Fortnite — A Parents Guide
Fortnite is a popular online video game that is played by millions of people around the world. While it can be a fun and exciting way for…
Fortnite is a popular online video game that is played by millions of people around the world. While it can be a fun and exciting way for children to socialize and exercise their strategic thinking skills, it is important for parents to be aware of the potential risks and take steps to protect their children while they are playing.
Risks:
In-game purchases: Fortnite offers a wide range of in-game items and features that can be purchased with real money. It is important for parents to monitor their children's spending and ensure that they are not overspending on in-game items.
Online harassment: Like any online community, there is a risk of online harassment in Fortnite. Children may be targeted for their skill level, appearance, or for any other reason. It is important for parents to teach their children about online safety and to encourage them to report any instances of harassment to a trusted adult.
Cyberbullying: Similar to online harassment, cyberbullying is a concern in the Fortnite community. Children may be targeted by other players who try to intimidate or bully them. Parents should teach their children how to identify and deal with cyberbullying and encourage them to speak up if they are being targeted.
Privacy concerns: Fortnite collects a large amount of data on its players, including their personal information and gameplay data. It is important for parents to read the game's privacy policy and ensure that their children understand how their data is being collected and used.
Addiction: As with any online game, there is a risk of children becoming overly engrossed in Fortnite and neglecting other important aspects of their life, such as schoolwork and physical activity. It is important for parents to monitor their children's gaming habits and set limits on the amount of time they spend playing.
Grooming: One of the risks associated with online gaming, and Fortnite specifically, is that predators may use the game as a way to target and groom children and young people for sexual exploitation. They may do this by creating fake identities or posing as other players and then building trust with their victims before asking for personal information or pressuring them to meet in person.
How to protect your children:
The ability to set parental controls can be accessed via the Epic Account Portal. The following are some of the more important settings:
Require PIN to Add Epic Friends
This setting requires your Parental Controls PIN to be entered for your child to be able to send or accept Epic friend requests.
Setting On: Each time your child tries to send or accept an Epic Games friend request, you will need to enter your PIN. If a game or service doesn't yet support this setting, friend requests won't be permitted.
Setting Off: Your child can send or accept friend requests themselves.
Epic Voice Chat Permission
This setting manages who your child can speak with using Epic voice chat. You can choose to allow your child to speak with:
Everybody
Your child can voice chat with any player.
Friends & Teammates
Your child can voice chat with players in their Epic friends list and platform friends list, and players on their team.
Friends Only
Your child can voice chat only with players in their Epic friends list and platform friends list.
Nobody
Epic voice chat is disabled for your child.
Epic Text Chat Permission
This setting manages who your child can speak with using Epic text chat. You can choose to allow your child to speak with:
Everybody
Your child can text chat with any player.
Friends & Teammates
Your child can text chat with players in their Epic friends list and platform friends list, and players on their team.
Friends Only
Your child can text chat only with players in their Epic friends list and platform friends list.
Nobody
Epic text chat is disabled for your child.
Set limits on in-game purchases: One way to protect your children from overspending on in-game items is to set limits on their purchasing power. This can be done through the Epic Games Payment section of the parental controls and requires your pin.
Use the privacy settings: Fortnite offers a range of privacy settings that allow players to control who can see their personal information and gameplay data. It is important for parents to help their children understand these settings and to encourage them to use them to protect their privacy.
Educate your children about online safety: Teaching your children about online safety is crucial for protecting them while they are playing Fortnite. This includes educating them about the risks of sharing personal information, the importance of reporting instances of harassment or cyberbullying, and how to identify and avoid potential threats.
Set limits on gameplay time: To prevent your children from becoming overly engrossed in Fortnite, it is important to set limits on their gameplay time. You can turn on the playtime reporting option within the parental controls which will send you a weekly report of the playtime for the child's account.
Encourage a balance of activities: In addition to setting limits on gameplay time, it is important to encourage your children to participate in a variety of activities, including physical exercise, hobbies, and socializing with friends and family. This will help to ensure that they are not overly focused on Fortnite and are able to develop a well-rounded lifestyle.
Epic Games the parent company for the Fortnite game have a very good page explaining all of the parental controls plus a good FAQ which can be found here.
Conclusion:
Fortnite can be an enjoyable and rewarding game for children, but it is important for parents to be aware of the potential risks and take steps to protect their children while they are playing. By setting limits on in-game purchases, using the privacy settings, educating your children about online safety, setting limits on gameplay time, and encouraging a balance of activities, you can help to ensure that your children have a safe and enjoyable experience while playing Fortnite.
It is also important for parents to stay informed about the latest updates and changes to the game, as well as any potential risks or concerns that may arise. By staying informed and taking an active role in your child's online activities, you can help to keep them safe and healthy while they are playing Fortnite and other online games.
As always I encourage you to have good communication in place with your children and ensure that they feel that they can speak to you should they have any concerns.
Please do reach out for advice or if you have any comments or suggestions put them below.
