A Growing Concern: The Dark Side of Gaming's Bright Future in Tech Talent
As schools across the UK look to equip students with the digital skills needed for future success, a disturbing trend is emerging. With the rise of cybercrime and hacking, young gamers are being targeted by malicious gangs seeking talented teenagers to exploit for their own gain.
The statistics are stark. According to The Hacking Games, an organisation dedicated to promoting positive hacking practices among young people, many students with coding skills are drawn into online gaming communities where they can hone their digital talents. However, this exposure also puts them at risk of being groomed by malicious hackers who seek to exploit their skills for nefarious purposes.
Co-op Academies Trust, a UK-based education provider, has partnered with The Hacking Games to address this growing concern. By highlighting the transferable skills between gaming and ethical hacking, the organisation aims to steer pupils towards careers in cybersecurity and digital protection.
"We've seen our students become increasingly interested in technology – particularly gaming," says Jo Sykes, director of careers at Co-op Academies Trust. "Through our involvement with The Hacking Games, it's been fascinating to discover the transferable skills between gaming and ethical hacking, especially within the field of cybersecurity."
The partnership has proven successful so far, with many students developing a keen interest in digital fields and eager to explore the opportunities available. As Adam Woodley, head of curriculum at Connell Co-op College, notes, "Students are developing highly desired skills through hobbies such as gaming and will want to be in a position where they can apply them to a career path which they find exciting."
To combat this growing threat, The Hacking Games has launched the HAPTAI platform – an innovative tool that helps young people build their hacking aptitude profiles by analysing their performance on popular gaming titles. This platform aims to pair candidates with roles and jobs they'll excel at and with teams they'll flourish in.
However, the fight against cybercrime is a long-term one, and experts warn of the need for ongoing education and awareness-raising efforts. As Rob Elsey, Co-op's chief digital and information officer, notes, "There are many unfulfilled roles in cybersecurity, and we must do more to turn skilled young people into defenders rather than attackers."
To address this issue, The Hacking Games is committed to providing training and education for students, parents, and educators on the risks of online exploitation and the importance of digital protection. As Sykes points out, "Children can be particularly vulnerable to online exploitation, so we make sure they're educated about these risks – including online safety and the legal boundaries around hacking."
As the UK's education system continues to evolve, it is essential that schools prioritize the development of digital literacy and cybersecurity skills among their students. By working together with organisations like The Hacking Games, educators can help equip young people with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
Ultimately, this collaboration between Co-op Academies Trust and The Hacking Games represents a significant step forward in tackling the growing threat of cybercrime. As Sykes so aptly puts it, "The career opportunities are vast in the digital sector – this will eventually support our students to see all the positive pathways available to them and how they can play a key role in making the world a safe place."
As schools across the UK look to equip students with the digital skills needed for future success, a disturbing trend is emerging. With the rise of cybercrime and hacking, young gamers are being targeted by malicious gangs seeking talented teenagers to exploit for their own gain.
The statistics are stark. According to The Hacking Games, an organisation dedicated to promoting positive hacking practices among young people, many students with coding skills are drawn into online gaming communities where they can hone their digital talents. However, this exposure also puts them at risk of being groomed by malicious hackers who seek to exploit their skills for nefarious purposes.
Co-op Academies Trust, a UK-based education provider, has partnered with The Hacking Games to address this growing concern. By highlighting the transferable skills between gaming and ethical hacking, the organisation aims to steer pupils towards careers in cybersecurity and digital protection.
"We've seen our students become increasingly interested in technology – particularly gaming," says Jo Sykes, director of careers at Co-op Academies Trust. "Through our involvement with The Hacking Games, it's been fascinating to discover the transferable skills between gaming and ethical hacking, especially within the field of cybersecurity."
The partnership has proven successful so far, with many students developing a keen interest in digital fields and eager to explore the opportunities available. As Adam Woodley, head of curriculum at Connell Co-op College, notes, "Students are developing highly desired skills through hobbies such as gaming and will want to be in a position where they can apply them to a career path which they find exciting."
To combat this growing threat, The Hacking Games has launched the HAPTAI platform – an innovative tool that helps young people build their hacking aptitude profiles by analysing their performance on popular gaming titles. This platform aims to pair candidates with roles and jobs they'll excel at and with teams they'll flourish in.
However, the fight against cybercrime is a long-term one, and experts warn of the need for ongoing education and awareness-raising efforts. As Rob Elsey, Co-op's chief digital and information officer, notes, "There are many unfulfilled roles in cybersecurity, and we must do more to turn skilled young people into defenders rather than attackers."
To address this issue, The Hacking Games is committed to providing training and education for students, parents, and educators on the risks of online exploitation and the importance of digital protection. As Sykes points out, "Children can be particularly vulnerable to online exploitation, so we make sure they're educated about these risks – including online safety and the legal boundaries around hacking."
As the UK's education system continues to evolve, it is essential that schools prioritize the development of digital literacy and cybersecurity skills among their students. By working together with organisations like The Hacking Games, educators can help equip young people with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
Ultimately, this collaboration between Co-op Academies Trust and The Hacking Games represents a significant step forward in tackling the growing threat of cybercrime. As Sykes so aptly puts it, "The career opportunities are vast in the digital sector – this will eventually support our students to see all the positive pathways available to them and how they can play a key role in making the world a safe place."
. i think its awesome that co-op academies trust is partnering with hacking games to teach kids about cybersecurity, but like, what about the parents and teachers who don't know much about it? gotta make sure everyone's on the same page 
. maybe we can get more gaming influencers involved in spreading awareness about online safety & digital protection? that'd be a sick way to educate people without being preachy 
I'm really worried about these young gamers being targeted by bad people. It's crazy that gaming communities are becoming like recruitment grounds for hackers 
. We need to teach kids about online safety and what to do when they encounter suspicious behavior online 
. The Hacking Games' idea of using popular gaming titles to develop hacking skills is actually pretty cool 
, but we have to make sure it's not just a way for bad guys to get in 
.
. Young gamers, who are already pretty tech-savvy, being targeted by malicious gangs is super concerning. I mean, it's like we're setting up our kids for a wild ride and hoping they come out unscathed 
. But, let's not forget that this is just the tip of the iceberg – there are still so many unfulfilled roles in cybersecurity, and we need to do more to turn skilled young people into defenders rather than attackers 
anyway idk if schools should just focus on teaching gaming skills but also teach kids how to protect themselves online thats a good idea maybe they could even have guest speakers from gaming companies who are into cybersecurity 
i mean think about it if u r super good at fortnite u got skills that can be used for good or bad 
the problem is we need to teach them how to use those skills in a positive way so they dont get exploited by hackers 
its like we gotta flip the script and make cyber security cool 
I'm seriously worried about these young gamers being targeted by cybercriminals 
. This partnership between The Hacking Games and Co-op Academies Trust seems like a great idea 
, but we need more awareness about online safety and digital protection 
We gotta keep these young minds safe and steer them towards careers in cybersecurity 
. Can't let the dark side of gaming win out 
. I mean, gaming is all about having fun, but when it turns into a way for bad people to exploit others, it's not cool 
. We need more education and awareness-raising efforts to help these kids develop digital literacy skills and stay safe online 
! #CybersecurityMatters #GamingForGood #DigitalLiteracy
. just another thing for parents to worry about when their kids are online...
.
It's awesome that they're highlighting the transferable skills between gaming and ethical hacking, because it shows that these young gamers have some serious talents that can be used for good.
I've been seeing this trend of young gamers being targeted by hackers, and it's super worrying 
. This is just the start of the solution, though - we need ongoing education and awareness-raising efforts to tackle this issue 
