Parents should take interest in video games which NSPCC have warned about

The NSPCC have raised concerns this week about the video game Fortnite and its chat function.

Fortnite is a free computer game with 45 million registered players. It includes the ability to chat to other players around the world while playing.

The National Society for the Protection of Children are worried that the text messaging system in the game cannot be disabled.  

They also reckon that in general, not just in Fortnite, 25% of children have been contacted online by strangers.

Andy Robertson, a family gaming expert and father of two said the warning doesn’t mean parents need to stop their children having fun: “It’s like any of these games, you need to have it in balance” and encouraged parents to be involved in their children’s decisions about gaming.

Andy said: “My older son is 12 and plays it and I think gets a lot out of it, there’s lots of community, lots of strategy but at the same you need to keep an eye on other aspects that are highlighted by the NSPCC.”

Fortnite is rated 12 and is a survival game with zombie-like creatures who try to attack those left alive on Earth. Similar to other modern games, the ability to chat to other players is essential.

“Being able to communicate with the other players in fortnite – that’s up to 100 different people – is a key part of the game” said Andy.

“As long as the parents know that is a feature then they can set up their console and configure the way their child plays…