Complete Parents' Guide to Fortnite

Is Fortnite Safe for Children? Essential Information Parents Should Know!

If you’re a parent of kids who play games (and who isn’t, these days?), you’ve probably heard the name Fortnite. Fortnite is one of the most popular games ever made, with more than 200 million active players (and more than 650 million registered players). As a parent, however, you may know little about the game or its effect on children who play it. In this article, we’ll explore Fortnite and suggest ways to make informed choices regarding your children’s gaming experience.

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What is Fortnite?

Fortnite is a free-to-play battle game created by Epic Games. Players compete against each other in vibrant, cartoonish environments, building structures and engaging in fast-paced combat. The game can be played on a computer, mobile device, or game console (such as Playstation or XBox). Part of its popularity stems from engaging gameplay, regular updates, and social features, allowing kids to interact with and compete against each other.

More than a single game, Fortnite exists in different game “modes.” Fortnite Battle Royale, the first game to be released (in 2017), isa free-to-play game in which up to 100 players fight each other. Other modes include Fortnite: Save the World, Fortnite Creative, Rocket Racing, and Fortnite Festival. There's even a Lego Fortnite.

Is Fortnite Safe for Kids?

The ESRB rating for Fortnite is “T,” meaning that that organization (which gives age and content ratings to consumer video games in the USA, Canada, and Mexico) judges it to be suitable for players older than 12. ESRB ratings take into consideration factors such as violence, alcohol and drug use depictions, etc., as well as the availability of in-game purchases and interaction with other players in the platform.

However, every child is different. It’s important not only to consider your children’s maturity levels and ability to handle online interactions, but also to monitor their online play and be aware of their exposure to inappropriate language and susceptibility to bullying and other dangerous behaviors.

The following table offers Fortnite ratings on several aspects of online safety. (1) represents the lowest or least safe rating, indicating significant concerns; (5) represents the highest or safest rating, indicating minimal concerns in that category.

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Category	Rating (1-5)	Explanation
Violence	3	Fortnite features non-graphic, cartoonish violence. There is no blood or gore, but the game focuses on eliminating opponents in battle scenarios.
Language & Chat	2	In-game voice and text chat can expose kids to inappropriate language from strangers. Parental controls can limit but not completely prevent this exposure.
Parental Controls	4	Fortnite offers comprehensive parental controls to manage chat, screen time, and spending. However, parental oversight is required for full effectiveness, and controls for the social interactions is easily worked around by most kids.
In-Game Purchases	2	The game encourages in-game purchases for cosmetic items (skins). Without restrictions, kids may overspend or be exposed to unwanted marketing. Further, “Emerging research suggests that loot box purchases and similar gambling behavior among children or teens can lead to problem gambling later in life”(Forbes).
Educational Value	3	While Fortnite promotes teamwork, strategy, and creativity through its building mechanics, it lacks significant educational content or learning objectives.
Screen Time Management	2	The fast-paced, addictive nature of Fortnite can lead to extended play sessions, making it hard for kids to manage screen time without external limits.
Social Interaction	3	Social interaction can be positive, especially in team play with friends, but random matchmaking increases exposure to strangers, which may lead to negative interactions.
Content Suitability	3	While the cartoonish style softens the game's violence, the competitive nature may not be ideal for younger children. Best suited for ages 13 and up.

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Understanding Fortnite’s Violence

The style of violence in the Fortnite games is cartoonish. Players do “eliminate” opponents using various weapons, but the graphics are less lifelike than some games (for example, eliminated players disappear, without spewing blood or gore). However, the game does involve shooting and combat mechanics, which may present a concern for Christian parents—though it may also offer an opportunity for involved parents to discuss with children such things as the difference between game violence and real-life consequences, helping children to approach gaming content with a discerning eye.

Social Interactions in Fortnite

One of the most popular and engaging features of Fortnite is the social element that allows players to team up with friends or develop new relationships online. This can, of course, promote teamwork and social skills, but it also has inherent dangers. It’s essential for parents to monitor their children's interactions. Parents should be alert to mood changes in their children, which may suggest that they’re being bullied or victimized in other ways.

Any parent whose children are playing Fortnite should at the very least discuss safe online behavior, such as interacting only with friends they know and not sharing personal information with others on the platform. Even if parental controls are activated (see below), the limitations of those controls require wise parents to monitor who their children are talking to in Fortnite games, to ensure that their children’s screentime doesn’t reflect the biblical warning, “A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin” (Proverbs 26:28 WEB).

Setting Healthy Screen Time Limits

Among the greatest concerns parents of Fortnite-playing kids may be the time spent in the game. It’s an engrossing, even addictive, game that is likely to underscore the need for setting screen time limits. It is, of course, a parent’s responsibility to help a child achieve and maintain a balanced lifestyle—for example, by establishing clear screen time limits (so many hours a week, for instance, or allowing play only after homework and chores are done). In some households, game time can become a reward for completing tasks or participating in family activities.

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How to Use Parental Controls in Fortnite

Fortnite offers parental controls in the platform that allow an adult to manage a child’s gaming experience. For example, in-game purchases can be restricted; limits can be placed on communication with other players; and timers can be set to limit playtime.

The following is a short guide on setting parental controls in Fortnite:

1. Log in to your Epic Games account.

2. Go to the account settings.

3. Select “Parental Controls.”

4. Follow the prompts to select the appropriate settings for your child.

Parental controls can provide some peace of mind to parents of Fortnite-playing kids; however, they should not be seen as a substitute for regularly touching base and monitoring your children’s play.

Addressing Values and Content Suitability for Christian Families

Christian parents are wise to be wary of Fortnite’s array of games. Admittedly, compared to some games, Fortnite’s battle depictions and cartoonish violence may seem relatively harmless. Involved parents can positively frame some of the games’ features—such as competition and teamwork—but few families will feel equipped to counter hour after hour of gameplay and address occasional references to in-game behaviors that don’t align with Christian values. Open discussions about what is acceptable in the game versus real life can foster understanding and help children make thoughtful decisions.

One way to engage kids who are playing Fortnite and also teach Christian values may be to initiate conversations with questions such as the following:

● What do you like most about the game? Least?

● What do you think the game is teaching you?

● Do you think the game encourages Christian attitudes? Actions? Why or why not?

● What do you talk about in your interactions with other players?

● Do you think the game encourages teamwork, cooperation, and kindness? Ruthlessness and aggression?

Making Informed Choices About Fortnite

As suggested above, in order to make informed choices about Fortnite, parents should understand its content, engage in ongoing discussions with their children, and of course use the available resources to monitor and control kids’ purchases, interactions, etc.

For older kids, parents might also involve the young gameplayers in the decision-making process, enlisting their help in setting appropriate boundaries and evaluating ways the games support or detract from Christian teachings and values.

Integrating TruPlay Games for a Christian-Friendly Alternative

Like Fortnite, the TruPlay mobile app is a platform of multiple games, yet with none of the concerning content or vulnerabilities that might concern parents whose children are playing Fortnite.

The TruPlay app offers countless hours of games, comics, and animated shorts that feature high quality art, action-packed games, and thoughtful storytelling. Each offering is infused with God’s Truth. It is a Christian resource for all ages, but especially for children. It is sometimes referred to as “the Netflix of Christian mobile games for children.” But it's intentionally structured to avoid the dangers of games such as Fortnite.

TruPlay employs a subscription-based model, which allows children and adults to play, read, and have fun in an environment with no in-app purchases, no ads, and no online chats. This means, of course, that kids can't spend money, buy "loot," click to go to outside and unknown sites, and "chat" with strangers.

TruPlay's website (TruPlayGames.com) clearly details the app's offerings, and free downloads and trials are available in both the Apple App Store and GooglePlay. Explore the following links to unlock a safer gaming experience for your kids:

● https://www.truplaygames.com/games-more

● https://www.truplaygames.com/user-registration

Parents Guide to Fortnite