AIBU to think that Fortnite is too violent for a 7 year old?

[Celestia26]

I have a son aged 7, who has a few classmates who play Fortnite quite alot.

He's started talking about it, but because it contains guns and shooting I have said he can't play it.

AIBU? I haven't played it myself, so I'm just judging it on what I've heard.

I watch/play it with my teen and it's certainly not suitable for 7 year olds - it's a 12 for a reason.

It is only one player so unlikely he will play at his friends I would think- unless his mate is that obsessed he will make your dc just watch.

I have an older one, not 12 but I allow them to play it and I don't think it's that bad. It's no worse than a 12a avenger film for example. I won't let the younger one play until they are the same age and they accept that, friends playing it or otherwise.

A lot of it is quite jokey which lightens the tone but I would say 9 minimum really, same as a 12a as I say.

Yanbu. My 8 and 9 year olds asked and asked to play it. I checked it out and was pleased that I had made the right decision by not letting them play it. The Yr4 teacher at school is also the school's designated online safety person and she is quite concerned about the number of 8 and 9 year olds playing it. My children don't need to play a battle royale-style game.

12 year olds are too old for Fortnite! 😆 Try telling that to my 14 year old and the friends he plays with online... 🎮

Or there even is the app YouTube Kids

My 6yo was playing in 4yo neighbour's house and he was playing it, without me realising.. he's no longer allowed in there, which is a pity and now I'm paranoid about both being the only parent that says no as and simultaneously, leaving him into anyone's house in case it or any inappropriate games are on.

Never had a particularly intelligent conversation with a kid obsessed with fortnite

I think it's not really violent but my goodness kids (and I talk about several I know) are totally and utterly glued to the telly with it and no conversation is even possible with them

Hmm DS is 6 recently went to a fortnite themed party for a child who was turning 6

I didn't raise any eyebrows as I had no idea what it was and really all that meant was a fortnite cake. Quite intrigued to see you all saying it's too old for 7

Never heard anything positive about the game FN, people use “obsessed” and “addicted” in relation to it. Not great for young minds.

There’s a huge panic about Fortnite from people who know nothing about it when if you actually played you’d see it’s a lot less violent than Minecraft. The age rating is there due to the online chat but ds only chats to his friends and plays on the tv in the front room where I can monitor it. Literally every other boy in his class plays.
I limit to 30 mins a day. They can’t get addicted and play non stop unless you allow it.

I just asked my 12 yr old how old was too young to play Fortnite and he said 5! So I asked didn’t he think it was too violent for a 7 year old and he said he didn’t consider it real violence as it wasn’t gory at all. He didn’t start to play it until he was 11 or 12, can’t quite remember.. he is 13 next June.

My son said the only downside was that they will be nagging you to buy Vbucks which is the currency in Fortnite. DS said he knows boys who stole their parents credit cards to buy Vbucks. Needless to say they were punished.

I definitely see an improvement in my son’s behaviour the less he is online. He often has too much homework to spend time gaming after school.

I'm sure volent would be skull bashing blood flowing brain exploding ect. Which fortnite has none of either.

It is a younger game no gore, but it is level of addiction some kids learn from it is scary., then there is lots of extra costs for v bucks. Most 7 year olds play it. I would limit the time though.

My biggest concern would be the addictive quality to it, and a very young child's inability to deal with that. I've seen children in school unable to think of anything else, no lesson will live up to it, and they're exhausted from playing and dying to get home to it. Obviously parenting NB here. Pretty frightening though.

Fuck no. Our 7yo won't be going near that shite until he's 9. He is just 7yo and can be obsessive about stuff. Luckily just one child in his class has access to Fortnite and they have older siblings, so rather unavoidable.

If that makes me an uncool mum then so bloody be it.

I don’t even let my 10 yr olds play it!! And hardly anyone in their class does either (according to my DCs). They’re in Y6.

My 6 year old is aware of it (July baby so probably the same year as your ds) alot of her friends at school play it and there is no way in hell she will be playing it any time soon. The only thing our xbox is used for is playing YouTube through the TV and Netflix these days.

In my year 4 class the children who play Fortnite really struggle to play in a non aggressive way during break and lunchtime. Their concentration span is short and they are regularly violent towards each other and other children. Could be coincidence but I think probably not.

Just let your kid go to friends but day he's not allowed Fortnite first. They should respect your parenting decisions. My 10yo plays but it's v addictive.

I would have no problem with it. It's just a game. In the lego games you can run people over...age guides are just that a guide. It's for a parent to decide if child can cope.

I've never had a problem with my kids being addicted or violent either.