I wouldn't lump Fortnite and Roblox together - one of my main reasons for allowing Fortnite is that it doesn't have loot boxes or similar gambling elements. (On a non gambling note I also think Fortnite has much tighter controls over who your child can communicate with).
Fortnite does have in game purchasing though and I would say this plays a fairly big role in the whole experience, with lots of franchise tie-ins and celebrity collaborations. Importantly, items purchased are not random, you know exactly what you're getting. It's also not permitted for purchased items to confer any kind of player advantage - they're cosmetic only.
How we deal with the money element is this: My child gets £1 a week pocket money and he often saves this up to spend on VBux which pays for Fortnite items or a battle pass. He also received VBux gift cards at Christmas. So any money used is 'his' and we don't give extra just because he wants something right now. I was skeptical at first about him spending money on something that isn't 'real' but it's not that different to me paying to stream music.
Oh thank you so much for clarifying Amanda! This is very helpful. It looks like Fortnite ended loot boxes in 2019, but announced in November that it is bringing them back in some circumstances (“paid random items”) - BUT they are banned for minors in certain countries, including the UK (not the U.S.)! https://kotaku.com/fortnite-loot-boxes-gambling-roblox-2000642980
One potential way to get kids attention would be to share video essays from some of the popular YouTube stars who've talked about it. Drew Gooden is one (https://youtu.be/DlMLfxxvKD8?si=dQ1N3_y5RLzduvXj) Coffeezilla is another, and there are probably many others. Sometimes things resonate better when kids hear it from their favorite "stars" or people they see as their peers.
When you say "boys may be targeted with gambling content and activities before it’s developmentally appropriate."
Do you mean this in a general way, like legal age or when their executive function develops? Or did you have some "appropriate" age based on some sort of research? Like guys being able to handle gambling better?
Great question! I meant this more generally - I don’t think there’s a specific age where we can say for sure that it’s “appropriate,” and I think it depends a lot on the specific type of activities we’re talking about. But in most states, you have to be 18 (or 21) to go to a Casino, for example - so we’ve already set some norms around the age that we think traditional gambling is okay!
I wouldn't lump Fortnite and Roblox together - one of my main reasons for allowing Fortnite is that it doesn't have loot boxes or similar gambling elements. (On a non gambling note I also think Fortnite has much tighter controls over who your child can communicate with).
Fortnite does have in game purchasing though and I would say this plays a fairly big role in the whole experience, with lots of franchise tie-ins and celebrity collaborations. Importantly, items purchased are not random, you know exactly what you're getting. It's also not permitted for purchased items to confer any kind of player advantage - they're cosmetic only.
How we deal with the money element is this: My child gets £1 a week pocket money and he often saves this up to spend on VBux which pays for Fortnite items or a battle pass. He also received VBux gift cards at Christmas. So any money used is 'his' and we don't give extra just because he wants something right now. I was skeptical at first about him spending money on something that isn't 'real' but it's not that different to me paying to stream music.
Oh thank you so much for clarifying Amanda! This is very helpful. It looks like Fortnite ended loot boxes in 2019, but announced in November that it is bringing them back in some circumstances (“paid random items”) - BUT they are banned for minors in certain countries, including the UK (not the U.S.)! https://kotaku.com/fortnite-loot-boxes-gambling-roblox-2000642980
One potential way to get kids attention would be to share video essays from some of the popular YouTube stars who've talked about it. Drew Gooden is one (https://youtu.be/DlMLfxxvKD8?si=dQ1N3_y5RLzduvXj) Coffeezilla is another, and there are probably many others. Sometimes things resonate better when kids hear it from their favorite "stars" or people they see as their peers.
This is a great idea!
My older boys’ (both teens) new favorite game is poker. 🤔
They are definitely not the only ones!!
Thanks for sharing this post!
Just a quick question.
When you say "boys may be targeted with gambling content and activities before it’s developmentally appropriate."
Do you mean this in a general way, like legal age or when their executive function develops? Or did you have some "appropriate" age based on some sort of research? Like guys being able to handle gambling better?
Great question! I meant this more generally - I don’t think there’s a specific age where we can say for sure that it’s “appropriate,” and I think it depends a lot on the specific type of activities we’re talking about. But in most states, you have to be 18 (or 21) to go to a Casino, for example - so we’ve already set some norms around the age that we think traditional gambling is okay!
Haha that's true about the legal age! It is at least society's way of saying "it seems okay by that age!...maybe?"