Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Original poster

Fortnite/Roblox chat for 8 year old?

19 replies

confusedallday · 18/08/2025 16:14

Hi,

My DS has asked for the above, so far I’ve had it blocked. He said his school friends now all have chat and he wants it too, to talk to them.

I can’t decide what to do, I’m not overly comfortable allowing this and worry it’s too young to allow more freedom online BUT I also don’t want him left out.

I am being too overprotective here?

Thanks

OP posts:
Isthatarealname · 18/08/2025 16:18

Its a no from me for my 9 year old DD. She can't be sure at her age that the people adding her as actually her friends. I had it enabled for a day, she got added by someone called "SophieXXXX" (name changed) and assumed it was her friend Sophie from school. I questioned how they got her username as its nothing to do with her actual name, she didnt know as she didnt know her username herself so we had a big conversation around this probably not being Sophie and chat is disabled indefinitely.

mummybearSW19 · 18/08/2025 16:19

It’s a no from me. Until at least age 13.

MynameisJune · 18/08/2025 16:21

It’s a no from me for my 10yr old DD.

She FaceTimes her friends on her iPad whilst she’s playing and they chat that way and play the same games. Much safer and I know what’s been said.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

8 year olds Families General parenting Video games
BestZebbie · 18/08/2025 16:22

Tbh Fortnite is rated Teen (13+) or PEGI 12, so letting an 8yr old play it at all is the same as letting a 12yr old play 18+ games - and it is particularly addictive - so I don't think chat is your main problem there.

Original poster
confusedallday · 18/08/2025 16:32

Roblox is a no go, my god some of those articles!

If I do enable chat on Fortnite he’d have to play it on the tv whilst I’m there (or his Dad) so I can monitor and it would be strictly only his friends. I have a pin set up so he can’t add friends without my consent. I also check it to make sure he hasn’t accepted anyone we don’t know.

OP posts:
Original poster
confusedallday · 18/08/2025 16:36

BestZebbie · 18/08/2025 16:22

Tbh Fortnite is rated Teen (13+) or PEGI 12, so letting an 8yr old play it at all is the same as letting a 12yr old play 18+ games - and it is particularly addictive - so I don't think chat is your main problem there.

I appreciate that but the content of Fortnite doesn’t concern me as I monitor it and I have parental controls. He also cannot access 18+ games due to the controls.We also limit the time he spends on it, he gets access maybe twice a week if that.

OP posts:
Original poster
confusedallday · 18/08/2025 16:36

BestZebbie · 18/08/2025 16:22

Tbh Fortnite is rated Teen (13+) or PEGI 12, so letting an 8yr old play it at all is the same as letting a 12yr old play 18+ games - and it is particularly addictive - so I don't think chat is your main problem there.

I appreciate that but the content of Fortnite doesn’t concern me as I monitor it and I have parental controls. He also cannot access 18+ games due to the controls.We also limit the time he spends on it, he gets access maybe twice a week if that.

OP posts:
MissyB1 · 18/08/2025 16:53

A hard no from me. It causes no end of issues.

GivingUpFinally · 18/08/2025 16:59

We don't allow our 10yo access to either fortnite or roblox but do allow minecraft. (Time limited etc) It does not have an open mic chat on ps5 or St least husband hasn't enabled it. We only allow friends as contacts and have arranged this via WhatsApp with the other parents. If they want to voice chat we sometimes allow our phones to be used on speaker calls with the other kids. A kind of virtual play date.

We've also already had chats about online safety and what's allowed and not.

MadisonMarieParksValetta · 18/08/2025 17:57

Fortnite is fine. The party's are private. He will only be able to hear his friends and only they will hear him.

Glittertwins · 18/08/2025 18:03

We didn’t allow Roblox at all at age 8, let alone the chat function. I don’t think we enabled that until 13 in lockdown but then it was mainly Fortnite with friends. Roblox was quite bad for the chats then, I don’t know what it’s like now as they’ve grown out of it but I wouldn’t feel comfortable with an 8 yr old .

ChimpanzeeThatMonkeyNews · 18/08/2025 18:07

I’ve had this conversation with my son, and the answer was ‘absolutely not’.

Tiberius12 · 18/08/2025 18:18

MynameisJune · 18/08/2025 16:21

It’s a no from me for my 10yr old DD.

She FaceTimes her friends on her iPad whilst she’s playing and they chat that way and play the same games. Much safer and I know what’s been said.

Mine do exactly the same - facetime while they play together. Then you know exactly who they are talking to.

Snorlaxo · 18/08/2025 18:23

I used to make my son chat to his friend on FaceTime while playing Roblox so their chat was private and they could be sure who they were talking to. They were happy with that compromise

dylexicdementor11 · 18/08/2025 18:25

My LO is significantly older but I would not allow either. LO uses FaceTime or WhatsApp to chat with friends when gaming. We wouldn’t allow Roblox at all.
LO understands that parents parent differently and that we are very strict when it comes to online gaming/social media and mobiles.

https://millerlawgroupnc.com/blog/roblox-grooming-how-online-predators-exploit-game-features/

CharSiu · 18/08/2025 18:30

Roblox is known for being a site for people looking to groom and exploit children online.

WhiteRose222 · 18/08/2025 18:30

No for our 8yo who plays Roblox. No chat.

InMyHealthyEra · 18/08/2025 18:31

I would as long as you have the correct privacy settings and restrictions so that you know your child is only talking to people that are actually friends in real life and there’s no risk of anyone else joining/adding as a friend.
As others have suggested doing a FaceTime call is a brilliant idea if you’re unsure how to set safety restrictions or want extra peace of mind.

InMyHealthyEra · 18/08/2025 18:31

Sorry, posted twice

New posts on this thread. Refresh page