Fighting over Fortnite (Information from Netsafe, September 2019)
Fortnite has become ubiquitous amongst many young people. Players who compete in the Battle Royale version are dropped onto the game map and compete with ninety nine other players to be the last one standing.
The multi-player nature of the game can present some challenges and risks for young people. More specifically the chat features can mean exposure to offensive language, inappropriate content and contact from strangers. Turning off the voice chat function or ensuring they’re teaming up with friends are actions parents can take if concerned about a child’s use of Fortnite.
The most common concern raised by parents about Fortnite is that it is particularly popular, and children react very badly to being asked to stop playing. For parents who use the “stop at the end of the next round” negotiation tactic, it’s useful to know the average Battle Royale lasts about 20 minutes, but most players will be knocked out earlier. There are also much longer form creative and coop versions of the game – so it’s worth checking which version they’re playing!
As with any online safety issue, we know that having regular and open conversations with your children about their use of online games such as Fortnite helps mitigate potential harm. Encourage your child to share with you if they have upsetting experiences and make sure they’re aware that any harassment, inappropriate language, bullying or hacking can be reported through the ‘Email us' function.
Fortnite has become ubiquitous amongst many young people. Players who compete in the Battle Royale version are dropped onto the game map and compete with ninety nine other players to be the last one standing.
The multi-player nature of the game can present some challenges and risks for young people. More specifically the chat features can mean exposure to offensive language, inappropriate content and contact from strangers. Turning off the voice chat function or ensuring they’re teaming up with friends are actions parents can take if concerned about a child’s use of Fortnite.
The most common concern raised by parents about Fortnite is that it is particularly popular, and children react very badly to being asked to stop playing. For parents who use the “stop at the end of the next round” negotiation tactic, it’s useful to know the average Battle Royale lasts about 20 minutes, but most players will be knocked out earlier. There are also much longer form creative and coop versions of the game – so it’s worth checking which version they’re playing!
As with any online safety issue, we know that having regular and open conversations with your children about their use of online games such as Fortnite helps mitigate potential harm. Encourage your child to share with you if they have upsetting experiences and make sure they’re aware that any harassment, inappropriate language, bullying or hacking can be reported through the ‘Email us' function.