Family Tech Blog

Category: gaming

Do Violent Video Games Create Killers?

The news of another shooting yesterday (August 26, 2018) has once again raised the question of the violence in video games and its supposed link to mass murders by young people. The shooting took place at a Madden NFL video game tournament and left two dead and nine injured. The beginnings of the shooting were aired on livestream on Twitch.tv. The stream was cut immediately after officials realized what was going on.

Who’s to Blame?

This is the question we all want to ask immediately after something like this happens. We blame guns, we blame media, we blame parenting, we blame the government, and of course we blame violence in tv, movies, and video games. Video games are especially likely to receive the blame because of the interactivity involved in playing these games. The idea is that since we spend hours a day shooting guns at people in a virtual world, we will feel fewer inhibitions about performing that same violence in real life. With the levels of realism and intensity available in games these days, the blame is ever increasing.

Wanting to place blame in a tragedy is normal. It’s one of the stages of grief and it is entirely understandable that we would do this as individuals and corporately as a society. The problem nowadays is that we are placing blame so quickly and news media is aiding us in our decisions. This leads to more division and does nothing to solve our problems or ease the pain of the families of those involved in these acts of violence.

When video games receive the blame, it is often by those who don’t play them and especially those who don’t understand their appeal. Religious leaders, political leaders, news channel talking heads, and many celebrities will speak out against the violence in video games and other media and make headlines doing so. The problem is that they are making claims not based on any facts that can be found in any research that has been done to date.

The Data

There have been many studies on video games and their link to behavior. The problem with much of this research is the popularity of the topic itself. Early studies all had mixed results due to the controversial nature of the topic leading to researcher bias during their work. An article from earlier this year highlights the inconsistencies in research on the topic of gaming and violence. The studies of this research discredits much of the conclusion about violence in gaming causing violence in the real world while also debunking claims that playing violent video games (as a substitute) will keep you from performing violent acts in real life. The truth is that much of this research was done to prove the point that was made in their findings and further investigation found that this caused researchers to alter findings, ignore unwanted findings, and change or ignore some of their beginning hypothesis. This was not good science and shouldn’t be used to inform opinion, though many news media and anti violent video games advocates still use these studies to support their stance.

More recent studies have struggled to find links in the gaming experience and behavior. While some studies have seen an increase in aggression in kids due to gaming, there is not a correlation to that aggression turning to violence. The studies that show increased aggression tested subjects immediately after ending their gaming session and there was a significant decrease in their aggression after only a few minutes. A study done in March of this 2018 found that after two months of gaming there was no clear evidence that gamers who played violent games experienced more aggression than those who played a less violent game.

All of these studies are quick to highlight that there is still more research to be done. They maintain that kids may be more likely to experience negative effects from the violence in video games and that it is difficult to test the long term effects. While there is more learning to be done it is becoming more clear that the blame for violence in our society can’t be based solely on video games.

There Can’t Be Just One

Experts and researchers agree that there cannot be just one single cause of these egregious acts that are committed in our country lately. There are many factors that contribute to the likelihood that someone will commit a violent act, too many factors to focus too much on only one of them. There are likely those who shouldn’t play violent video games because they are more prone to act out but that doesn’t necessarily mean that gaming is the singular cause of that aggression.

The most important thing is that we stay informed and continue to learn about the best way to help each other during these times. Speak up when you see dangerous or violent behavior and if your child is showing signs of over-aggression, depression, or other mental health issues get them the help they need. We should all be in this together, supporting each other, seeking out those we can help, not those we can blame.

It is natural to look for a single cause that can be removed in order to end these horrible events. Unfortunately, it just isn’t realistic. My prayers and thoughts are with the families of those affected by this horrible action and my heart is to inform and educate you as a parent so that we can all raise kids who want to contribute positively to the world and not negatively. To answer the question posed in the title of this article, no, violent video games alone do not create killers.

August 27, 2018
This Will Be The Worst thing About Your Kids Playing Fortnite on Android

Yes we’re writing another story about Fortnite. I already discussed the risks of Epic Games launching their game through their site instead of the Google Play store but I wanted to highlight another major problem with this profit grabbing workaround. The in-game purchases.

It is very clear that Epic Games made the move to bypass the Google Play Store in an effort to not have to share income with Google. The initial download of the game is free, though, so where is there money to be made? That is through the in-game purchases. The game allows you to buy costumes, weapon skins, and all kinds of other gear through their in-app store. This, if it was through the Google Play Store would be subject to your Parental Control settings. Since the Play Store is not involved in purchases in any way, your controls won’t do anything to keep your child from making a purchase at will. There are a few things you can do, however, to keep them from racking up Fortnite charges on your credit card.

The first and easiest option is to not set up a payment option for them at all. Obviously, if there is no credit card or PayPal account saved in their Epic Games account, they won’t be able to spend any of your money. Beware, however, that they could find a way to make purchases if they are playing on a parent’s phone or have credit card information saved elsewhere on their own.

To help with this problem you’ll want to be sure the Epic Games account that they have set up (you must have one to play) doesn’t have any payment info attached to it. This article by Android Central has a pretty good how-to on this. They also recommend disabling PayPal as a payment option in your Epic Games account since you can pay without a password or that trusty CSV your credit card requires.

What Parents Should Know

Remember that nothing is free on your or your kids’ smartphones. If the game is free it’s because you can buy something in the game. If there are no in-app purchases (and probably even if there are) then you are paying with your personal data. Many parents are ok with their kids doing whatever they want on their devices (against expert advice) but when it begins to affect the pocketbook, they change their tune.

I stand by my opinion that you shouldn’t let your kids download Fortnite for Android and this just adds to the reasons why. If there is no way for parents to keep tabs on their kids’ activity in game, especially spending activity, then parents should hold off on allowing their kids to install the game until Epic provides some sort of solution.

August 22, 2018
PUBG Has Reached 100 Million Mobile Downloads

The more realistic Battle Royale game, Player Unknown’s Battleground has reached a major downloads milestone this week. Receiving 100 Million downloads on mobile is no surprise since the game was so popular on PC and console. The release of Fortnite probably delayed this milestone for PUBG but those who prefer a more serious, less cartoon-like first-person shooter game have likely given Fortnite a chance and moved back to PUBG.

PUBG released four months ago to immediate success because the game was free to play, making money through microtransactions. Competitor, Epic Games, saw the 100 million downloads milestone a month ago and they hadn’t even launched on Android yet. Fortnite is targeting a larger audience since it has a gentler, T for teen, rating. This is likely the largest reason for the rapid growth.

What Parents Should Know

PUBG is a more grown up version of Fortnite. If your kid is interested in the Battle Royale style of game and you’re inclined to allow them to try it out, start with Fortnite. Either way be cautious of too much time playing first-person shooter games. The adrenaline caused by FPS games can have negative effects on young boys.

August 17, 2018
Do Not Let Your Kids Download Fortnite for Android

Another Update: August 24 2018 : Google found a security flaw in Epic’s download file for Fortnite.

UPDATE August 10, 2018: The Google Play Store has added a notice to Fortnite search results that reads: “Fortnite Battle Royale by Epic Games is not available on Google Play.” This addition is an attempt to discourage the download of copycat games that could contain malware, spyware, or other malicious add-on software.

It’s Not About the Game

Fortnite is one of the biggest things ever in video games. You can read all about the game and my thoughts on the game here. Thus far, you have been able to play the free Battle Royale game on consoles, computer, and iPhones or iPads. That is changing soon as Epic Games is releasing their smash hit to Android. The problem isn’t that the game is being released, it is how it’s going to be distributed and downloaded. Epic has announced that they are going to bypass the Google Play Store and let you download the game directly from their site onto your Android phone.

While this doesn’t sound like a big deal, you have to trust me, it is. It is a big deal because of security. Android’s (and Apple’s) app store are places to find apps for your phone that have been vetted for security and privacy before being listed for download. When you “sideload” an app, you are bypassing all of these security or privacy features and putting your data at risk.

Sideloading is installing an app onto your Android phone from somewhere other than the Google Play Store.

Making the game available in through this method will remove the 30% profit share that Google takes from apps downloaded from their app store and gives Epic Games complete control of their software (updates, in-game store, etc.) This is probably a good move for Epic Games’ bottom line but can prove to be a nightmare for some Android users.

There are more security prompts and features for those who use the latest version of Android’s operating system but estimates say that over 85% of Android users haven’t received the update yet. Especially our kids since most of them are using devices we’ve handed down to them. This means that it is way too easy to end up downloading a fake version of Fortnite and installing spyware or malware along with it. If you’re a grown adult, you can make decisions based on the security and privacy of your smartphone experience but kids should be taught to only ever download games and apps from their devices App Store.

Screwing Up Your Parental Control Settings

Android FamilyLink and most third-party parental control apps help you control app downloads using the Google Play Store. If the app they want can be downloaded outside of the app store then you can’t monitor their activity or download permission. If you’re monitoring their activity you’ll want to look for “APK” files. Those are the packages that sideloaded apps come in. If you’re looking at the activity on your kid’s phone and you see thisisafile.APK, you’ll know they are installing apps outside the app store.

Epic Games’ decision to bypass the Play Store, while maybe a shrewd business move, is definitely going to cause problems for parents who are trying to keep an eye on what their kids are doing on their devices. My advice is that you don’t allow your kids to sideload apps at all. Whether it be Fortnite or anything else, letting your children bypass their device’s built-in security and privacy protections is simply a bad idea.

What Parents Should Know

The security and privacy settings that are built into your smartphones and tablets are there for a reason. It’s very important that you update your devices as soon as there is a new version available. That said, it does you no good to keep your phone updated if you are installing random software from all over the internet. In essence, that’s what sideloading apps is. You’re downloading files that could really come from anywhere and installing them into your device. This can lead to apps tracking your location, listening to your microphone, and even turning on and recording with your camera. The last thing you want is for your son or daughter to install some game and end up with images or video of themselves posted all over the internet by some hacker.

Yes, that example is extreme but it has happened before and there are apps out there that contain such harmful code. Even if the problem isn’t that bad, at the very least you’re opening your phone up for viruses that can shut it down permanently. I understand Epic Games trying to make more money by allowing downloads from their website but in this day and age where our data is being collected left and right, wouldn’t you prefer to go through the company that created your device’s software instead of just installing from wherever, willy nilly?

Fortnite isn’t that bad of a game, it’s rated T for teen because of the cartoon like violence and online experience. It has potential to be addictive for some kids and should be monitored for that reason. Again, I’m not saying every parent should avoid letting their kids play it, I’m saying you shouldn’t let them install it on Android from anywhere except the Google Play store.

August 6, 2018
PODCAST: What is eSports and will it be in the Olympics?

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Family Tech Update: What is IGTV? Facebook Messenger Kids wants to teach your kids kindness. What was up with the rocket launch in FORTNITE? Will eSports ever be in the Olympics?

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July 13, 2018
What the Heck Was Up With That Fortnite Rocket Launch?

One of the great things about video games is the fact that you can decide to play on your own schedule. Your kids can play when you say it’s ok and you can manage their screen time easier that way. The days of live TV are all but completely behind us as well since we can stream shows we love and record live TV for playback later. Fortnite, in another attempt at mega-hype, has put a bit of a wrench in the convenience of gaming as entertainment. The live rocket launch last weekend gave Fortnite players all a reason to be in-game, and likely forsake everything else.

The rocket launch was actually quite a feat of development for Epic Games as the launch was done live, simultaneously in every game that was running at the scheduled time. The rocket blasted off from a designated area and shuttled into the sky, blowing it’s first fuel tanks in an awe-inspiring explosion. Then the ship busted through the atmosphere, basically breaking the sky into pieces and causing quite the firework show. Finally, there were several more blasts as the shuttle rocketed in and out of the atmosphere and crashed on the game map, where it still sits for future games.

You can find videos of the occasion all over YouTube and see for yourself. The coolest part was that in most games players refrained from battling each other, exchanging emotes (dance moves and funny pantomime) until after the launch was successful. There is debate among players as to what the launch means for the game as some believe it’s a way for Epic Games to add new content and keep it a part of the minimal storyline and lore of the game. What isn’t in question, in my opinion, is the fact that many kids forsake anything they could have been doing that night to log on and see the launch for themselves.

Ok, Fine. Here’s What I Think About Fortnite

What Parents Should Know

Moms and dad that I have spoken with already have trouble understanding the time it takes to play a round of Fortnite. Mostly because it depends largely on how well you play. Obviously, if you die early your game ends early but you can just jump in and join a new one. If you make it a long time the round can take anywhere between thirty and forty minutes, again depending on the skills of the players. This causes parents to have trouble setting time limits and bedtimes for their younger kids. If they are supposed to turn it off at 10 pm but start a round at 9:45 there is no way they are going to give up half way through to go to bed. There is also the added issue of “squad mode” in which you play with your friends and try to win together as a team. If you’re not going to give up on a solo round the idea of bailing on your friends during a squad battle is absurd. As if this wasn’t enough for parents to have to wrap their minds around, Fortnite has now added live events to the game.

To my knowledge, there haven’t been any announcements on future live event dates but this one was so successful and created such a buzz that they are sure to do it again. As Fortnite players become familiar with the game they learn that it follows seasons that change over to include new updates (like some of the possibilities that this rocket launch could mean) and features. They are sure to want to get in on the action as soon as the July 12 season rollover hits, especially now that there is a supposed “dimensional rift” in the sky. When these live events come around, your kids are going to want to be a part of them. They may even consider it worth arguing with you about if you try and tell them they can’t play during the event.

My advice is to take it easy on them and remember how important it was to you to be able to wake up and see the next episode of your favorite cartoon on Saturday morning. Or how frustrated you may get if you have to miss the baseball game or soccer match next weekend because of some family obligation. Your kids see the events in their games in the same way. Yes, they can watch it later but they’ll argue that that is not the same. Obviously if something is going on that can’t be missed (i.e. a wedding, funeral, family reunion) you have an opportunity to teach them a lesson about priorities but if you’re just concerned about their screen time, encourage them to spend less time earlier in the week so they can be sure to have a reserve for logging on during the event. Or have them do extra chores or earn the extra time in another way.

My point is that you should give your son or daughter the freedom to decide that something like a rocket launch in their favorite video game is worth making a priority while continuing to guide them to smart and healthy decisions about their screen time. Was the launch cool? Absolutely. Was it a major feat in game development and hosting? Totally! Will your kid be scarred for life if they missed it? Probably not, but if they have the opportunity to be a part of it, why not let them take that chance?

July 2, 2018
Could the 2024 Olympics Host eSports?

The answer to that question is the main topic of a meeting to be held July 21 at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. The International Olympic Committee and the Global Association of International Sports Federations are meeting (AP) next month to hear from eSports experts, sponsors, and athletes and to discuss the possibility of the phenomenon becoming a part of the Olympic schedule.

The committee has already confirmed that games featuring violence, killing, and explosions (i.e. PubG, Street Fighter, or Fortnite) are off the table. The focus will mostly be on sports games such as FIFA. Fantasy games could be a grey area, though, so it’s too soon to say what we could see, if any at all, at the 2024 Olympics.

What Parents Should Know

eSports is a big big deal. It’s a big money industry and there’s no way it will be fading out any time soon. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Any time we create a way to compete against each other we will find people who enjoy watching the best compete on a public stage.

Really, the next inevitable phase was for eSports to make it into the regular sporting world. These competitions boast large viewership online and very high sponsorship dollar totals. Of course, this is very appealing to any sporting organization including the Olympics. And there are many gamers now who make their living by playing their favorite games. Whether it be competitively or for entertainment or combination of the two.

Fortnite Player, Ninja was recently rumored to make approximately $500,000 per month from his streaming channel on Twitch. It’s no surprise many kids and teens now tell their parents they want to grow up to play video games for a living. With the attention eSports is getting from athletic organizations such as the Olympic Committee don’t expect them to change their minds anytime soon.

June 28, 2018
A.R.K. Survival Evolved Mobile Lets You Ride Dinos and Fight Other Cavepeople Online

A.R.K. Survival Evolved is a PC survival game that has come to iOS and Android for free. In the game, you are dropped onto a jungle island full of dinosaurs, plants, resources, and even other players. You have to explore, scavenge, craft, and hunt to survive. You can build shelters and even tame dinos and other animals to serve as your mighty steeds. The game was wildly popular when it released last year on computer and has climbed the charts on iOS to be in the top five in only four days since release.

What Parents Should Know

A.R.K. is rated 12 + for violence and “fear themes.” The violence in the game is mostly committed against animals and dinosaurs for self-defense or hunting. There is a vs multiplayer mode in which you can play against up to 60 players from all over the world. Remember that online multiplayer modes are never rated because the content changes depending on how the users behave.

This game also has ads and features in-app purchases. You can pay to have the ads removed or purchase resources to speed up your development in the game. This game is “free to play” but is considered a “freemium” game. If you haven’t turned off in-app purchases on your devices, this game is they type that will make you want to do so immediately. It doesn’t take long to realize that by spending a few bucks you can advance in the game much faster. It is easier for kids to spend those bucks when they belong to mom and dad.

A.R.K. isn’t a horrible game, I recommended it before your typical first-person shooter or battle royale game. The violence is mostly not committed against other humans and there are a real story and survival element involved in the game. There are even dinosaurs and animals that you can be kind to and tame instead of just killing everything in site. If your children meet the age recommendation for the game and you feel like you can manage the amount of time they spend playing (survival games have a way of making you spend a ton of time playing without realizing it) then A.R.K. is a pretty fun option.

June 18, 2018
Fortnite is Available to Play Now on Nintendo Switch

At E3, today, Nintendo announced that the extremely popular battle royale game, Fortnite, is available to play on their latest console, the Switch. Fortnite is an online multiplayer battle royale game that rushed onto the scene several months ago and broke all kinds of records. The game is free to play on PS4, XBox, Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and now on Nintendo Switch as well. There are some limitations, however, as PS4 won’t allow you to play online with players who use other consoles or computers to play. Also, Nintendo says they will be using a pay model for their online gaming platform beginning in September, whether or not Fortnite will fall into the pay to play category at that time remains to be seen.

What Parents Should Know

I wrote an extensive article about my thoughts on Fortnite. If your kids enjoy playing the game and have a Nintendo switch then they will likely ask to download it for their console very soon. Nintendo announced that it’s available now so be sure to keep an eye on what your kids are playing and installing and who they are playing with. Fortnite keeps pretty well with Nintendo’s seemingly family-friendly nature since the game is rating T for Teen and not M for Mature. While some Mature games are available on the Switch, most of the games produced for the console are rated T or below. Just keep in mind that multiplayer gaming is officially unrated and that Fortnite is famous because of the ability to play online with other players.

June 12, 2018
Ok, Fine. Here’s What I Think About Fortnite

It’s one of the most popular questions at our Digital Boundaries Workshops and one of the most common messages I get on Facebook. Parents want to know what the deal is with Fortnite. Nothing since fidget spinners have had parents scratching their heads from such seemingly sudden popularity. I have mentioned it a few times in podcast episodes and articles about video games and addiction but I have yet to share my thoughts on the game itself. Since it was released on iOS a while back I finally downloaded it and played a few rounds. I must say, I’m not very good at it but that didn’t keep me from seeing what makes it so much fun.

Fortnite is a Battle Royale game. In this wildly popular game style, players drop onto a playing field empty handed and have to find weapons and take each-other out until only one player is left standing. The last man standing wins. This game-mode was made popular by Player Unknown’s Battleground and H1Z1. Both are battle royale games that have been around while in development for a while. Their popularity was increased by the competitive nature of the last man standing format and streamers who play online for a live viewing audience. Fortnite is the first Battle Royale game to get a T for Teen rating since the graphics are more cartoon-like and the violence isn’t bloody or gory at all. When a player is shot they dissolve into a blue current of some kind.

Fortnite is also free to play, unquestioningly contributing to its popularity as well. Since kids can download this game for free on their XBox, Playstation, Mac, PC, iPhone, or Android phone, it is basically available to anyone at all who would like to try it. In fact, this game has swept every category of every app store in the world.

The app became the best-selling app in 13 countries less than 12 hours after its release, coming in the top five in a further 12. It’s worth noting that that’s not for the games chart – Fortnite Mobile is the best-selling app in the world, currently beating out YouTube for the top spot. – PCGamesN.com

People Watching People Playing Fortnite

As absurd as it may seem to you, millions of viewers tune in every day to watch their favorite YouTube Creators and Streamers play their favorite video games. Some watch to learn to be better at playing themselves, others just like to watch someone else play because they can’t play as well, and sometimes a streamer or YouTuber is just very very entertaining to watch. The head of Gaming, VR, and AR on YouTube had this to say about Fortnite’s popularity on YouTube:

“How big is @FortniteGame on YouTube? Fortnite holds the record for the most videos related to a video game uploaded in a single month EVER. Yesterday, the Battle Royale tournament had over 42M live views, and set a record for biggest single live gaming stream @ 1.1M concurrent,” – Ryan Wyatt, YouTube

The impact this game is having on our kids’ culture is massive. Kids have been watching other people play video games for a long long time, i.e. Minecraft. Gamers are making a lot of money by building their communities of viewers and accepting sponsorships, subscriptions, and donation funds. It is actually a major industry and kids are noticing. I have had several parents recently tell me their kids want to play games for a living when they grow up. I tell these parents not to get too discouraged about this news since it is actually a career path that many have taken and have come to benefit from.

It isn’t going away, esports is very popular. The Luxor in Las Vegas built the city’s first ever esports (electronic sports) arena and has already held some majorly successful events there. One of those events was a record-breaking event featuring Ninja, a professional streamer, and Fortnite player. The event featured Fortnite players from all over the world competing against Ninja and the competitors won $2500 if they killed Ninja in a match and another $2500 for winning a match. Twitch.tv streams of this event reached as many as 667,000 viewers at one time during the event. The most online viewers of any gaming event at any one time. Lots of people enjoy watching other people play video games and it’s big business.

Ninja streams a round of Fortnite on Twitch.tv

Well, I played it and here’s what I learned.

Fortnite Battle Royale is wildly popular for several reasons. First of all, it’s very approachable. You can jump into the game for free and start playing as often as you’d like. You will get destroyed over and over again as you learn the game but if you’re any good at first-person shooters, it won’t take you too long to get the hang of it.

Secondly, it is fast-paced. The action is immediate and it’s non-stop. You don’t really get any downtime with Fortnite Battle Royale once the battle starts. You have to immediately begin running around and finding resources to craft defenses and weapons and ammo to fight with. While you’re battling a relentless “storm” is approaching that drives all players to the middle. If you get caught in the storm your health slowly ticks away until you either get out of the storm or die. You’re also drawn to resource drops that seem to collect enemies to battle against as well while rewarding your bravery with better weapons and gear. These features are common to all Battle Royale games but the cartoon-like graphics and silly dance moves and costumes set Fortnite apart.

The third reason I think this game is so popular is the social aspect. Squad mode is one of the most popular versions of the game in which you can connect with your friends and win as a team. Being able to sign on and fight with their friends in squad mode gives Fortnite major appeal with younger gamers. You can also connect with random people in squad mode, opening up the ability to voice chat with them.

What Parents Should Know

First person shooters are a tricky thing to discuss with parents. While I DO NOT believe that playing shooter games desensitizes all kids enough to cause them to be violent. I do think that there are those who shouldn’t get involved in the first person shooter genre for a variety of reasons. FPS play can increase the symptoms of ADHD and other Hyperactivity disorders. Too much screen time has been cited to slow educational development and decrease creativity among kids ten and under. Games like Fortnite increase the likelihood of “lost time” on screens. Lost time is that feeling when you sit down to play a game and before you know it you’ve been playing for hours. Our kids experience this phenomenon for a lot of reasons but gaming seems to be the most common cause. It contributes to more wasted time and a decrease in productivity, exercise, and “green time.” (Time outside.)

Parents should be aware that while not gory, Fortnite is rated T for Teen because of violence. In a society where the topic of guns and shootings are more heated than ever, the first person shooter genre always enters the conversation. Like I said, I haven’t found evidence to support the claim that shooting games create murderers but I do know that if our kids are younger than the recommended age for the video games they are playing, they can suffer negative consequences. If nothing else these games increase interest in the topics of guns and shooting. Some may see that as positive, some may not. Either way, parents should be aware of these possibilities.

https://becausefamily.org/podcast-parents-guide-to-the-entertainment-software-ratings-system/

Finally, parents should understand that Fortnite is played online with millions of other people. “Matchmaking” for rounds of the game is random and you can be connected with anyone of any age from anywhere. The game is played by people of all ages and once you have someone’s “Gamertag” or “username” you can be friends and invite them to your squad. There is no rating for online multiplayer games because the experience is impacted so much by the people you’re playing with. Just be aware that your child is playing a video game with strangers from all over the world.

Overall Fortnite is a low impact shooter game that keeps it animated enough to keep it from being a problem for most kids. Just watch for obsessive and addictive behavior and be sure to be firm on your time limits. Use something like UnGlue to help keep track of how much time your kids are spending online and talk to them often about their time playing Fortnite. Learn about their multiplayer experience and teach them what to do if they feel worried or creeped out by anyone’s behavior while they’re playing. They shouldn’t join squads with people they don’t know in real life (you can voice chat within your squad) and just be generally aware of what they do when they play. You can’t be clueless about the things your kids like to do and who they do those things with. I wrote this article to take away your excuse. Don’t forget to comment or send us an email from the contact page if you have any questions about Fortnite or games like it.

May 31, 2018