Kids Are Attending Rehab for Fortnite Addiction

Fortnite has proved to be a massive hit. Since its release in 2017 it has grown into a worldwide phenomenon. It’s one of the best cross-play games available, and you can even play Fortnite on Android or iOS. Unfortunately, there’s a downside to all of this…

Kids Are Getting Addicted to Fortnite

According to Bloomberg, parents are sending their kids to rehab for video game addiction. And most of the kids attending rehab for video game addiction play Fortnite to excess. While it isn’t the only game being played, it seems to be a particular problem.

Bloomberg cites one parent of a teenager whose grades have plummeted thanks to his Fortnite addiction. It also quotes Lorrine Marer, a British behavioral specialist, as claiming, “This game is like heroin. Once you are hooked, it’s hard to get unhooked”.

Apparently people are “addicted” to #Fortnite, and it’s causing divorces and bad grades. Makes me glad I already hate the game.

— Diddy (@somecrazyboii) November 28, 2018

It isn’t hard to see why Fortnite has captured the hearts and minds of children the world over. For starters it’s free-to-play, taking away the barrier to entry. And the desire to be the last man standing at the end of a battle royale means kids will keep coming back for more.

Video games aren’t just causing problems for children either. One survey suggests that video game addiction has been cited in 200 divorce petitions in the U.K. in 2018. Which suggests this seemingly harmless activity is literally ruining relationships.

A Tiny Fraction of Fortnite’s Userbase

It should be noted that the number of people addicted to Fortnite is a fraction of the overall userbase. Around 200 million people play Fortnite worldwide, and only a tiny fraction of them can be classified as being addicted to the point that it’s a problem.

Still, this isn’t the first time Fortnite has been accused of having a negative influence on kids. So at the very least parents should educate and inform themselves about the game. Which is why our parents’ guide to Fortnite is required reading.

Read the full article: Kids Are Attending Rehab for Fortnite Addiction