This morning, I stumbled across a topic that I initially tried to brush off. Apparently, Minecraft has a user-generated sex mod? Not exactly what I wanted to think about at 7:30 a.m. on a Monday while I was juggling oatmeal, coffee, and the usual complaints from my kids about socks.
Isn’t it enough that 2016 has been filled with its fair share of cringe-worthy moments? Couldn’t one thing remain innocent and untouched?
Sadly, it seems not.
After I dropped the kids off at school, I took a deep breath and decided to search “Minecraft sex mods.” And wow. Just wow.
A flood of results appeared, primarily YouTube videos. It turns out that in the app version of the game, players can download custom modifications that allow for some rather uncomfortable scenarios, including pixelated characters engaging in explicit activities.
I managed to watch just a couple of these clips (okay, maybe just one). I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw a “gangsta” Minecraft character with a bikini-clad figure in the back of a Minecraft brothel. Yes, you read that right.
I’ll spare you the details because I still want to retain some decency here.
Initially, I felt relieved that my 9-year-old, a Minecraft enthusiast, doesn’t use the app version. But then it hit me: he spends countless hours watching Minecraft content on YouTube.
As I browsed through the platform, I noticed that while some videos had age restrictions, others were easily accessible. How simple would it be for my son to accidentally click on one of these inappropriate videos, thinking it was just another Minecraft clip?
I can already hear the chorus of voices telling me, “It’s the INTERNET. What did you expect?” Yes, there are countless questionable materials available online, and it’s naive to think my child wouldn’t come across them.
I often ponder these issues, yet Minecraft has always seemed like a wholesome choice. After all, my son participates in an after-school class that focuses on the educational edition of the game!
Minecraft is about creativity, building, and learning, right? It’s like a digital Lego world where kids can construct castles and care for adorable animals. It gives parents a breather while providing what we thought was quality educational screen time.
Now, it appears that players can visit pixelated establishments for raunchy escapades. Seriously, is nothing sacred anymore?
Once my son returns home, I know I’ll need to have a conversation with him about whether he or his friends have encountered this, um, mod. Luckily, we’ve established a comfortable dialogue about topics like sex in our home, so it shouldn’t be too challenging to broach the subject.
Even so, I’m not quite prepared to hear if he has stumbled upon anything inappropriate.
This situation serves as a wake-up call for me and, I suspect, many parents. The stark reality is that despite all the internet restrictions and site blocks, there’s a good chance that children will encounter explicit content online at some point.
A study published in Pediatrics found that 42% of kids aged 10 to 17 have come across porn online, and of those, 66% indicated that the exposure was unwanted. So it’s not a question of if, but when.
I’m glad we’ve already discussed sex with my tween, but I realize I need to have “the other” talk with him. This includes explaining that some adults think it’s acceptable to share explicit content on the internet and that, while sex is natural for consenting adults, children shouldn’t be exposed to it unintentionally.
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In summary, the emergence of inappropriate content in a game like Minecraft is a concerning reality for parents. As we navigate these challenges, open conversations with our children can help prepare them for the complexities of the internet.