Wii Parents Guide Tutorial - Parental Control Settings

Do you have a Wii? More importantly,

do your kids use your Wii?

Even more importantly, do you monitor how it’s being used?

I came across an excellent post about Kids and Wii Friend Codes; to wit:

… There are a lot of websites where people post their Wii friend codes in order to find Wii friends. After two people exchange friend codes, it enables them to play through a wireless Internet connection against each other, and send messages and photos to each other.

Did you know that the Wii has a messaging system? Most people who play on the Wii know, but I wonder if many parents know. After exchanging friend codes found on the internet, anyone can exchange personal information, addresses, phone numbers, and photo’s with TOTAL STRANGERS using the Wii. I think the parents out there should be aware of this danger….MORE….

Nintendo has a page that teaches you how to adjust the parental control settings:

If your Wii console is also connected to the internet, you have the ability to place limits on the following online features, found in the “Other Settings”:

• Internet Channel
  If you have downloaded the Opera browser (subject to availability) via the Wii Shop Channel, it is possible to allow or restrict use of the browser.
• News Channel
  Control access to the News Channel.
• Online Communication and User Created Content
  Controls sending and receiving of messages from the Wii console and in online games where open communication is available, as well as controls the exchange of user created content in compatible games and channels (Wii Message Board, Check Mii Out Channel, etc.). Note that system updates will be delivered regardless of this setting.
• Use of Points
  This setting controls the use of Wii Points, which are used to acquire downloads from the Wii Shop Channel. If this setting is on, users will be required to enter the 4-digit PIN in order to use Wii Points to download items from the Wii Shop Channel.

Remember, if your child plays on a Wii and it’s connected to the Internet, all sorts of exchanges can happen online. And people will even post it online:

Frightening, really, it is. Do your best to ensure your kids are accessing the Internet safely; impress upon them they have no idea who’s really at the other end of their conversations.ThankYouVeryMuch!

Owlbert

ps - want more Wii?

Subscribe to the comments for this post