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What is Fortnite?
Launched in 2017 by the American video game distributor Epic Games, Fornite has met with immense success with a large panel of users, among children, adolescents and adults. A true global phenomenon, online gaming already had more than 250 million players in 2019. A number that has continued to grow, especially during the health crisis. Accessible on many media – PC, Mac, smartphones, tablets, Xbox… – it is also possible to play it for free.
There are several versions of Fortnite:
- Battle Royale: a hundred players compete on an island to survive by collecting weapons;
- Save The World: The player can play solo, duo or in a team of four to survive in a world infested with zombies.
Video games: what is the PEGI ranking?
All video games, whether sold in physical media or for download, are stamped with a logo indicating the minimum age of the player, as well as the type of content (for example if the game contains scenes of violence or may offend sensitivity). This is called the PEGI (Pan European Game Information) ranking.
According to this classification, Fortnite is not recommended for players under the age of 12 due to “frequent scenes of moderate violence”. Recommendations to be taken with a distance, according to some parents.
Parents’ testimonials
“It depends above all on the maturity of the child, says Virginie, a 36-year-old mother. I let Felix, my 9 year old son, play for an hour a day on weekends. The aesthetic is childish and colorful, devoid of any form of realism. Certainly there are battles, but in the manner of a cartoon, without any drop of blood or real violence in my opinion. “
Same observation on the side of Gauthier, 42, who accepts that his daughter Nina, 10, plays Fortnite moderately on weekdays and weekends. “I always impose a time limit because I know that screens have a deleterious effect on children. But I cannot deprive her of a game that “everyone is playing”. Socially I think it’s important to her, and we are far from realistic war scenes like GTA or Call of Duty. “
Experiment with the game yourself to get an idea and support the child
Aurélie and Gauthier both tested Fortnite before letting their children play in turn. “I had a lot of preconceptions, confesses Aurélie. I imagined violence and a mind-numbing game that could disturb my son. “ By dint of many heated discussions and bitter negotiations, she agrees to test the game online, without much conviction. “I was surprised to find that it was also a game of construction, reflection and collaboration. YouTube videos of gamers also allowed me to explore upcoming levels to make sure the universe remained childish. “
For Gauthier, the Fortnite experiment opened the discussion with his daughter. “She was happy to introduce me to the game. I was both surprised and worried that she knew Fortnite well enough, having played it in the playground before. This moment was an opportunity to discuss together the reactions to adopt or not when playing an online game: managing your frustration when you lose a game, reacting to any insults from another user or blocking a player if needed. ”
Both parents have also taken care to manage the game’s privacy options before letting their child use it. “Felix’s account is in private. He cannot therefore discuss with the other members ”, emphasizes Aurélie. At Gauthier, confidentiality is limited to his daughter’s friends. “She only chats with her school friends. I am connected to his account with my smartphone and regularly check that the atmosphere remains good-natured. ”
Support that paves the way for broader prevention in digital best practices.
The possible dangers of Fortnite
For other parents, the age limit indicated by the PEGI classification is justified anyway. This is the case of Floriane, 39, mother of Diego, 11. “The violence is not necessarily in the image, it is also in the intention of the game and in the choice of words. I believe that my son is not mature enough to distance himself from this imaginary universe. ”
Online chat, integrated into the game, can also be a source of concern for parents. Instant messaging and the microphone can be turned off to prevent anyone from coming into contact with your child.
Finally, if the game is available for free, in-app purchases allow you to acquire items to personalize your character. It is essential to explain to your child that it is real money and not virtual money, in order to avoid unpleasant surprises on his bank account.
Remaining vigilant and supervising the use of video games remain essential. A “screen quota” makes it possible to limit the time of exposure to screens, which is harmful to children, in particular in the evening. The risk of dependence is also present. If you notice strong anxiety, recurring irritability caused by the urge to gamble, nightmares or loss of attention, do not hesitate to turn to a health professional who can advise you on the behavior to adopt.