Multiplayer privacy is not one switch. A player may be comfortable joining matches while still wanting limits on messages, friend requests, activity visibility, and real-name sharing. Review those choices at the account level and, where available, inside the game itself.
Map who can reach you
Check profile visibility, friend and follower requests, party invitations, messages, and voice communication. PlayStation's privacy settings guide describes separate controls for these areas. Xbox's friends and followers explanation also distinguishes two-way friend relationships from one-way following. The labels differ by platform, so read the current setting rather than assuming a generic privacy profile covers everything.
Review identity and activity exposure
Look for real-name or profile-image visibility, game history, online status, shared media, and crossplay invitations. If you stream or post screenshots, inspect the picture itself for account names, chat messages, and location clues. A private platform profile does not automatically hide information a game or broadcast publishes separately.
Test the controls
After changing settings, ask a trusted person using a separate account what they can see and whether they can contact you. Do not use the test to harass or evade another player's settings. Record the menu path, because platform updates can rename controls. If an account belongs to a child, the family manager may control some settings; follow the platform's family controls rather than bypassing them.
Keep the social experience usable
Choose the least exposure that still allows the interactions you want. If you need open invites for a short event, make a reminder to change them afterward. Report or block abusive contact through the platform's own tools, and avoid publishing private messages as proof of a problem.
Sources
- How to Change Privacy Settings on PlayStation — PlayStation Support
- New Xbox Friends and Followers Experience — Xbox Wire