayer games

Medium

Players from shared game lobbies can send friend requests. Strangers on a child's friend list can then message them, see their game activity, and invite them to other games.

Step-by-step guide

Complete step-by-step guide

  1. 1

    Set up Steam Family Controls from a parent account

    On your own Steam account go to Steam menu → Settings → Family → Manage → enable Family View and set a PIN. This controls what the child's account can access on the same machine. Alternatively, go to store.steampowered.com/parental from the child's account and set parental controls directly.

  2. 2

    Block Steam Community and forums entirely

    In Family View or Parental Controls, uncheck Online Features and Steam Community access. These are the highest-risk areas and children do not need them to play games.

  3. 3

    Remove all saved payment methods from their account

    Open Steam → account name → Account Details → remove all payment methods. Establish a gift card system by buying Steam Wallet cards with a set monthly value so they keep autonomy within a fixed budget.

  4. 4

    Review the Friends list together

    Open Steam → profile → Friends and remove anyone they cannot identify by name from real life or from a confirmed mutual gaming context.

  5. 5

    Restrict new game installations using Family View

    In Family View settings, require the PIN for any new game launch. That means you review any game before it is played for the first time.

  6. 6

    Check installed games against their age ratings

    Open the Library, right-click any game, then open its store page to check the PEGI or ESRB rating. Games above the child's age should be discussed, not ignored.