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Original poster

Fortnite/ online gaming plea

30 replies

Sonia84 · 19/04/2020 14:43

Before I begin:
I am not looking for judgement or unsolicited opinions. My son is ALWAYS supervised when playing online.

I’m also not sure if this is the right place for this thread.

My son is getting very lonely on lockdown and is desperate for new people his age to play fortnite online with. He’s 9 and uses a PlayStation. Playing online had been a bit of a lifeline for him as he’s been able to socialise and chat with friends.
It would be amazing if anyone had a child of a similar age that plays as well and can chat online, and is in a similar position.

OP posts:
Scoobygang7 · 19/04/2020 14:49

You may have a better chance if you post on a reddit sub forum for fortnite. Maybe some adults that play it will have kids that do too.

Original poster
Sonia84 · 19/04/2020 14:52

I honestly don’t know how to navigate Reddit. Don’t suppose you could give me some pointers/ advice?

OP posts:
Gtugccbjb · 19/04/2020 14:54

I might be interested in this , same situation- 8 yr old boy, PlayStation. Only how do we find out that each other arnt total weirdos??

Interested in this thread?

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Families General parenting Video games
Gtugccbjb · 19/04/2020 14:56

I don’t understand enough about it and I’m worried that the only way they can chat is through headphones and then the parents can’t hear.

The friends my Son plays with are a couple of years older and they often leave him out and don’t let him join games, makes him sad.

fascinated · 19/04/2020 14:59

Why is he unable to play with his usual friends? Don’t quite understand.

HoffiCoffi13 · 19/04/2020 15:00

Can’t he play with the people he normally plays with?

Original poster
Sonia84 · 19/04/2020 15:00

Because they’re in lockdown.

OP posts:
Original poster
Sonia84 · 19/04/2020 15:01

I have sent you a PM

OP posts:
fascinated · 19/04/2020 15:01

And they don’t have internet?

HoffiCoffi13 · 19/04/2020 15:02

But surely they have the same access to internet as they did before lockdown?

BaronessBomburst · 19/04/2020 15:05

My DS is 10 and in a similar position. He's been playing Roblox Adopt Me online with school friends. They set up a group chat on Teams or WhatsApp and chat that way, whilst they play online. Is that something he could try? That way you don't meet strangers or randoms online.

Original poster
Sonia84 · 19/04/2020 15:05

Why are people already being judgmental?!
They don’t all have playstations. He’s been on lockdown for over a month now and would like new people to play with (as well as people he’s played with before) does it really matter?
If you can’t be helpful, why reply?

OP posts:
Original poster
Sonia84 · 19/04/2020 15:07

Most of my son’s friends don’t have phones. He talks a lot to one person in particular using his phone and online, but after a month of each other they’re getting a bit testy with one another. As I’m sure lots of us are! Smile

OP posts:
Rubyroses3 · 19/04/2020 15:17

I don't think anyone is being judgemental. I think everyone is just wondering what happened to the usual people he plays with online. Or he doesn't usually play with others?

Original poster
Sonia84 · 19/04/2020 15:17

My son has a similar problem with being left out or “kicked” from games.

OP posts:
BillieEilish · 19/04/2020 15:21

Hi OP I'll ask DD (11) when she is back on Wednesday. She would love new friends to play with, we live in Spain and would love an English person to play with (she is very good though Grin)

She only plays with boys as girls don't like it. I'll PM you Wednesday. She plays through an ipad using headphones so I'll check it would work. I agree, they all get fed up/bored with each other.

She's very sensible, she blocks anyone she doesn't like the look of!
As I'm sure you do! Can't hurt can it.

BillieEilish · 19/04/2020 15:24

People have online lessons/ are doing something else/ get fed up with each other/ don't all play the game/ have restrictions/ various reasons
Ruby

They get into a game with someone else and you have to wait for them to finish before inviting you to start a new game etc...

DD has lessons 9/4 though. But plays outside these times.

Original poster
Sonia84 · 19/04/2020 15:52

@billieEilish that’s perfect, thank you!

OP posts:
fascinated · 19/04/2020 16:04

I think people are just testing in case you are an adult posing as a child’s mum to get access to kids. It can happen!

BillieEilish · 19/04/2020 16:12

Well DD and I would suss that out in one fifth of a second wouldn't we?

I think it is because people have a very odd attitude and many quite snobby misconceptions about Fortnite. All sorts of rumours surrounding this completely innocuous game.

fascinated · 19/04/2020 16:29

Nothing to do with Fortnite and everything to do with just being careful.

Original poster
Sonia84 · 19/04/2020 16:35

Any parent who allows their child to play fortnite is responsible for their safety. My child is supervised at all times while he’s playing.

OP posts:
PrincessConsueIaBananaHammock · 19/04/2020 16:40

It's not a good idea to share your kid's online details with randoms.

What's the point of banging on about internet safety and then go "here play with this random "kid"that we've never met"

Would you let your children play with knives just because they're bored and lonely because of the lockdown?

Original poster
Sonia84 · 19/04/2020 16:55

Dong be so hysterical and ridiculous. How is playing a game under supervision the same as playing with knives?
If I took him to a park I would let him play with children he hadn’t met before.
He is very quick to block anyone who he has any misgivings about, and as I’ve said before, he is under constant supervision when he’s playing online.

OP posts:
hauntedvagina · 19/04/2020 17:10

OP I would be incredibly cautious about letting your child play online with anyone who isn't a real life friend.