Since it's one of the most popular games in history, it seems as if Fortnite is either breaking a record or changing the way the public views video games on any given week. From becoming the most-watched game on Twitch to being the game that earns Ninja over $500,000 a month, Fortnite constantly makes headlines. Unfortunately, some of these headlines are related to video game addiction.
While Fortnite is only one of the many games to be regarded as a cause for video game addiction, its recent popularity has made it one of the leading referenced causes for addiction in both younger and older gamers. However, because of Fortnite's aim to appeal to a younger audience, too many parents are finding that their kids' lives are consumed by it. Sadly, for some parents, the addiction has too tight of a grasp on their kids, and they have been forced to turn to rehab for help.
In a recent interview, one mother revealed that her son spends 12 hours every day playing Fortnite. As a result, he constantly sleeps in class and, in turn, his grades have dropped significantly. She stated that she has never seen a game that has this much control over kids' minds. This stance has been echoed by a multitude of parents around the globe, many of whom have been forced to send their kids to rehab.
This is not the first time Fortnite has been cited as the chief cause of problems at home. Two months ago, it was revealed that Fortnite was cited in over 200 UK divorce court cases.
Regarding Fortnite, British behavioral specialist, Lorrine Marer, stated, "This game is like heroin . . . Once you are hooked, it's hard to get unhooked." This isn't the first instance of games being compared to heroin, as a recent study showed gaming could be as addictive as heroin. This lines up with the World Health Organization's recent classification of compulsive gaming as a mental health disorder.
Regardless of a person's stance on compulsive gaming–or Fortnite for that matter–the fact that many parents feel the need to send their kids to rehab for addiction is tragic. It raises many questions, including whether or not more parents should strongly enforce age restrictions on certain games.
Fortnite is available now for Android, iOS, PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, and Xbox One.
Source: Bloomberg