Fortnite Safety for Parents: Best Practices, Game Settings and Healthy Habits

As a parent, it’s natural to be concerned about the safety of your children when they play online games, especially when it comes to a game as popular as Fortnite. You may be wondering whether it’s safe for your children to play, what kind of content they might encounter, and how to ensure their online safety while they’re playing. In this guide, we’ll address these concerns and provide tips for letting your children play Fortnite safely.

What is Fortnite?

Fortnite is a free-to-play, online multiplayer game developed by Epic Games. It has become incredibly popular since its release in 2017, with millions of players around the world logging in daily to compete against each other. The game has two main modes: “Battle Royale,” where 100 players fight to be the last person standing, and “Save the World,” a cooperative mode where players work together to complete various missions.

Why is Fortnite so popular among kids?

Fortnite’s popularity can be attributed to several factors:

1. Free-to-play: Fortnite is available to play for free, which means kids can easily access and enjoy the game without spending any money.
2. Appealing graphics: Fortnite’s cartoonish and colorful graphics appeal to a younger audience, making it more accessible for kids.
3. Social aspect: Fortnite allows players to team up with friends or play solo, making it a great way for kids to socialize and connect with their peers.
4. Regular updates: Epic Games continually releases new content, keeping the game fresh and engaging for players.

Potential concerns for parents

While Fortnite is an entertaining and engaging game, there are some potential concerns for parents:

In-game purchases

Fortnite offers in-game purchases, such as “V-Bucks,” which can be used to buy cosmetic items like character skins, emotes, and other accessories. These purchases can be tempting for kids and may lead to overspending if not monitored. To avoid this, consider setting spending limits or disabling in-game purchases on your child’s device.

Online interactions

Since Fortnite is a multiplayer game, players can interact with others through text and voice chat. This can expose your child to potentially inappropriate language or conversations. To minimize this risk, consider using the game’s parental controls to disable voice chat or limit interactions to friends only.

Time management

As with any game, it’s essential to ensure that your child is not spending excessive time playing Fortnite at the expense of other activities, such as homework, chores, or socializing with friends and family. Set clear boundaries and limits for gaming time to help your child maintain a healthy balance.

Tips for ensuring a safe Fortnite experience

Here are some tips to help you ensure that your child has a safe and enjoyable Fortnite experience:

1. Educate yourself about the game: Familiarize yourself with Fortnite’s gameplay, features, and settings. This will help you better understand the game and be more prepared to discuss it with your child.
2. Set up parental controls: Fortnite offers various parental controls that can help you limit and monitor your child’s gameplay. These include disabling voice chat, restricting friend requests, and limiting the amount of time they can spend playing the game. Familiarize yourself with these controls and apply them as needed.
3. Talk to your child about online safety: Have open conversations with your child about online safety and the importance of being cautious when interacting with others online. Discuss the potential risks of sharing personal information, cyberbullying, and the importance of reporting any inappropriate behavior.
4. Monitor their gameplay: Keep an eye on your child’s gameplay, either by playing with them or observing them as they play.

Additional safety measures

Consider taking the following additional safety measures to further protect your child while they play Fortnite:

1. Create a separate account: Encourage your child to create a separate account for Fortnite instead of using your personal account. This will help you maintain control over their gaming experience and ensure that they don’t accidentally make unauthorized purchases or change important settings.
2. Enable two-factor authentication: Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your child’s account. This requires them to provide a code sent to a trusted device, like your phone, before logging in or making changes to their account.
3. Review their friends list: Regularly check your child’s friends list to ensure that they are only interacting with people they know and trust. Encourage your child to be selective with friend requests and only accept them from people they know in real life.
4. Familiarize yourself with the game’s reporting system: Fortnite has a reporting system that allows players to report inappropriate behavior or content. Ensure that both you and your child are familiar with this system so that they can report any issues they may encounter.

Fortnite’s age rating

Fortnite is rated T for Teen by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), meaning it is suitable for players aged 13 and older. The game’s cartoonish violence and potentially inappropriate player interactions are the primary reasons for this rating. As a parent, it’s essential to consider whether your child is mature enough to handle the game’s content and online interactions before allowing them to play.

Helping your child develop healthy gaming habits

To help your child develop healthy gaming habits while playing Fortnite, consider implementing the following strategies:

1. Establish clear rules: Set clear rules about when and for how long your child is allowed to play Fortnite. Ensure they understand the importance of maintaining a balance between gaming and other responsibilities, such as homework, chores, and spending time with family and friends.
2. Encourage breaks: Encourage your child to take regular breaks while playing Fortnite to prevent eye strain, mental fatigue, and the risk of developing an unhealthy gaming obsession.
3. Promote healthy competition: While Fortnite is a competitive game, it’s essential to teach your child the importance of good sportsmanship and not taking losses too seriously. Encourage them to learn from their mistakes and use them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
4. Play together: Playing Fortnite with your child can be a great way to bond and learn more about the game. It also allows you to monitor their gameplay and ensure that they are playing safely and responsibly.

In-game Settings to Protect Young Players

Fortnite offers a range of in-game settings that can help parents reduce the potential harm to young players. These settings can be adjusted to create a more age-appropriate gaming experience, limit unwanted interactions, and promote responsible gameplay. Consider implementing the following settings for your child’s account:

1. Voice chat and text chat: To prevent your child from being exposed to inappropriate language or conversations, you can disable both voice chat and text chat features within the game. To do this, navigate to the game’s settings menu, go to the “Audio” tab, and turn off “Voice Chat.” To disable text chat, go to the “Privacy” tab and set “Allow Text Chat” to “Off.”
2. Parental controls: Fortnite’s parental control settings can help you manage and restrict certain aspects of the game, such as in-game purchases, social interactions, and gameplay time. To enable parental controls, access your child’s account and visit the “Account” tab in the game’s settings menu. Here, you can create a unique PIN that will protect these settings from unauthorized changes.
3. Privacy settings: Adjust your child’s privacy settings to limit their interactions with other players. Go to the “Privacy” tab in the game’s settings menu and set “Party Privacy” to “Private.” This will ensure that only players who have been invited by your child can join their in-game party.
4. Mature content filter: While Fortnite doesn’t currently have a built-in mature content filter, you can encourage your child to avoid using the “Creative” game mode. This mode allows players to create custom maps and content, which may occasionally include inappropriate or offensive material. Instead, encourage your child to play the main “Battle Royale” mode, where the content is more controlled and moderated.
5. Screen time limits: Although Fortnite doesn’t have a built-in feature to limit screen time, you can set screen time limits for your child’s gaming device. Most consoles, smartphones, and tablets have built-in parental controls that allow you to manage screen time. Establishing limits can help your child develop healthy gaming habits and maintain a balanced lifestyle.

By adjusting these in-game settings and promoting responsible gameplay, you can create a safer and more age-appropriate environment for your child while they enjoy Fortnite. Encourage open communication about their gaming experiences and regularly review the settings to ensure they continue to align with your child’s needs and maturity level.

Conclusion

By following the tips and strategies outlined in this guide, you can help ensure that your child has a safe, enjoyable, and responsible Fortnite experience. Remember that open communication and involvement in your child’s gaming activities are key to fostering a healthy gaming environment.