For millions of young people, the online gaming world isn’t just entertainment — it’s a training ground for creativity, problem-solving, and digital dexterity. Now, these same skills are being recognized as vital tools in the fight against cybercrime.
A new partnership between Co-op and The Hacking Games aims to channel the raw technical talent of gamers into ethical hacking and cybersecurity careers. The initiative encourages teens with coding or gaming expertise — often acquired informally — to apply them to legitimate, protective roles rather than risk crossing into digital illegality.
The idea stems from sobering data: according to the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), one in five children has engaged in activities that violate the Computer Misuse Act, and among gamers, that figure rises to one in four.
“It takes a digital village to raise a digital native,” says Greg Francis, former NCA senior officer and director of 4D Cyber Security, who now serves as a cyber ambassador for The Hacking Games. “We want to show that the same skills used to breach systems can protect them — if channelled early and ethically.”
How Parents Can Help Build Cyber Guardians
Experts agree that the pathway from gaming curiosity to cybercrime often begins innocently — through mods, cheats, or “booting” rivals offline. Awareness and dialogue, they say, are key to preventing escalation.
Lynn Perry, CEO of Barnardo’s, which has joined Co-op in supporting young digital initiatives, advises parents to start early and stay curious.
“As soon as your child shows interest in technology, it’s time to start talking,” she says. “Conversations should be regular, relaxed, and judgment-free. Curiosity is more effective than criticism.”
Former offenders and parents who have seen their children drawn into the darker side of online life echo the sentiment. One parent, identified as Mary, recalls how her 13-year-old son began exploring the darknet before finding mentorship through a cybersecurity expert.
“The expert helped him see his skills in a new light — that hacking can be a force for good,” she said.
Both experts and parents stress the same message: mentorship, not punishment, can change a child’s trajectory.
Spotting Red Flags — and Opening Doors
Signs of concern include excessive late-night gaming, social withdrawal, unexplained tech purchases, or multiple new email accounts. These, experts say, aren’t proof of criminal behavior — but they may indicate that a young person needs constructive digital engagement.
Parents are encouraged to:
Play alongside their children or observe gaming sessions to understand context.
Check age ratings and enable friends-only settings to reduce exposure to online grooming or risky contacts.
Ask questions about who their children play with — just as they would about real-world friends.
Consult schools to explore extracurricular coding or cybersecurity programmes such as CyberFirst, Cyber Choices, or Girls Who Code.
“The more connected parents are to their child’s online world, the less mysterious and intimidating it becomes,” says Francis.
Turning Curiosity Into Careers
For young people — especially those who are neurodivergent — gaming can offer not just escape but opportunity. According to the Tech Talent Charter, more than half of the UK’s tech workforce identifies as neurodivergent, suggesting a vast untapped reservoir of unconventional talent.
That’s where initiatives like The Hacking Games step in: providing a safe, structured space where young “digital rebels” can learn to apply their problem-solving abilities to cybersecurity challenges. Participants gain access to mentors, Discord communities, and professional training — transforming what could become risky experimentation into employable skill sets.
“It’s not about stopping young people from exploring,” says Perry. “It’s about guiding them so that curiosity becomes contribution, not criminalization.”
