Fortnite: The Hidden Dangers You Need to be Aware of

Fornite is all the craze right now with tweens and teens, with added new features and play modes added each week, it entices players to keep coming back. Not only can it causes obsessive tendencies but it’s also putting some kids at risk.

There have been numerous blog posts written and shared on social media along with news stories suggesting to families that Fortnite is causing serious harm to their children in the form of addiction.

Because of this, many parents are concerned, so in my post I’ll share with you facts so that you can make an informed decision on whether Fortnite is a good fit for your kids and your family. I’ll also provide some tips to help you, if you elect to use Fortnite, that will not compromise your child’s safety and health.

What is Fortnite?

If you have children between the ages of 6-16 years, the likelihood that your child is already playing or pleading to play Fortnite is high. Fortnite is, in my simplest description, a multi-player shooting and killing game. There are two versions, one that is called Fortnite Battle Royale, which is the most popular one, or Save the Day which is where players play by themselves solo.

You win when you’re the last one standing, and everyone else is dead. In order to do that, players must build their weapon arsenal and infrastructure. Unlike other games, once you’re dead, you’re dead. There is no second chance at life.

One thing that sets this game apart from others, which is largely why parents allow their child to play it, is that the violence within the game is significantly less graphic in comparison to other popular games including Grand Theft Auto, Resident Evil and World of Warcraft to name a few.

It is estimated that nearly 40 million players log in to Fortnite every single month.  While it is essentially a free game, there are additional purchases that can be made to  add to the players gaming experience.

Check out the official Fortnite: Battle Royal trailer here.

Why are kids obsessed with Fortnite?

One big reason why kids love it so much is because of the ‘free’ element and the fact that players can unlock new items as they progress through the game. Mostly, this comes to no added costs to them. Players can purchase the ‘Premium Battle Pass’ in order to gain access to exclusive items again to add to their player experience.

Fortnite can be played on on a relatively large range of devices including smartphones, computers, PlayStation and Xbox devices making it easy to continue playing the game wherever your child is. The ease of access makes it appealing and explains the widespread adoption and thus obsession of the game.

The playful and cartoon-like characters are also a reason why the game has rendered so much appeal. It’s both light-hearted and fun, but I think the most appealing aspect of the game is the mult-player aspect. Because of the added relational connection offered by this feature, there is an added sense of belonging and interaction with those similar to your child. Kids are able to create teams and groups where they can engage in duos or squads adding even more comradeship among the players.

What are the hidden dangers?

To date, the most common complaint from parents relates to concerns that the game is addictive. The game is incredibly enticing because of the added loops built into the game that encourages players to keep playing and purchasing additional items within the shop. There’s a sense of adrenaline players get from the on-going game, almost winning and to the endless thirst for advancing more and doing better. Although most games only last, on average, 15-25 minutes, some games can be longer depending on each players skill level. With every new game coming to completion, it only adds anticipation for the next game which creates the “never enough” mentality.

Cyber-bullying and cyber-safety concerns are also a concern. Those that play multi-player games are at more risk for cyber-bullying and/or being groomed by online predators. There is a text chat function available, though rarely used, that allows players  to engage with other players. Because of how distracting this feature can be, many players don’t use it, but players have said to have encountered verbal abuse while using the function.

Those who play the game are more prone to lose track of time because of how engrossed they are in the game. It’s important, as a parent, to put in place boundaries around the number of battles they can undertake as opposed to amount of time they’re allowed to play.

There are also some pretty violent themes associated with the game as well. It’s a shooting game and players are killed, so keeping that in mind is important. Players under the age of 10 are more likely to have a difficult time to distinguish fact from fiction, so these types of games can be problematic for kids of this age.

It’s important to have ongoing conversations with kids and teens about socially-acceptable  and appropriate behavior off-screen.

Ways to keep kids and safe and healthy playing Fortnite:

Use Parental Controls: Most devices allow you to use prenatal controls to limit the length of gaming sessions. You can disable them from playing all together if you feel that it’s not a good fit for them.

Setting Limits:  Set limits as far as the amount of battles they’re participating in verses the amount of time spent playing.

Turn off Chat Function: I highly recommend that you disable your child’s ability to have the chat function. There is a possibility that not only with the language be inappropriate within the chat but also expose your child to uncomfortable situations.

Only allow your child to play the game at home. That way you can moderate and manage their playing of the game and potentially prevent harassment and being groomed by predators.

Have ongoing conversations regarding cyber-bullying, predators and violence to ensure they know the realities of reality and non-reality.

Play with them. If you express interest in their hobbies and interests, they’re more likely to be open with you. Play the game with them as it shows that you value their interests but also lets them know you’re there to support them especially if they encounter uncomfortable situations or players.

Limit evening play. Because of the addictive nature and added adrenaline that is known to go hand-in-hand with the game, limit night-time play. Because of the violent nature and addictive part of the game, it can be hard for your child to turn off the game and thus their mind to sleep. This can cause sleeplessness, restlessness and thus tie over to affect them at school.

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Like other fads, similar to Pokemon Go, this fad too shall fad, but until then it’s important to learn as much about the game as possible in order to keep your child safe from bullying, violence and predators.

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