Call of Duty Parent Safety Guide
A practical FrankAwareness.com guide to help parents understand Call of Duty, online multiplayer, voice chat, public lobbies, friend requests, privacy settings, spending controls and safer gaming conversations at home.
What is Call of Duty?
Call of Duty is a popular online shooter game series. Many players use multiplayer modes, squads, parties, voice chat and online matchmaking to play with friends or strangers.
It is fast-paced and competitive, but because it includes open communication, mature themes, public lobbies and in-game purchases, parents should understand the risks before allowing children to play.
Age rating
Call of Duty games are commonly rated PEGI 18 because of realistic violence, weapons, combat, strong language and adult themes.
Tip: Do not rely on “their friends play it” as the safety check. Review the rating, settings and your child’s maturity.
Main risks parents should know
- Voice chat: public lobbies can expose children to strong language, bullying, harassment or adult conversations.
- Stranger contact: players may be matched with people they do not know through squads, parties and public games.
- Moving off-platform: children may be encouraged to continue chats on Discord, Snapchat, WhatsApp or other apps.
- Mature content: the game includes realistic combat, weapons and themes intended for adults.
- Spending: COD Points, battle passes, skins and bundles can lead to unexpected costs.
- Competitive pressure: rankings, wins, loadouts and peer pressure can make children feel pushed to play longer.
Quick safety setup for parents
- Review the age rating and decide whether the game is suitable for your child.
- Limit or disable voice chat where possible.
- Check privacy settings on the Activision account and gaming platform.
- Review friend requests, parties and recent players regularly.
- Set spending controls and remove saved payment details if needed.
- Use console or device parental controls for Xbox, PlayStation or PC.
- Teach your child to block and report anything that feels wrong.
Parental controls
Call of Duty safety settings may involve more than one account. Parents should check the game account, the Activision account and the console or device account being used.
Start here:
Console and platform settings
If your child plays on Xbox, PlayStation or PC, also check the safety settings on that platform. These can control communication, friend requests, purchases, screen time and privacy.
Voice chat and privacy
Voice chat is one of the biggest risks in Call of Duty. Children may hear adult language, arguments, abuse, threats, bullying or inappropriate conversations from strangers.
For younger players, consider turning voice chat off or limiting it to trusted real-life friends only.
Public lobbies and squads
Public lobbies and squad matchmaking can place players with people they do not know. This may include older teens or adults, and conversations can move quickly.
Ask your child who they usually play with, whether they use a headset, and whether anyone has asked them to chat elsewhere.
Spending and COD Points
Call of Duty uses COD Points and may include battle passes, cosmetic bundles, skins and other paid items.
- Remove saved payment details if not needed.
- Use purchase approval where available.
- Set clear spending limits before play.
- Talk about scams, fake giveaways and “free COD Points” links.
Screen time
Call of Duty can be intense and competitive. If it is causing arguments, sleep disruption, mood changes or pressure to keep playing, set clear limits and breaks.
What to say to your child
Try to keep the conversation calm rather than making it feel like an interrogation.
- “Who do you usually play Call of Duty with?”
- “Do you use voice chat when you play?”
- “Has anyone ever asked you to chat somewhere else?”
- “Do you know how to mute, block and report someone?”
- “Has anyone offered you free COD Points or asked for account details?”
- “Can we look at your privacy and chat settings together?”
Red flags to take seriously
- Your child becomes secretive about who they are playing with.
- Someone asks them to move to another app or private chat.
- They receive gifts, COD Points offers or pressure to keep secrets.
- They are asked for photos, personal information or location details.
- They seem upset, angry or withdrawn after playing.
If you believe a child is at immediate risk, contact police or emergency services. In the UK, concerns about online grooming or exploitation can also be reported to CEOP.
Block and report
Make sure your child knows they will not be in trouble for telling you about something uncomfortable. The goal is to help them come to you early.
- Mute or block players who are abusive, sexual, threatening or asking personal questions.
- Report suspicious behaviour using in-game and platform reporting tools.
- Take screenshots where safe and appropriate.
- Do not confront suspected adults yourself. Report concerns properly.
Useful official links
Final parent reminder
Call of Duty is designed for older players and is commonly rated PEGI 18. If older teenagers are playing, the safest setup is a mix of parental controls, open conversations, regular checks and clear rules about strangers, voice chat, spending and moving to other apps.