ABC Radio: Should Parents Be Worried When Their Children Play Fortnite?

The battle royale builder game Fortnite has been enjoying a lot of success since its launch last summer. Fortnite’s Battle Royale mode is hugely popular, with 10 million players participating in the free-to-play mode. Because so many of the players are kids, should parents be concerned about the impact of Fortnite?

That was the question posed on ABC’s Good Morning America (GMA) show on TV last week. The reason for this question is that some families are concerned about the amount of time their children spend playing games. Blogger Amy Sellings, also a parent, wrote an article saying she “lost” her children to Fortnite. Sellings explains that her two children are so addicted to the game that she doesn’t see them “for hours” after they get home from school. Her children jumped right into playing Fortnite instead of talking to their mother.

It’s not a new issue for parents to be concerned about their kids spending too much time playing video games, and the vast majority of online viewers seem justified in having the GMA address the issue. However, the GMA was criticized for its decision to use a report from the World Health Organization on the classification of excessive gaming as a psychological disorder. That report has been opposed by many big names in the gaming industry as well as health experts. While the GMA did say the report generated “a lot of mixed opinions,” it didn’t say the report was being strongly opposed.

In addition, the GMA also mentioned the comments of the US president, Donald Trump, about violent games leading to massacres. Again, Trump’s words are disputed and have no authenticity based on any scientific research. GMA is considered irresponsible for not verifying this information.

While Fortnite has been criticized, GMA guests and sports psychologist Dr. Jonathan Fader said gaming can have a positive effect on young players because it helps children work in groups as well as socialize. society. This is especially beneficial for children who do not join any sports teams or clubs. Dr. Fader also encourages families to continue to learn more about the game their child is playing, including engaging in co-play so they can better understand their child’s interests.