Four in ten parents of children who play Fortnite are worried about how addictive the hugely popular game is. That is the result of a survey by Dutch TV news RTL Nieuws. “The addictive game causes a lot of conflict in families.”
The free game Fortnite is a craze at primary and secondary schools. The game has 200 million registered users and was released by Epic Games on 25 July 2017.
Research by DVJ Insights, commissioned by RTL Nieuws, shows that 40 percent of parents of children who play the game are worried about how addictive it is.
7 hours a week
In the families surveyed, 65 percent of the children play the game. On average they play 7 hours a week.
73 percent of the parents have set rules for their children about playing Fortnite.
Endless
Fortnite can be played on all kinds of devices and never ends. The game is very addictive, says youth doctor Jeanne-Marie Hament. “In my consulting room I see many parents who battle with their children over this game every day.”
According to the youth doctor, the game is very cleverly designed. “Children really get drawn into the game. Fortnite is very well and cleverly put together. Parents are not given an easy time getting them out of the game.”
Paying for items
Even though Fortnite costs nothing to get, gamers can pay money to buy various items they can use in the game. The game maker earns money from, among other things, selling so-called V-Bucks and Battle Passes, which come out at the start of every new season.
The survey commissioned by RTL Nieuws shows that almost half (45 percent) of all children make purchases. 61 percent spend less than 10 euros a month.
Not filtering well
According to the most recent figures, problematic gaming occurs among 3 percent of primary school pupils and 4 percent of secondary school pupils in the Netherlands. The trend is rather worrying: “The number of gamers who are addicted is growing and they are getting younger and younger,” says youth doctor Jeanne-Marie Hament.
According to her, the effects on daily life can be considerable. “Children can become aggressive, for example, when they are not allowed to play. Homework suffers, and in the worst cases children skip school to play the game.”
With Fortnite, she is especially worried because the game is so addictive. “With Lego, as a parent you know: my child will get bored and have had enough soon. With Fortnite it is never really over. You can always get better. You never get enough of it. It is never boring. That doesn’t make it easy for parents.”
Mother Lisette van der Kuy knows all about it. Her children couldn’t be dragged away from their computers either, which caused a lot of conflict every day. She had had enough of it, so she came up with a system herself: time cards (Mytimingcards).
“The cards give children a lot of clarity and control in a playful way. I have cards of 15, 30 and 60 minutes,” says Lisette.
Fun and handy
“The cards have different symbols: smartphone, tablet or computer. There is also a contract, which children love because they get to sign it. It works!”
Fighting your child’s Fortnite addiction? Lisette came up with a trick
As a parent, do you want to keep your son’s or daughter’s gaming within limits? These tips might help.
Putting the brakes on games like this
According to the experts, parents would do well to make clear agreements with their child. “And reward your child when they stick to them. Also take an interest in the game itself. Then you know what you are talking about,” says youth doctor Hament.
According to her, more regulation would also be a good idea. “By forming a panel of, for example, parents, youth doctors, psychologists and politicians. Together they should consider the question: what do we consider healthy? And what is needed for that?”
RTL Nieuws asked the makers of Fortnite for a response, but did not receive one.
Parents on the game Fortnite
Games are played in 79% of all households in the Netherlands with children under 18. In these households, 65% play Fortnite.
25% of the children who play Fortnite are girls and 75% are boys.
They play Fortnite for an average of 7 hours a week.
73% of parents have set rules for their children about playing Fortnite.
82% have set rules about making purchases in Fortnite.
84% of parents say they have to give permission for this in Fortnite. In total, almost half (45%) of all children who play Fortnite make purchases within the game. 61% spend less than 10 euros a month.
Only 20% of all parents are worried about the money their children spend on Fortnite. 50% are not worried, or only slightly.
Parents are very divided about the time children spend on it: 38% are (somewhat) worried about it, 33% are neutral and 31% are not worried, or only slightly.
The survey was carried out by DVJ Insights, commissioned by RTL Nieuws.
Source: RTL Nieuws
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