Smart Social Podcast: Keeping students safe so they can Shine Online
Among Us: Do your kids play?
Episode Summary
The Among Us app is all the rage! But what exactly is this online multiplayer game and is it safe for kids? SmartSocial.com Founder Josh Ochs explains everything parents and educators should know about Among Us.
Episode Notes
Read SmartSocial.com's Among Us App Guide.
What is the Among Us app?
- It’s a social deduction game, like Clue and Werewolf, where players attempt to uncover each other’s hidden role or team allegiance
- Among Us is played online with 4-10 friends or strangers
- It became extremely popular during the pandemic when TikTok influencers and YouTube gamers posting videos of themselves playing
- The Among Us app is free on iOS and Android devices
- It costs $4.99 to buy the PC version on Steam
Where is the Among Us app available?
Who can play?
- There is no age verification required to download or play the game
- Anyone can join a public game with random strangers or create/join a passcode-protected local game with friends
How do you play Among Us?
- The app designates 1-3 players as “imposters” and the rest as “crewmates”
- Crewmates are assigned tasks to complete in different rooms of the spaceship, sky headquarters, or planet base
- The goal is to discover which crewmate is “an impostor bent on killing everyone!”
- Votes are taken and emergency meetings are called (in the chatbox) where players discuss suspicious behavior and report each time a body is discovered
- Players win by completing all tasks or by discovering and voting off the impostor
What should parents know?
- Chats in Among Us are unmoderated but can be censored for profanity (in the game’s settings)
- Players create their own usernames which could include racist, sexist, or homophobic language
- Some players may ask to connect on another platform, like Discord, where they can voice or video chat
- Imposters kill other players during the game. The graphics are very cartoonish, but parents should be aware that weapons and blood are depicted on screen
- In-app upgrades are available, ranging from $.99 to $2.99
- The app collects data to use for advertisements and video ads play after games unless you pay $1.99 to remove them
How can parents protect their kids on the Among Us app? Get some safety tips in SmartSocial.com's Among Us App Guide.
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