Kids & Nintendo Wii Friend Codes – Safety Warning

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. Note: Don’t be concerned if your Wii is not connected to the Internet. If your home has wireless Internet it is fairly easy to connect the Wii.

This is one of many websites created to exchange friends codes. It’s a great idea for adults who enjoy playing multi-player games through their wireless Internet, but I’m not so sure it is a great idea for kids. To see another example of people posting friend codes, go to youtube and type Wii Friend Code in the search box. There are hundreds of people posting their codes.

Parents, check your Wii console messages occasionally. See if your children have added any Friends. Ask them if they actually know the individual and make sure they weren’t ‘strangers’ added from the Internet. You might find that they have added friends from school, family or neighbors. Just to let you know, there is a setting where the Wii slot glows blue when you get a message.

 The good news for worried parents:

The following is from the Wii website, click here to access directly.The Wii Parental Control settings offer you a means to manage what Wii content is accessible to the console users. If you apply Parental Controls, you will be prompted to set a 4-digit PIN which will allow you to adjust the Parental Controls settings in the future and also allow you to access content that may be restricted by the Parental Controls settings. The Parental Controls default setting is “OFF” which means that the console will allow all content unless you change the settings. There is one Parental Controls setting per console, so it is recommended that you put the settings on the most secure that you need for your family; you can then share the PIN with users who may be allowed access to blocked content.

To adjust the Parental Controls settings

1. Access the Wii System Settings (how to).
2. Click on the blue arrow to reach the Wii System Settings 2 menu options.
3. Choose “Parental Controls” and select “Yes.”
4. Enter the 4-digit PIN and select OK. If you have forgotten the PIN, select ” I forgot” to answer the secret question. (Answers to the secret question are case sensitive.) You will now be in the Parental Controls menu, and can change the following items:Game Settings and PIN
5. You can adjust the “Highest Game Rating Allowed” to be played on the Wii console. This setting is based on the Entertainment Software Rating Board (“ESRB”) game rating categories. Please notethat Parental Controls settings do not affect Nintendo GameCube Game Discs.
6. 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.

1. Confirm the setting is as desired by clicking the “confirm” button on the bottom right corner.
    If Parental Controls are applied and a user attempts to play or download content that exceeds the Parental Controls setting, the user will be prompted to enter the Parental Controls PIN to temporarily disable the Parental Controls. The PIN will be necessary each time a user tries to access restricted content. If your settings only apply to certain members of your household, share the Parental Controls PIN with users who may have unrestricted use of the system.You will be prompted to select and answer a secret question that will allow you to retrieve a forgotten Parental Controls PIN. If you forget your PIN, please follow the prompts on screen to answer your secret question. If you are unable to retrieve your PIN by answering your secret question, please call Nintendo Consumer Service: 1-800-255-3700.