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Cyber Expert Reviewer:
Reviewed on Oct 21, 2022
Fortnite is a video game that can be played on mobile devices, Playstation and PC. The Fortnite app allows users to compete in the games famously popular Battle Royale competitions on the go. Battle Royale is characterized by short play sessions in which players can play solo or in a team. Players are dropped into an interactive map where they are required to strategize and compete to be the last ones standing.
While the object of the game is to kill opponents, the graphics are cartoonish and visuals of blood and gore are minimal. Some of the key concerns when it comes to Fortnite Battle Royale are contact with strangers, inappropriate or aggressive language during games, in-game purchases and screen-time. Parents should set boundaries around game play, including when kids are allowed to play and who with, supervising conversations, using the in-platform parental controls, and getting involved wherever possible.
Although Fortnite is free to download, players are actually given the opportunity to make purchases during game play. Real life currency can be used to purchase items such as skins, customised outfits, special dance moves for their avatars and V-Bucks (in game currency). To avoid any nasty surprises on your credit card, disable in-app purchases on your child's device or console. This can also easily be done in the settings section of the Fortnite game itself.
While in a party with friends or when teamed up with random players during a match, a voice chat channel becomes available. Kids should form their own parties and only chat to real life friends through this feature.
Fortnite has in-built parental controls, which are helpful settings that parents can implement to control mature language, turn voice chat off, and even receive weekly play time reports. Depending on the age of your child, you may want to utilize these tools to decrease any potential privacy risks and manage exposure to other players who may be a little immature or inappropriate in their language.
Always ensure that your username doesn't include your first and last name, or your birthday. Make sure you don't reveal any other personal information about yourself to others in the chat or messaging features. Other users can use that information to find you in other places, including in 'real-life'.
You don't need to buy anything within the game to be able to play and enjoy it fully! Kids have accidentally racked big bills because of pesky in-app purchases. You can turn off in-app purchases to avoid the temptation.
The Gold Standard: COPPA [Implemented globally, legally enforced only in the U.S.]
California: CCPA
U.K and Europe: GDPR-K
Australia: Online Safety Act 2021